Introduction
Water is essential to all life, be it animals or plants. Where there is water, there is life.
All animals and plants are made up of water.
Plants contain more water in their bodies than animals. Most of the plants are from 90 to 95 per cent water.
IMPORTANCE OF WATER TO ANIMALS AND PLANTS
ANIMALS
Water helps animals to digest their food.
Water regulates the body temperature of animals.
Animals also use water to clean their body.
PLANTS
Plants use water to transport nutrients in their body.
Plants use water to regulate their body temperature.
Plants take in water through their roots. Green leaves use it to make their food.
Sources of Water
Animals and plants depend on the natural sources of water.
Animals take in water by drinking and eating.
Animals drink water from rain, ponds, lakes, rivers, etc.
As all food items contain some amount of water, animals get with water when they eat their food. Pets and domestic animals get water through their masters.
Long ago animals lived in a habitat, which had ample water and food to meet their needs. But what happens when there is drought or less rainfall? Animals move to newer places to find water. Even domestic animals that are stray move constantly in search of water and food.
Plants get water through dew, irrigation and rainfall
Plants mostly depend on rainwater and underground water.
Plants and trees that farmers raise get a regular supply of water.
How do animals and plants lose water from their bodies?
We have learnt in the water cycle, how the water is evaporated from the water bodies. Water from our bodies also evaporates.
Have you seen how your sweating increases as the temperature increases. The sweating is the salty water released from our body. This water under the hot sun evaporates and leaves the skin cool. This way your heated body cools down. But your body loses water. This losing of water is called dehydration.
This dehydration occurs in plants and animals also. Animals also lose water when they urinate.
Plants lose water through transpiration.
Transpiration
Transpiration is the process in which the plants absorb water from the roots. Then they release it as water vapour into the air, through their leaves. Plants have small pores on the underside of their leaves. These pores are called stomata. Through stomata, the water is released into the air in the form of water vapour.
Plants and animals living in deserts and dry regions cannot find enough water.
Plants and animals adapt to the lack of water in different ways and get along.
