Question

What is environment? Explain how living organisms survive in different environments.

Answer 1

Environment:

1. The entire surroundings of an organism that helps with the survival and development of the organism are called its environment.
2. The environment includes both living and nonliving components of the environment.
3. The natural surrounding of the organism where it resides is called the habitat.
4. The habitat of organisms can differ greatly and hence the organisms living there need different characteristics to survive.

Adaptation:

1. The presence of certain characteristics that helps with the survival of the organism in a particular habitat is called adaptation.
2. These adaptations can be due to changes in the shape, size, body structure, or behavior of the organism.
3. Changes in body structures: Some organisms modify their body structures to survive in the environment. One example is the cactus where leaves are modified to form spines to reduce water loss.
4. Changes in behavior: Many animals change their behavior to survive in their habitat. Many organisms hibernate instead of staying active during winter.
5. Changes in a location: Organisms like birds and fishes migrate to different locations to have a suitable environment where they can survive during seasonal changes.