Question

Compare the adaptations of plants and animals in lentic and lotic habitats.Thank you

Answer 1

Solution:

Animals and plants living in different lentic and lotic environments make use of several adaptations. In the case of lentic environments, some animals and plants are adapted to leve in the extreme disordered environment. In th case of freshwater fishes, the adaptations begin from the larval stages onwards. They exhibit amphidromous life cycle. Crtain fishes contains pelvic sucking disks which allow them for attaching rocks and other hard surfaces. This help withstand strong tidal movements. Fishes also make use of different adaptations to live low -water and low - oxygen environment. Som live in burrows fro extended periods.

In the case of plants living in lentic system,they have evolved modifications to leaves. Underwater leaves are thin inorder for absorbing high amount of diffused light. Another adaptation is that some plant leaves contatin specific structures called as lacunae that provides buoyancy for floating.

In the case of lentic systems also, animals and plants have many adaptations. Animals living under or on stones of lentic environment have dorso-ventrally flattened body. Also flattening makes it more difficult for predators to dislodge the organism from their attached surfaces. The ventral surface of some animals is modified into frictional pads or hairs that makes close contact with the substratum. Another adaptation is te streamlined body. This streamlining offfers increased penetrance in water. Various water dwelling insect develops tarsal claws, claw-like appendages, or hooks for atachment. Using anatomical and behavioural modifications animals capture drifting organic debris. Mouthparts with fringes are modified to capture moving particles. Some others have got modified forelegs that can be held out like filters.

In the case of plants the most common adaptation is the presence of lightweight internal packing cells, aerenchyma, along with that floating leaves are also common. Air sacs are present in fully submerged marine plants and floating plants