Diversity in the Living World – CBSE NCERT Study Resources

Plants are classified into terrestrial, aquatic, and desert based on their habitat. Our textbook shows how they adapt to survive.

• Terrestrial plants: Grow on land (e.g., mango tree).
• Aquatic plants: Live in water (e.g., lotus).
• Desert plants: Survive in dry areas (e.g., cactus).

Lotus leaves float due to air pockets, while cactus stores water in stems.

Vertebrates have a backbone and are grouped into fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

• Fish: Gills, fins (e.g., rohu).
• Amphibians: Live in water/land (e.g., frog).
• Reptiles: Scales, lay eggs (e.g., lizard).

Birds like pigeons have hollow bones to fly, while mammals like dogs feed milk to young ones.

Insects have 6 legs and 3 body parts, while arachnids have 8 legs and 2 parts.

• Insects: Ants, butterflies (NCERT example: honeybee).
• Arachnids: Spiders, scorpions.

Spiders spin webs to catch prey, while bees collect nectar for honey.

Desert animals adapt to survive extreme heat and scarcity of water.

• Camels: Store fat in humps (NCERT example).
• Kangaroo rats: Get water from food.

Fennec foxes have large ears to cool down, while snakes burrow to avoid heat.

Microorganisms are tiny living things visible under a microscope.

• Bacteria: Used in curd (NCERT example: Lactobacillus).
• Fungi: Yeast for bread.

Medicines like antibiotics are made from microbes, and they help decompose waste.

Plants are classified into herbs, shrubs, and trees based on height and stem type. Herbs are small with soft stems, shrubs are medium-sized with woody stems, and trees are tall with thick trunks.

• Herbs: Examples include coriander and wheat.
• Shrubs: Examples are rose and hibiscus.
• Trees: Examples include mango and banyan.

We studied in our textbook that herbs like spinach are used as food, while trees like neem provide shade and medicine.

Vertebrates have a backbone and are divided into five classes: Pisces, Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves, and Mammalia.

• Pisces: Fish like rohu live in water.
• Amphibia: Frogs can live on land and water.
• Reptilia: Snakes have scaly skin.
• Aves: Pigeons have feathers.
• Mammalia: Humans feed milk to young ones.

Our textbook shows how mammals like cows help in agriculture, while birds like sparrows control insects.

Aquatic animals have special features like gills, streamlined bodies, and fins to survive in water.

• Fish have gills to breathe underwater.
• Dolphins have streamlined bodies to swim fast.

We studied how fish like tuna are important for food, and aquatic plants like lotus grow in ponds, as shown in our textbook.

Unicellular organisms have one cell, while multicellular organisms have many cells working together.

• Unicellular: Amoeba and paramecium.
• Multicellular: Humans and mango trees.

Our textbook shows how unicellular organisms like bacteria cause diseases, while multicellular organisms like cows provide milk.

Microorganisms are tiny organisms used in making food, medicines, and cleaning the environment.

• Yeast helps in baking bread.
• Bacteria decompose waste.

We studied how curd is made using lactobacillus, and how antibiotics are produced from fungi, as shown in our textbook.

Desert plants and animals have unique adaptations to survive in harsh, dry conditions:

• Plants:
  Cactus has thick, fleshy stems to store water and spines to reduce water loss.
  Desert shrubs have deep roots to tap groundwater and small leaves to minimize transpiration.
• Animals:
  Camels store fat in their humps for energy and have thick eyelashes to protect against sand.
  Kangaroo rats obtain water from their food and are nocturnal to avoid daytime heat.

These adaptations help them conserve water, regulate temperature, and find food, ensuring survival in extreme environments.

The classification of living organisms into five kingdoms was proposed by R.H. Whittaker. The five kingdoms are:

• Monera: Includes unicellular, prokaryotic organisms like bacteria and blue-green algae.
• Protista: Consists of unicellular, eukaryotic organisms such as Amoeba and Paramecium.
• Fungi: Includes multicellular, eukaryotic organisms like mushrooms and yeast that absorb nutrients from dead matter.
• Plantae: Comprises multicellular, eukaryotic, autotrophic organisms like trees, shrubs, and grasses.
• Animalia: Includes multicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms like humans, dogs, and insects.

Classification is important because:

• It helps in organizing the vast diversity of life into manageable groups.
• It makes the study of organisms easier by identifying their relationships.
• It aids in understanding the evolutionary connections between different species.
• It helps in conserving biodiversity by identifying endangered species.

Plants can be classified into different groups based on their height, stem type, and lifespan. Here’s a detailed explanation:

• Height:
  - Herbs: Small plants with soft stems, usually less than 1 meter tall. Example: Basil.
  - Shrubs: Medium-sized plants with hard, woody stems and branches. Example: Rose.
  - Trees: Tall plants with a thick, woody stem called a trunk. Example: Mango tree.
• Stem Type:
  - Herbaceous: Soft, green stems (e.g., Spinach).
  - Woody: Hard, brown stems (e.g., Banyan tree).
• Lifespan:
  - Annuals: Complete life cycle in one year (e.g., Wheat).
  - Biennials: Take two years to complete life cycle (e.g., Carrot).
  - Perennials: Live for many years (e.g., Neem tree).

Understanding these classifications helps us study the diversity in the plant kingdom better.

Amphibians and reptiles are two distinct groups of animals with unique features:

• Amphibians:
  - Characteristics: Moist skin, lay eggs in water, and can live both on land and in water.
  - Habitat: Found near ponds, rivers, or damp areas.
  - Adaptations: Webbed feet for swimming, lungs and skin for breathing.
• Reptiles:
  - Characteristics: Dry, scaly skin, lay eggs on land, and are mostly terrestrial.
  - Habitat: Deserts, forests, or grasslands.
  - Adaptations: Scales to prevent water loss, strong limbs for movement.

Comparison:
- Amphibians need water for reproduction, while reptiles do not.
- Reptiles have better adaptations for dry environments due to their scaly skin.
- Both are cold-blooded, but reptiles are more independent of water sources.

These differences highlight the diversity in the animal kingdom.

The five-kingdom classification system, proposed by R.H. Whittaker, groups living organisms based on their cell structure, mode of nutrition, and body organization. The five kingdoms are:

• Monera: Unicellular, prokaryotic organisms (e.g., bacteria, blue-green algae).
• Protista: Unicellular, eukaryotic organisms (e.g., Amoeba, Paramecium).
• Fungi: Multicellular, heterotrophic organisms with cell walls (e.g., mushrooms, yeast).
• Plantae: Multicellular, autotrophic organisms with cell walls (e.g., trees, flowering plants).
• Animalia: Multicellular, heterotrophic organisms without cell walls (e.g., humans, dogs).

This system helps scientists study biodiversity by organizing organisms into logical groups, making it easier to identify, compare, and research their characteristics. It also highlights evolutionary relationships and ecological roles.

The five-kingdom classification system, proposed by R.H. Whittaker, groups living organisms based on their cell structure, mode of nutrition, and body organization. The five kingdoms are:

• Monera: Unicellular, prokaryotic organisms (e.g., Bacteria, Blue-green algae).
• Protista: Unicellular, eukaryotic organisms (e.g., Amoeba, Paramecium).
• Fungi: Multicellular, eukaryotic, saprophytic organisms (e.g., Mushrooms, Yeast).
• Plantae: Multicellular, eukaryotic, autotrophic organisms (e.g., Mango tree, Rose plant).
• Animalia: Multicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms (e.g., Humans, Tiger).

This system is important for studying biodiversity because it helps scientists organize and compare different life forms, understand evolutionary relationships, and conserve ecosystems by identifying key species.

Vertebrates are animals with a backbone or spinal column, while invertebrates lack one. Key characteristics include:

• Vertebrates:
  1. Have a well-developed brain and nervous system (e.g., Humans, Birds).
  2. Possess an internal skeleton for support (e.g., Fish, Frog).
  3. Exhibit complex behaviors due to advanced organs.
• Invertebrates:
  1. Lack a backbone (e.g., Earthworm, Butterfly).
  2. May have an exoskeleton (e.g., Cockroach) or soft body (e.g., Jellyfish).
  3. Often rely on simpler body structures for survival.

These differences help in survival by adapting vertebrates to diverse habitats (land, water, air) and enabling invertebrates to thrive in varied environments due to their flexibility and smaller size.

Desert plants and animals have unique adaptations to survive in harsh conditions like extreme heat and scarcity of water. Here are some examples:

• Plants: Cactus has thick, fleshy stems to store water and spines to reduce water loss and protect from herbivores.
  Mesquite has deep roots to tap groundwater.
• Animals: Camels have humps to store fat, which can be converted to water and energy. They also have long eyelashes to keep sand out.
  Fennec fox has large ears to dissipate heat and thick fur to protect from cold nights.

These adaptations help them:

• Conserve water and reduce loss through transpiration or sweating.
• Regulate body temperature to avoid overheating.
• Find and store food and water efficiently.
• Protect themselves from predators and extreme weather.