Diversity in the Living World
Complete student notes with internal navigation, definitions, charts, diagrams, textbook solutions and an interactive quiz.
1. Chapter Overview
The chapter Diversity in the Living World teaches that we are surrounded by a large variety of plants and animals. This variety is called biodiversity. Plants and animals differ in their structure, size, shape, movement, habitat, food habits and adaptations.
Main Theme
Living organisms show variety and can be studied by observing similarities and differences.
Core Skill
Observe, record, compare, group, analyse and relate features of plants and animals.
Key Message
We must protect biodiversity because damage to habitats causes loss of plants and animals.
2. Important Definitions Chart
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Diversity | The variety or differences seen among living organisms such as plants and animals. |
| Biodiversity | The variety of plants and animals found in a particular region. |
| Grouping | The method of arranging things into groups based on their common features. |
| Herbs | Small plants with soft, green and tender stems. |
| Shrubs | Medium-sized plants with many hard, woody stems branching close to the ground. |
| Trees | Tall plants with hard, thick, brown and woody stems. Their branches usually arise higher up on the stem. |
| Climbers | Plants with weak stems that need support to climb and grow. |
| Creepers | Plants with weak stems that creep along the ground. |
| Venation | The pattern of veins on a leaf. |
| Reticulate Venation | A net-like pattern of veins on both sides of a thick middle vein. |
| Parallel Venation | A pattern in which veins run parallel to each other. |
| Taproot | A root system with one main root and small side roots arising from it. |
| Fibrous Root | A root system with a bunch of similar-sized thin roots arising from the base of the stem. |
| Cotyledon | A seed leaf inside a seed that stores food for the baby plant. |
| Dicot Plants | Plants whose seeds have two cotyledons. They generally have taproots and reticulate venation. |
| Monocot Plants | Plants whose seeds have one cotyledon. They generally have fibrous roots and parallel venation. |
| Habitat | The place where plants and animals live naturally. |
| Adaptation | A special feature that helps a plant or animal survive in a particular region or habitat. |
| Terrestrial Habitat | A land habitat such as forest, desert, grassland or mountain. |
| Aquatic Habitat | A water habitat such as pond, lake, river or ocean. |
| Amphibians | Animals that can live both on land and in water, such as frogs. |
| Sacred Groves | Community-protected forest patches where plants and animals are not harmed. |
3. Diversity in Plants and Animals Around Us
During a nature walk, students observe different plants, insects, birds and animals. They notice differences in smells, sounds, plant structures, bird chirps, animal movements and habitats. This variety shows the richness of nature.
| Observation Area | What to Observe | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Plants | Stem, leaves, flowers, height, branching pattern, smell and colour | Grass, tulsi, hibiscus, neem, mango, rose |
| Animals | Place where they live, food they eat, movement and body features | Crow, ant, cow, fish, frog, monkey, butterfly |
| Birds | Chirping sound, feathers, beak, flight and nesting behaviour | Crow, pigeon, sparrow, parrot |
| Environment | Weather, soil, water, trees, shade and surroundings | Hot, cold, windy, rainy, moist, dry |
4. Why Do We Group Plants and Animals?
We group plants and animals on the basis of similarities and differences. Grouping makes it easier to understand, compare and study living organisms.
| Organism | Possible Basis of Grouping | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Plants | Height, stem type, branching pattern, flowers, leaf venation, roots, seed type | Herbs, shrubs, trees, climbers, creepers, monocots, dicots |
| Animals | Habitat, food habits, movement, body parts used for movement, body covering | Aquatic animals, terrestrial animals, amphibians, flying animals, crawling animals |
5. Grouping of Plants
Plants can be grouped on the basis of height, nature of stem and branching pattern. Based on these features, plants can be classified as herbs, shrubs and trees. Some weak-stemmed plants are called climbers and creepers.
| Plant Group | Height | Stem | Branching Pattern | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herbs | Short | Soft, green, tender and thin | Usually no woody branching | Tomato, coriander, mint, grass |
| Shrubs | Medium | Hard but not very thick; many woody stems | Branches arise close to the ground | Rose, hibiscus, lemon, cotton |
| Trees | Tall | Hard, thick, brown and woody | Branches arise higher up on the stem | Mango, neem, banyan, peepal |
| Climbers | Variable | Weak stem | Need support to climb | Pea plant, money plant, grapevine |
| Creepers | Usually spread on ground | Weak stem | Creep along the ground | Pumpkin, watermelon, bottle gourd |
6. Leaf Venation and Types of Roots
Leaves have thin lines called veins. The pattern of veins on a leaf is called venation. Roots also differ from plant to plant. The two common root systems are taproot and fibrous root.
| Feature | Type 1 | Type 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf Venation | Reticulate venation: Net-like pattern of veins. Example: hibiscus, mango, mustard. | Parallel venation: Veins run parallel. Example: grass, banana, wheat. |
| Root System | Taproot: One main root with side roots. Example: mustard, hibiscus, chickpea. | Fibrous root: Bunch of similar-sized roots. Example: grass, wheat, maize. |
7. Monocot and Dicot Plants
Seeds may have one or two cotyledons. Plants with one cotyledon are called monocots. Plants with two cotyledons are called dicots.
| Feature | Monocot Plants | Dicot Plants |
|---|---|---|
| Number of cotyledons | One cotyledon | Two cotyledons |
| Leaf venation | Parallel venation | Reticulate venation |
| Root system | Fibrous roots | Taproot |
| Examples | Wheat, maize, rice, grass, banana | Chickpea, kidney bean, mustard, hibiscus, radish |
8. Grouping of Animals
Animals can be grouped on the basis of where they live, what they eat, how they move, their body parts used for movement, shape, size, structure, colour and other features.
| Animal | Type of Movement | Body Parts Used |
|---|---|---|
| Ant | Walks or crawls | Legs |
| Goat | Walks and jumps | Legs |
| Pigeon | Walks and flies | Legs and wings |
| Housefly | Walks and flies | Legs and wings |
| Fish | Swims | Fins |
| Snake | Crawls or slithers | Body muscles and scales |
| Frog | Hops and swims | Legs and webbed feet |
9. Habitat: Where Plants and Animals Live
The place where plants and animals live naturally is called their habitat. A habitat provides food, water, air, shelter and other needs for survival.
| Type of Habitat | Meaning | Examples of Habitats | Examples of Organisms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terrestrial Habitat | Land habitat | Forest, desert, grassland, mountain | Camel, lion, goat, deodar tree, cactus |
| Aquatic Habitat | Water habitat | Pond, lake, river, ocean | Fish, whale, dolphin, sea turtle, lotus |
| Amphibian Habitat | Animals living both on land and in water | Pond edges, wetlands, moist regions | Frog, crocodile, tortoise in some cases |
10. Adaptations in Plants and Animals
The special features that help plants and animals survive in a particular region are called adaptations. Biodiversity varies from region to region because environmental conditions are different.
| Organism | Habitat / Region | Adaptation | How It Helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cactus | Hot desert | Thick and fleshy stem | Stores water and helps the plant survive dry conditions. |
| Deodar tree | Cold mountains | Conical shape and sloping branches | Allows snow to slide off easily. |
| Hot desert camel | Rajasthan desert | Long legs and wide hooves | Helps walk on sand without sinking. |
| Cold desert camel | Ladakh | Shorter legs, two humps and long hair | Helps walk in mountains and survive cold winters. |
| Fish | Water | Streamlined body and fins | Helps swim easily in water. |
| Rhododendron | Mountain regions | Height and leaf size may vary in different regions | Helps survive heavy winds and local mountain conditions. |
| Duck | Water bodies | Webbed feet | Helps in swimming and paddling through water. |
11. Conservation of Biodiversity
When habitats are damaged, plants and animals lose their homes, food and other resources. This leads to loss of biodiversity. Human activities such as cutting forests and damaging natural habitats can reduce the number of many plants and animals.
Project Tiger
Started in 1973 to protect the declining population of Bengal Tiger.
Cheetah Reintroduction Project
Started in 2022 to restore the population of cheetahs in India.
Great Indian Bustard
Protected areas have been declared in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.
Sacred Groves
Sacred groves are undisturbed patches of forests protected by local communities. They are home to many plants and animals, including medicinal plants. They are a community-protected treasure of biodiversity.
Scientists Mentioned in the Chapter
| Scientist | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Janaki Ammal | Indian botanist who helped document and preserve India’s plant biodiversity and played a key role in the Save Silent Valley movement. |
| Salim Ali | Known as the Birdman of India. He studied birds, their travel routes and habitats, and helped conserve bird-rich regions. |
12. Difference Between Important Topics
| Topic 1 | Topic 2 | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Herbs | Shrubs | Herbs are short plants with soft green stems. Shrubs are medium-sized plants with many hard woody stems branching near the ground. |
| Shrubs | Trees | Shrubs are not as tall as trees and have many woody stems close to the ground. Trees are tall with one thick woody stem and branches higher up. |
| Climbers | Creepers | Climbers need support to grow upward. Creepers spread along the ground. |
| Reticulate Venation | Parallel Venation | Reticulate venation forms a net-like pattern. Parallel venation has veins running parallel to each other. |
| Taproot | Fibrous Root | Taproot has one main root with side roots. Fibrous root has many similar-sized thin roots arising from the base of the stem. |
| Dicot Plants | Monocot Plants | Dicots have two cotyledons, taproot and reticulate venation. Monocots have one cotyledon, fibrous roots and parallel venation. |
| Terrestrial Habitat | Aquatic Habitat | Terrestrial habitat is land-based. Aquatic habitat is water-based. |
| Habitat | Adaptation | Habitat is the place where an organism lives. Adaptation is a special feature that helps it survive there. |
| Hot Desert Camel | Cold Desert Camel | Hot desert camel has long legs, wide hooves and one hump. Cold desert camel has shorter legs, two humps and long hair for cold conditions. |
13. Quick Revision Points
- We are surrounded by a large variety of plants and animals.
- The variety of plants and animals in a region is called biodiversity.
- Grouping is done on the basis of similarities and differences.
- Plants can be grouped as herbs, shrubs and trees based on height and stem.
- Plants can also be grouped on the basis of venation, roots and cotyledons.
- Reticulate venation is usually linked with taproot.
- Parallel venation is usually linked with fibrous roots.
- Dicot plants have two cotyledons, taproot and reticulate venation.
- Monocot plants have one cotyledon, fibrous roots and parallel venation.
- Animals can be grouped by movement, habitat, food habit and body features.
- The place where an organism lives is called its habitat.
- Special features that help organisms survive are called adaptations.
- Plants and animals living on land have terrestrial habitats.
- Plants and animals living in water have aquatic habitats.
- Frogs can live both on land and in water, so they are amphibians.
- Habitat damage leads to biodiversity loss.
- We must protect biodiversity through conservation and responsible actions.
14. Textbook Question Answers
1. Wheat and kidney beans: What differences do you find among the roots and leaf venation of their plants?
Answer: Wheat is a monocot plant. It has fibrous roots and parallel venation. Kidney bean is a dicot plant. It has a taproot and reticulate venation.
| Seed / Plant | Type of Seed | Root System | Leaf Venation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | Monocot | Fibrous roots | Parallel venation |
| Kidney beans | Dicot | Taproot | Reticulate venation |
2. Group the animals based on their habitats.
Animals: Horse, Dolphin, Frog, Sheep, Crocodile, Squirrel, Whale, Earthworm, Pigeon, Tortoise
| A: Aquatic Animals | B: Terrestrial Animals | C: Both Land and Water |
|---|---|---|
| Dolphin, Whale | Horse, Sheep, Squirrel, Earthworm, Pigeon | Frog, Crocodile, Tortoise |
Note: Tortoise is often placed in the land-and-water group in school-level classification when referring to tortoise-like animals that spend time near water. A strictly land tortoise may be placed under terrestrial animals.
3. Radish is a kind of root. What type of root is it? What type of venation would you observe in radish leaves?
Answer: Radish is a modified taproot. Since radish is a dicot plant, its leaves show reticulate venation.
4. Compare a mountain goat and a goat found in the plains. What are the reasons for these differences?
Answer: Both are goats and have four legs, hooves and similar body structure. However, a mountain goat usually has thick fur, strong legs and strong hooves to climb rocky slopes and survive cold conditions. A goat found in the plains has comparatively less thick fur and is adapted to warmer and flatter regions.
Reason: These differences are adaptations that help each animal survive in its own habitat.
5. Group the following animals into two groups based on any feature other than those discussed in the chapter.
Animals: Cow, cockroach, pigeon, bat, tortoise, whale, fish, grasshopper, lizard.
One possible grouping based on presence of backbone:
| Animals with Backbone | Animals without Backbone |
|---|---|
| Cow, pigeon, bat, tortoise, whale, fish, lizard | Cockroach, grasshopper |
6. Forests are being cut down to meet human needs. How can this affect our surroundings? How can we address this challenge?
Answer: Cutting forests destroys habitats of plants and animals. It can lead to loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, reduced rainfall, increased temperature, shortage of oxygen and disturbance in the balance of nature.
Solutions: We should plant more trees, reduce unnecessary cutting of forests, protect wildlife habitats, use resources carefully, support conservation projects and spread awareness about biodiversity protection.
7. Analyse the flowchart. What can be examples of A and B?
Flowchart idea: Plant → has leaves → check reticulate venation → Yes = A, No = B.
Answer: A can be a plant with reticulate venation such as hibiscus, chickpea, mustard or mango. B can be a plant with parallel venation such as grass, wheat, maize or banana.
8. Raj says, “Gudhal or hibiscus plant is a shrub.” What questions can Sanjay ask for clarification?
Answer: Sanjay can ask:
- Is the hibiscus plant medium-sized?
- Does it have a hard and woody stem?
- Do many branches arise close to the ground?
- Is the stem thinner than the trunk of a tree?
- Does it have features similar to other shrubs like rose?
9. Based on the table, find examples of plants for each group. Also write other similarities.
| Group | Type of Seed | Type of Root | Examples | Other Similarities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Dicot | Taproot | Chickpea, kidney bean, mustard, radish, hibiscus | Usually have two cotyledons and reticulate venation. |
| B | Monocot | Fibrous roots | Wheat, maize, rice, grass, banana | Usually have one cotyledon and parallel venation. |
10. Observe the labelled part of a duck. How are duck feet different from pigeon feet? Which activity does this part help the duck perform?
Answer: Duck feet are webbed. The toes are joined by skin-like structures. Pigeon feet have separate toes and are better suited for walking and perching. Webbed feet help a duck swim and paddle in water.
15. Interactive Quiz
Choose the correct answer and click submit to check your score.
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