Chapter 2 Diversity in the Living World

Chapter Diversity in the Living World

  1. Introduction to Diversity
  • Meaning of Diversity : Diversity refers to the variety of living things found on earth, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.
  • Why diversity is important : It helps in keeping the ecosystem balanced. Each living creature has its own role, just as plants provide oxygen and food.
  • Different types of organisms : There are many types of organisms, such as trees, fish, birds, and insects, all with their own unique characteristics.
  • How diversity helps nature : Diversity in organisms helps nature to function smoothly, just as bees help plants to grow by pollination.
  • Learning from nature: Understanding diversity helps us appreciate the world around us and teaches us to care for all living beings.
  1. Classification of Organisms
  • What is Classification?  Taxonomy: Taxonomy is the way we group living beings based on their similarities, such as grouping animals living in water.
  • Why classification is needed : This makes it easier to study and understand the millions of different species that exist on Earth.
  • Groups in Classification: Organisms are classified into animals, plants and microorganisms. Animals are also classified into other categories such as mammals, birds, and reptiles.
  • How classification helps scientists : It helps scientists to organize and study living things in a systematic manner.
  • Real-life examples : For example, cats and lions are both mammals, so they are placed in the same group.
  1. Different Habitats of Organisms
  • What is Housing? : Habitat is the natural environment where an organism survives, such as forests for tigers and oceans for fish.
  • Types of habitats: Common habitats include forests, deserts, mountains, and oceans.
  • Adaptation to habitats: Animals and plants adapt according to their habitats.  Camels, for example, have adapted to live in deserts with less water.
  • Why habitats are important : They provide everything you need for survival – food, shelter, and a proper climate.
  • Human impact on habitats: Humans sometimes destroy habitats, which can cause damage to the animals and plants that live there.
  1. How Animals Are Different from Plants
  • Basic Difference : Plants make their own food through photosynthesis using sunlight, whereas animals need food to survive.
  • Mobility:  Animals can move around to find food, but most plants stay in one place.
  • Reproduction : Plants reproduce by seeds, while animals reproduce in different ways, such as laying eggs or giving birth.
  • Respiration : Plants take in and release oxygen, while animals take in and release carbon dioxide.
  • Use of senses : Animals have different senses such as sight, hearing, and smell, which plants do not have.
  1. Importance of Biodiversity
  • What is Biodiversity? Biodiversity  means the variety of living things in a particular place, such as a forest or oceans.
  • Biodiversity maintains balance : It keeps the ecosystem healthy. For example, predatory organisms control prey populations.
  • How biodiversity helps human beings : It provides us with food, medicine and clean air.
  • Threat to biodiversity : Activities such as deforestation and pollution can harm biodiversity.
  • Conservation of biodiversity:  It is important to protect different species and habitats to maintain balance in nature

Chapter Summary

  • There are many types of plants and animals around us, which form biodiversity.
  • We can group plants and animals by observing their similarities and differences.
  • Plants can be compared based on their roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and other characteristics.
  • Grouping objects on the basis of their common characteristics is called classification.
  • Plants are classified into herbs,  shrubs, and trees based on their height, stem type, and branching patterns.
  •    They can also be classified into dicotyledons and monocotyledons on the basis of the number of cotyledons.
  • The leaves of monocotyledonous plants generally have parallel veins and fibrous roots, while dicotyledonous plants have a network of veins and pestle roots.
  • Animals move in different ways and this can help classify them.
  • The diversity of living things in different regions depends on the local environment.
  • Plants and animals have special characteristics, called adaptations, that help them to survive in their environment.
  • The place where plants and animals live  is known as their habitat.
  • We can divide living beings into land-based (terrestrial) and water-based (aquatic)  groups based on their habitat.
  • When habitats are damaged, plants and animals lose their homes, food, and resources, reducing biodiversity.
  • It is important to preserve biodiversity so that plants and animals can survive and thrive on our planet.

vocabulary

  • Diversity : The variety of different plants and animals around us.
  • Grouping : The process of grouping similar plants or animals together based on their common characteristics.
  • Herbs:  Small plants with soft, green stems.
  • Shrubs: Medium-sized plants with hard,  brown stems and spreading branches close to the ground.
  • Trees:  tall plants with thick, stiff stems and branches that grow upwards.
  •    Dicots: Plants that have two parts of their seeds are also called dicot plants.
  •  Monocots: Plants whose seeds are only a part.
  • Venoscope:  The pattern of veins in the leaves of plants.
  • Parallel Venoid  : A pattern where the veins in the leaf run parallel to each other.
  • Reticular vein:  A pattern where veins form a mesh-like structure in the leaf.

  • Fibrous roots: A type of root system in which many thin roots extend from the base of the plant.
  • Taproot: A root system in which a large root grows downward, and smaller roots emerge from it.
  • Biodiversity : The variety of life in a particular area, including plants, animals, and other organisms.
  • Adaptation : Special characteristics that help plants and animals survive in their specific environment.
  • Habitat : The natural home or environment of a plant or animal.
  • Terrestrial : refers to living on land.
  • Aquatic : refers to one who lives in water.
  • Sacred Forests : Areas of forest that are protected by local communities because they are considered sacred.

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