HABITAT AND ADAPTATION: J.S 2 E-NOTE

WEEK: FIVE

SUBJECT: BASIC SCIENCE J.S.S 2

LESSON TITLE: HABITAT AND ADAPTATION

HABITAT AND ADAPTATION: J.S 2 E-NOTE

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: By the end of the lesson students should be able to

Define Habitat
Compare the features of plants in salt water and fresh water
What is adaptation

KEY VOCABULARY WORDS: Biotic, Abiotic, Population, Ecology, Communities, Ecosystem, Aquatic, Terrestrial, Habitat, Salt Water, Fresh Water.

RESOURCES & MATERIALS: Basic Science Textbook, made easy for Junior Secondary School Book 2 page 45 By Tunde Kehinde, Mojisola Olorunfemi and Co.

BUILDING BACKGROUND/CONNECTION TO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: The students are familiar with their environments before and their impact on the environments.

CONTENT:

Habitat – This is a place or environment where a plants or animal naturally lives, grow and survive.

There are many kinds of habitats e.g A stream, a pond, school compound and tropical rain forest of Africa.

Habitats Are Group Into Two

AQUATIC HABITATS
TERRESTRIAL HABITATS

AQUATIC HABITATS

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Aquatic Habitats are the organisms that live in water. They are group into

(A). Fresh Water Habitats

(B). Salt Water Habitats

(A). Fresh Water Habitats: Are made up of ponds, stream and lakes. E.g of animal that live there are (1). Tilapia fish (2). Crabs e.t.c.

(B). Fresh Water Habitats: They are made of oceans and seas. E.g animals that lives in F.W.A are (i). whales (ii). Octopus (iii). Dolphin. Terrestrial habitats – they are the animals that live on the land. Forest, desert, grasslands, familiar. E.g animal including man, monkey, bird, grass cuter, goat, e.t.c.

What Is Freshwater: This is defined as water that has a low concentration of dissolved salts, while saltwater contains a high concentration of dissolved salts, primarily sodium chloride.

Freshwater is found in lakes, rivers, and underground aquifers, and is used for drinking, irrigation, and other human activities.

Saltwater: On the other hand, is found in oceans and seas, and is home to a wide variety of marine animals and fishes that live in them.

In summary the main difference between freshwater and saltwater is that freshwater has a lower salt concentration and density than saltwater which has high salt concentration e.g Sea.

While both saltwater and freshwater plants share some common features related to their photosynthetic nature and adaptation to aquatic environments, they have evolved distinct adaptations to cope with the specific challenges and opportunities presented by their respective habitats’ salinity levels and other environmental factors.

WHAT IS TERRESTRIAL HABITATS

Terrestrial habitats refer to habitats or ecosystems that are primarily land-based, as opposed to aquatic habitats which are water-based. These habitats can include a wide range of environments, from deserts to forests, grasslands to tundras, and everything in between. Terrestrial habitats are characterized by their varying climates, soil types, topographies, and vegetation types, all of which influence the types of organisms that inhabit them.

Terrestrial habitats support a diverse array of life forms, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. Each terrestrial habitat has its own unique set of conditions and resources, leading to the evolution of specialized adaptations in the organisms that inhabit them.

Some common terrestrial habitats include:

Forest: Forests are characterized by dense vegetation dominated by trees. They can be further classified into tropical rainforests, temperate forests, and boreal forests, each with its own distinct climate, flora, and fauna.
Grassland: Grasslands are characterized by vast expanses of grasses and herbaceous plants with few trees. They can be found in both tropical and temperate regions and support a variety of grazing animals.
Desert: Deserts are arid regions with little rainfall and extreme temperature fluctuations. They can be hot deserts, like the Sahara in Africa, or cold deserts, like the Gobi Desert in Asia.
Tundra: Tundra habitats are found in polar regions and are characterized by low temperatures, permafrost, and a short growing season. Vegetation in tundras mainly consists of mosses, lichens, and low-growing shrubs.
Mountain: Mountain habitats are characterized by steep terrain and high elevation. They can range from tropical mountains to alpine regions with snow-capped peaks. Mountain habitats support a variety of specialized plant and animal species adapted to the harsh conditions.
Savanna: Savannas are characterized by a mix of grasses and scattered trees. They are found in tropical and subtropical regions and support a variety of large herbivores and predators.
Shrubland: Shrublands are characterized by low-growing woody vegetation, such as shrubs and bushes, with scattered trees. They are often found in Mediterranean climates and other regions with dry summers and mild winters.

These are just a few examples of terrestrial habitats, each with its own unique features and ecological significance. Terrestrial habitats play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity and providing ecosystem services essential for life on Earth.

Compare The Features of Plants In Salt Water and Fresh Water

Plants that inhabit saltwater (marine plants) and freshwater (aquatic plants) environments have evolved different adaptations to thrive in their respective habitats. Here’s a comparison of some key features of plants in saltwater and freshwater environments:

Salinity Tolerance:
- Saltwater plants, also known as halophytes, have adapted to high salinity levels in their environment. They possess mechanisms to handle salt uptake and to excrete excess salt, such as specialized salt glands or structures to store excess salt in vacuoles.
- Freshwater plants, on the other hand, are adapted to low salinity levels. They may have mechanisms to regulate water and ion uptake to prevent excess water loss in the hypo-osmotic environment of freshwater.
Root Systems:
- Saltwater plants often have shallow root systems to efficiently absorb nutrients from the relatively nutrient-rich surface waters of the ocean. Some may also have specialized structures like pneumatophores (aerial roots) to facilitate gas exchange in oxygen-poor environments like mangrove swamps.
- Freshwater plants typically have well-developed root systems to anchor themselves in the substrate and to absorb nutrients and water from the surrounding freshwater.
Leaf Structure:
- Saltwater plants may have adaptations in leaf structure to minimize water loss through transpiration and to tolerate high levels of sunlight and heat. For example, many marine plants have thick, succulent leaves with a waxy cuticle to reduce water loss.
- Freshwater plants may have thin, delicate leaves to maximize surface area for photosynthesis while minimizing water loss. Some aquatic plants also have specialized structures like floating leaves or submerged leaves with air-filled tissues to maintain buoyancy and facilitate gas exchange.
Reproductive Strategies:
- Saltwater plants may have adaptations for dispersing seeds or reproductive structures in marine environments, such as buoyant seeds or fruits that can float on water currents.
- Freshwater plants may employ various strategies for seed dispersal within freshwater habitats, including water-dispersed seeds or seeds dispersed by animals that inhabit freshwater environments.
Salt Uptake and Regulation:
- Saltwater plants have mechanisms to selectively uptake essential ions while excluding excess salt from their tissues. They may also have mechanisms to sequester or excrete excess salt, preventing toxicity.
- Freshwater plants have adaptations to maintain ion balance in a hypo-osmotic environment, often involving mechanisms to actively take up ions and regulate osmotic pressure within their cells.

What Is Adaptation

Adaptation generally refers to the process of adjusting to new conditions or circumstances in order to survive or thrive in a changing environment. This concept is applicable across various fields including Biology, Psychology, Sociology, Ecology, And more.

In Biology: adaptation refers to the evolutionary process by which organisms acquire traits or characteristics that improve their ability to survive and reproduce in their environment. These adaptations can be structural, physiological, or behavioral and are shaped by natural selection acting on heritable variations within a population.

In Psychology: Adaptation can refer to the process of adjusting to new situations or environments in order to cope effectively with challenges or stressors. This can involve changes in cognition, emotion, behavior, or interpersonal relationships.

In Sociology: Adaptation can refer to the ways in which individuals or groups adjust to societal norms, values, and expectations in order to function within a particular social system.

In Ecology: Adaptation refers to the ways in which species or ecosystems adjust to changes in their environment, such as changes in climate, resource availability, or the presence of new competitors or predators.

Adaptation as a concept is the fundamental concept that describes the ability of living organisms and social systems to adjust to change and effectively respond to new challenges and opportunities.

STRATEGIES & ACTIVITIES: Critical Thinking & Communication

Students as a class brainstorm on habitat and adaptation
Students in pairs examine the features of terrestrial and aquatic habitats and their adaptive features.
Students in small groups compare the features of plants and in salt water and those in fresh water.

ASSESSMENT (EVALUATION): The students were assess by asking question

(1). What is habitats

(2). Mention the types of habitats we have.

(3). State the features of aquatic & terrestrial habitats.

WRAP-UP (CONCLUSION): The whole topic was revise again in summary.

ASSIGNMENT: Assignment was given.

Mention 5 features of aquatic and terrestrial habitat.