Question

Water is very essential for life. Write any three features both for plants and animals which enable them to survive in a water- scarce environment.

Answer 1

Hint: Water scarcity is the lack of freshwater resources to meet the standard water demand. Water scarcity is also caused by droughts, lack of rainfall, or pollution. About 4 billion people of the global population live under the conditions of severe water scarcity at least 1 month of the year.

Complete step by step answer:
Water is the main source of life in case of both plants and animals.
In waterless conditions plants survive by preventing the loss of water through transpiration and keep their stomata closed. Water is conserved in the form of different types of tissues in plants so that the waterless condition can be prevented and escaped. Physiological, anatomical and morphological changes are adapted to decrease the damage which is caused by dry conditions. In the case of animals, the urine is concentrated so as to keep the water in the animal body. The sweat glands will get closed and there is no water loss through sweat. Animals go for aestivation to escape these harsh conditions.

Additional Information:
- Water is an important nutrient and plays a key role within the physical body. We can survive up to many weeks without food, but only some days without water. Every system within the body, from cells and tissues, to vital organs, requires water to function.
- Water is the carrier of different nutrients, it carries to all or any cells in our body and oxygen to our brain.
- Water flushes out toxins and waste.
- Water helps to regulate body temperature.
- Water act as a lubricant for joints and muscles.

Note: Shortage of water for a sustained period is named water scarcity. The most common causes of water scarcity are growing population, over- exploitation and unequal distribution of water among the social groups. Water makes the body soak up, to maintain the body temperature and to assimilate minerals, vitamins, amino acids, glucose and other substances.