NSTSE & NSO 2022 – Class 6 NOT TO BE REDISTRIBUTED – FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY

Session 5
The Living Organisms- Characteristics and Habitats

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NSTSE & NSO 2022 – Class 6 NOT TO BE REDISTRIBUTED – FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY

Aquatic Habitat
 The organisms living in water are called aquatic organism and their habitat is
called aquatic habitat. It comprises of all forms of water bodies on the planet. It
can be subdivided mainly into three types:
 1. Freshwater habitats
 2. Marine habitats
 3. Coastal habitats

Types of Aquatic plants

 Floating plants

 They are very light and small to medium in size. They can float freely in ponds
and lakes.

 The roots of these plants are free-floating. The roots do not touch the soil.

 They have stems with air pockets to help in floating.

 These plants give shelter to small animals.

 Some examples are: duckweed, water hyacinth and water lettuce.

 Fixed plants

 The plants are rooted in the soil at the bottom of the pond.

 Their leaves, flowers and fruits grow above the surface of the water.
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NSTSE & NSO 2022 – Class 6 NOT TO BE REDISTRIBUTED – FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY

 Their roots are much reduced, since their main function is to hold the plant in
place.

 They have hollow stem that have air spaces.

 The stems are flexible, which bend with the flow of water.

 They bear broad leaves, which enable them to float.

 The stomata are present only on the upper side of the leaves

 The leaves are often coated with a waxy material to prevent rotting by water.

 Some examples are lotus and water lily.

 Submerged plants

 The stems are flexible and leaves are long and narrow.

 This adaptation helps to withstand water currents, without getting damaged.

 Stomata are absent in them. They breathe the dissolved oxygen in water through
their body surface.

 Some examples are Hydrilla, tape grass (Vallisneria), etc.

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NSTSE & NSO 2022 – Class 6 NOT TO BE REDISTRIBUTED – FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY

Adaptations in aquatic habitat- Oceans

 Oceans are homes to a great variety of living organisms. There are so many
different kinds of fish.

 Many of them live in fresh water habitats, e.g., ponds, lakes, etc. Whereas many
others live in marine habitats, e.g., seas and oceans. However, all the fish have
some common features with which they adapt themselves to the aquatic life.

Adaptations shown by fishes in aquatic habitat

 They have streamlined bodies (rounded in front and narrow at the back). This
shape reduces resistance due to water and helps them swim fast in water.

 Their body is covered with slippery scales, which make their bodies waterproof.
These also protect the and make the movement through water easier.

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NSTSE & NSO 2022 – Class 6 NOT TO BE REDISTRIBUTED – FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY

 They have gills for breathing, to take in oxygen dissolved in water and release
carbon- dioxide under water.

 They have flat fins and tails that help them to move, change directions and keep
their body balanced in water.

Adaptations shown by fauna in aquatic habitat- oceans

 There are some sea animals like squids and octopus which do not have this
streamlined shape. They stay deeper in the ocean, near the seabed and catch any
prey that moves towards them. However, when they move in water they make
their body-shapes streamlined.

 These animals have gills to help them use oxygen dissolved in water.

 Some sea animals such as dolphins and whales do not have gills to breathe under
water. They have to come up to the water surface to breathe, but they can stay
inside water without breathing for several minutes. They breathe through
blowholes located on the upper part of their heads. This enables them to breathe
easily when they swim near the surface of water.

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NSTSE & NSO 2022 – Class 6 NOT TO BE REDISTRIBUTED – FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY

Adaptations in aquatic habitat- Freshwater

 Many varieties of plants and animals are found in ponds, lakes and rivers.

 Plants: Water plants may either be completely submerged in water (like Hydrilla)
or floating on the surface of water (like water lily, lotus, water hyacinth).
Following adaptations are noticed in the roots, stems and leaves of water plants
etc.

 Roots of aquatic plants are much reduced in size, since their main function is to
hold the plant in place.

 Stems of aquatic plants are long, hollow and light so that these can bend along
with water movement.

 In this way they can withstand water currents without getting damaged e.g. water
lily. The stems grow upto the surface of water, while the leaves and flowers float
on the surface of water.

 Stems have air spaces to enable the plant to float. Floating leaves are large and
flat. They have waxy upper surfaces that makes them waterproof. They have
stomata on the upper surfaces which are exposed to air, for example, water lily.

 Some aquatic plants are totally submerged in water. All parts of such plants grow
under water. Some of these plants have narrow and thin ribbon-like leaves (eg,
tape grass). These can bend in the flowing water.

 In some submerged plants, leaves are often highly divided through which the
water can easily flow without damaging them.

 Animals:
 Animals like frogs, toads and salamanders can live both on land and in water.

 Frogs usually live in pond habitats.

 When on land they breathe through their lungs. When in water, they breathe
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NSTSE & NSO 2022 – Class 6 NOT TO BE REDISTRIBUTED – FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY

through their moist skin. They can even breathe through lungs in water, if they
keep their nose near the water surface.

 Frogs have gills at their tadpole stage of development.

 They have strong back legs that help them in swimming, leaping and catching
their prey.

 They have webbed feet which help them swim in water.

 Animals like fish, prawns, crabs, etc., are also found in freshwater bodies

Important Points
 In the deep ocean water where sunlight does not reach, many animals have
special property to generate light.

 The phenomenon of light generation by living organisms is called bio-

luminescence.

 The light is used by the animals to recognise each other in the dark to find food.