Natural world around us shows amazing diversity of forms and complexity of relations. To understand these, we have to study levels of organization in the living world viz. macromolecules, cells, tissues, organs, individual organism, population, communities, ecosystems and biomes.
Morphological defense mechanisms: 1. Opuntia and cactus leaves undergo morphological changes, transforming into sharp spines or thorns, serving as a defense mechanism to deter herbivores from feeding on them. 2. Certain plants exhibit spiny leaf margins, creating sharp edges that pose challenges for herbivores attempting to consume them. 3. Acacia plants employ a defense strategy … Read more
1. Marine fish possess distinct osmoregulation mechanisms tailored for high-salinity environments, where ambient salinity exceeds their body’s ion concentration. 2. In marine water, the salinity levels are higher than the fish’s internal ion concentration, necessitating specialized adaptations for osmoregulation. 3. The reverse scenario occurs in fresh water, where the ambient salinity is lower than the … Read more
1. Dormant seeds exhibit no metabolic activities and can only resume growth when provided with adequate moisture and sunlight, typically through planting or exposure to a moist environment. 2. Hibernation is a state of reduced metabolic activity in animals, and their awakening is spontaneous, influenced by ambient temperature, occurring naturally after the winter sleep period.
Predation serves as a biological control method for managing pest insects, as predators feed on these pests, helping to naturally regulate their population within the habitat.
Brood parasitism
1. The concept involves species vying for scarce natural resources. 2. An example is the Abingdon tortoise’s extinction in Galapagos, attributed to competition with introduced goats. 3. The goats’ superior browsing efficiency played a role in the rapid decline of the tortoise population.
1. Lichen consists of a mutualistic partnership between algae (cyanobacteria) and fungus, where the algae perform photosynthesis to produce food, and the fungus aids in moisture absorption. 2. Algae and fungus in lichen depend on each other, with algae synthesizing food through photosynthesis and the fungus contributing by absorbing moisture.
The phenomenon of blending into the surroundings by mimicking similar colors, markings, and shapes to evade predators and prey, as observed in creatures like stick insects and leaf insects.