Ridha Fathima

Habitat Destruction

Habitat destruction means the natural home of plants and animals is damaged or removed, so they can no longer live there.

Causes of Habitat Destruction

• Deforestation – cutting down trees for wood, farms, or houses.

• Urbanization – building cities, roads, and factories.

• Pollution – chemicals, plastics, oil spills harming the environment

• Agriculture – clearing land for farms and animals.

• Mining – digging land for minerals.

• Climate Change – extreme heat, drought, floods changing habitats.

  Effects of Habitat Destruction

• Animals lose their homes.

• Plants die because the environment changes.

• Many species become endangered or extinct.

• food chains and ecosystems get disturbed.

Habitat Destruction

Habitat destruction means the natural home of plants and animals is damaged or removed, so they can no longer live there.

Causes of Habitat Destruction

• Deforestation – cutting down trees for wood, farms, or houses.

• Urbanization – building cities, roads, and factories.

• Pollution – chemicals, plastics, oil spills harming the environment.

• Agriculture – clearing land for farms and animals.

• Mining – digging land for minerals.

• Climate Change – extreme heat, drought, floods changing habitats.

Effects of Habitat Destruction

• Animals lose their homes.

• Plants die because the environment changes.

• Many species become endangered or extinct.

• Food chains and ecosystems get disturbed.

• Soil becomes poor and can lead to floods or droughts.

Soil becomes poor and can lead to floods or droughts.

wetland

Wetlands are areas where the land is covered with water either all the time or only during certain seasons.

The water can be freshwater, saltwater, or a mix of both.

Types of Wetlands

• Marshes – soft, wet land with grasses.

• Swamps – wetlands with many trees.

• Bogs – wet, spongy land with moss.

• Fens – wetlands fed by groundwater.

Characteristics of Wetlands

• Soil is always wet or muddy.

• Many plants grow in water (like reeds, lotus).

• Lots of animals live there (frogs, fish, birds).

Importance of Wetlands

• They store water and prevent floods.

• They clean water by filtering dirt and chemicals.

• They give a home to many species.

• They help control climate by storing carbon.

Rainforest

A rainforest is a thick, green forest that gets a lot of rain throughout the year (more than any other place).

They are warm, wet, and full of thousands of plants and animals.

Features of a Rainforest

• Heavy rainfall all year.

• Very tall trees forming layers.

• Hot and humid climate.

• Huge biodiversity (many kinds of organisms).

Layers of a Rainforest

• Emergent Layer – tallest trees.

• Canopy – thick layer of leaves forming a “roof.”

• Understory – small trees and shade-loving plants.

• Forest Floor – dark, damp ground with insects and decomposers.

• Types of Habitats

  1. Terrestrial Habitat

  • Land-based habitats.

  • Examples: forests, deserts, grasslands, mountains.

  • Organisms adapt to temperature, soil, and rainfall.

  2. Aquatic Habitat

  • Water-based habitats.

  • Examples: oceans, rivers, lakes, ponds.

  • Organisms adapt to salt or fresh water and water flow.

  3. Forest Habitat

  • Densely packed trees and plants.

  • High rainfall and moderate to high temperature.

  • Animals: tigers, monkeys, birds, insects.

  4. Desert Habitat

  • Very little rainfall, extreme temperatures.

  • Sandy or rocky soil.

  • Animals: camels, lizards, scorpions.

  • Plants: cacti, thorny bushes.

  5. Grassland

  • Large open areas with grass, few trees.

  • Moderate rainfall.

  • Animals: lions, zebras, elephants, rodents.

  6. Mountain Habitat

  • High altitude regions.

  • Cold temperatures, rocky soil.

  • Animals: snow leopards, mountain goats.

  7. Freshwater Habitat

  • Rivers, lakes, ponds, streams.

  • Low salt content.

  • Animals: fish, frogs, freshwater turtles.

  8. Marine Habitat

  • Oceans and seas.

  • High salt content.

  • Animals: whales, sharks, corals, starfish.

  Features of Habitats

  1. Temperature

  • Affects which plants and animals can survive.

  • Example: polar regions have cold-adapted species, deserts have heat-tolerant species.

  2. Rainfall

  • Determines the type of vegetation.

  • Example: rainforests have heavy rainfall, deserts have very little.

  3. Soil

  • Provides nutrients to plants.

  • Determines the type of plants in that habitat.

  4. Water Availability

  • Essential for all life.

  • Aquatic habitats have plenty; deserts have very little.

  5. Light

  • Needed for photosynthesis in plants.

  • Affects the activity of animals (diurnal/nocturnal).

  6. Shelter

  • Places for animals to hide, rest, or reproduce.

  • Examples: caves, tree branches, underwater crevices.

  7. Food Availability

  • Determines which animals can live there.

  • Example: predators need prey; herbivores need plants.