[Biology Class Notes] on Adaptation and Habitats Pdf

Various Habitats of Animals and Plants

Animals tend to select a place according to the environment, surrounding and other animals living. Following are the different habitats of Animals:

Grassland Habitat

One-fourth of land is covered by grassland Habitat. In this habitat there is more frequency of rain when compared with deserts. The precipitation is low when compared with forest. Usage of water by the plants present in this habitat is low with respect to forest. The grassland habitat is named differently according to the region it is present.

Antarctica is the only region which does not have any grassland. In Africa, it is named as Savannas and Veldts; In South America, it is called Pampas; Steppes in Europe and Asia; Prairies or grasslands in North America; Rangelands in Australia.

Polar Habitat

This habitat covers the two ends of the planet which are the North and South poles. The Arctic ocean covers the North pole and Antarctica is located at the South pole. The entire region of arctic is covered with ice and no land. Antarctica has land covered with thick layer of ice. The temperature at Arctic region is usually around -22°F, whereas in Antarctica it goes upto -129°F.

The Rainfall in these regions is very less and there is plenty of snow. These are considered as deserts due to the lack of rainfall. Animals like Polar Bears, Walruses and Humpback, Different kinds of Antarctica, Walruses and Narwhals.

Desert Habitat

Desert is considered as the driest place on earth which there are less than 10inches every year. The rain frequency varies with every desert, few deserts have continuous rainfall and the wont rain for the next few months. The temperature in the desert is extreme i.e., it has very hot conditions with 134°F during the day and gets very cold during night.

The Desert in Africa is named Sahara, in Asia it is Gobi, in North America it is Mojave, in Mexico it is Sonoran, in Australia it is Great Victoria Desert. Animals like Kangaroo rats, Desert foxes and Plants like Cacti, Mesquite grass are present in the desert habitat.

Mountain Habitat

Mountains are big slabs of rock known as Tectonic plates which make the Earth’s crust to crash into each other. These rocks form into mountains over the years. The longest mountain range is over 40,000 miles long and the majority of it around 90% is under the ocean known as Mid-Ocean Ridge. The longest aboveground mountain range is Andes. Mount Everest in Asia is the highest mountain.

Plantations like deciduous forests at the bottom of mountains and coniferous forests at the top of mountains are present. Mosses and Lichens grow low to the ground. Animals like Red Panda in Asia’s Himalaya, Snowshoe hares in North America, Mountain lions, Grizzly bears and hoary marmots in North America, Mountain goats and Ibexes in Europe alps live on the Mountains.

Temperate Forest Habitat

The temperate forest has a balanced temperature and the forests are full of trees with wide, thin leaves. They absorb sunlight during summer and there is a change in the appearance with decrease in sunlight. Deciduous trees drop their leaves in autumn and some of them are Oaks, elms, ash, and beeches.

There is a temperature variance in every season. North America, Northeastern Asia, Canada, Japan, England has the temperate forests available. Squirrels, Chipmunks, bobcats, brown bears, timber wolves, and monarch butterflies are present in this habitat.

Freshwater Habitat

Only 3% of freshwater is present in the world’s water. Around 100,000 species of plants and animals live in freshwater. Rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds, and streams constitute freshwater habitat. Animals like fish, snails, worms, turtles, frogs, marsh birds, mollusks, alligators, beavers, otters, snakes, and many other types of insects dwell in this habitat. Plants like Algae, Cattails, Water lilies, and Aspen and Willow trees in this habitat.

Ocean Habitat

Oceans consist of salty water which covers the majority of the earth’s surface. The saltwater bodies like Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Antarctic Ocean, and Arctic Ocean constitute the ocean area. Oceans are deep and wide. On average an ocean is more than two miles deep. Oceans help to maintain a balance in the temperature conditions by moving around the globe. Ocean currents carry the heat around the planet and without the oceans earth will be an icy rock.