Habitat
What is a Habitat?
Habitat is the area where an organism lives or it is the locality where an organism can live
successfully. Habitat can also be the natural environment of an organism.
Types of Habitat
There are two major types of habitats:
• Aquatic habitat.
• Terrestial habitat.
Aquatic Habitat:
Organisms which live in water are known as aquatic organisms. Aquatic habitat is a water
environment in which organisms live naturally e.g. river, lagoon, sea, lake.
There are two types of aquatic habitat. They are:
• Fresh water Habitat
• Marina (Salt water Habitat)
Fresh Water Habitat
Includes rivers,streams,lakes,ponds and springs. Examples of organisms found in fresh water
habitats are carbs,tilapia fish,cat fish,spirogyra,water lily.
Salt Water Habitat
Includes the sea and the ocean. Examples of organisms found in these habitats are sea weeds,
whales, sharks , octopus, dolphins etc.
However , the aquatic habitats in which salt water and fresh water naturally inter mix contain
traces of salt (bracish) and are known as Estuarine habitats for example lagoons and bays.
organisms that are found here includes diatoms (sea weed) , squids, sharks, mackerel, sea cat fish
, whale, barnacles etc.
Terrestrial Habitat
Terrestrial habitat simply means the land environment where certain organisms live in naturally
(e.g snails , grasshoppers etc). other terrestrial include human beings, wild animals, domestic
animals and plant.
the terrestrial habitat can be arboreal (on trees) , on the ground or under the ground. Examples of
animals found in terrestrial habitat are :
1. Arboreal Habitats : Birds, monkeys etc.
2. On the ground : Man , elephants , lions etc.
3. under the ground : ants, earthworms, termites etc.
Examples of terrestrile plants are orange tree , pineapple plants, maize, pawpaw tree ,mango tree
etc.
ADAPTATION OF ORGANISMS TO THEIR HABITAT
In order to live and reproduce in their particular habitats, living organisms develop special
features which may be structural, fuctional or behavioural. Any special feature that helps an
organism to live and survive in a particular habitat is called an adaptation.
Different types of organisms found in terrestrial and aquatic habitat have different adaptations to
the environment.
Adapatation of terrestrial plants to their habitat
1, Possession of a long taproot system for water absoption.
2. Some have tiny leaves to reduce the amount of waterloss to the atmosphere during
transpiration.
3. some have developed water-storage tissues in their leaves and stems, during the dry season.
They use the water stored in their tissues.
4. Leaves are carries by the stem for maximum absorption of light and carbon (iv) oxide.
Adaptation of terrestrial animals to their habitat
1. possession of limbs for movement on land e.g monkey
2. possession of efficient kidney which regulate water loss from the body e.g man.
3. possession of shell that covers the body e.g snail.
4. possession of cuticles that covers the body to regulate water loss e.g insescts.
5. possession of feathers on the body by birds , this regulates water loss and wings fo flying.
6. possession of sticky claws for clinging on to the wall e.g lizard.
7. presence of dry scales by lizard to prevent loss of water.
Adaptation of aquatic animals to thier habitat
1. possession of fins and tales for swimming and balance in water e.g. fish
2. stream lined body shaoe for movement in water e.g fish and toad.
3. possession of webbed feet for swimming e.g duck.
Adaptation of aquatic plants to their habitat
1. They have poorly developed root systems or small root systems.
2. Some have light bodies for floating e.g water lettuce.
3. Some have air storage tissues e.g water lily.
4. leaves of aquatic plants have large air spaces for oxygen absorption.
Characteristics of organisms found in different habitats
Organism in aquatic habitat are adapted to their habitat through :
1. the use of gills for respiration.
2. possession of well stream lined body.
3. The use of fins and web digits for movement e.g fish.
4. the ability to breathe by filler method.
5. possession of lateral line to detect danger e.g Tilapia fish.
6. the ability to float due to intercellular air space.
7.possession of mucilaginous cover that protects some plats e.g spirogyra.
2. Terrestrial Organisms
1. each terrestrial organism has a distinct coloration with the environment which helps them hide
from their predators.
2. most terrestrial organism have four limbs (two fore limbs and two hind limbs)
3. terrestrial plants that avoid drought complete their life cycle within a few months.
4. when there is no rain fall, desert tree shed thier leaves to reduce the rate of water loss and as
such conserve water while others have thier leaves as modified stem e.g cactus opuntia.
5. roots of most terrestrial plants are long and twisted which enables them to absorb more water.
6. some plants grow thorns in pace of leaves to defend themselves from herbivores.
7. possession of exo skeleton for protection and support.
3. Arboreal Organisms
Organisms in arboreal habitats are characterized by:
1. possession of wings for flight.
2. possession of two legs for movement.
3. possession of hind limbs which enables them to climb trees.
4. the ability of plants to possess climbing roots while others have tendrils.
