Question

What are the different components of a habitat? Explain each component. [5 MARKS]

Answer 1

Components: 1 Mark each

The components of a habitat are air, soil, water, sunlight, and temperature.

Air:
Air is essential for all the living organisms on earth. Plants and animals take in oxygen from the air during respiration. Plants take in carbon dioxide during the process of photosynthesis. Air also provides nitrogen which is fixed to the plants for utilization. Air is required by organisms to cool their body. Winds help in generating energy. Winds also help in carrying the seeds to distant places.

Soil:
The soil is the topmost layer of the earth. It is rich in minerals and microorganisms which help in different ways for plant growth. It has some pores in it which have water particles. These water particles are absorbed from the soil by the roots of plants.

Water:
Three-fourths of our earth is covered with water. Water is essential for life. Water forms a medium for many metabolic reactions taking place inside the body. Water can be freshwater or marine water. Animals living in water are called as aquatic organisms.

Sunlight:
Sun is the ultimate source of energy for all the living organisms on earth. Plants depend on sunlight for synthesizing their food by the process of photosynthesis. Animals depend on plants for their food i.e. indirectly they depend on sunlight.

Temperature:
The temperature at a place depends on the sunlight availability. Temperature also influences the humidity of that particular place. Areas may be too hot, moderate or too cool.