Question

Write the uses of these animals and plants.
Animals: Honey Bees, shark, yaks, sheep, earthworms, dog, bivalves, horses, ice.
Plants: Ginger, mango, eucalyptus, babul (acacia), Teak, spinach, aloe vera, turmeric, holy basil, Karanja, moh, mulberry, grapevine.

Answer 1

Hint: Animals and plants form the fauna and flora of an ecosystem respectively. An ecosystem stays stable due to the maintained and balanced interaction between the two. Every organism has a specific role to play to sustain the proper working of an ecosystem. Despite their major role in the ecosystem, many organisms are used for industrial purposes.

Complete answer: Animals and plants interact with each other to maintain a stable ecosystem. They are the biotic units of the environment and thus, are essential for various life forms. Despite their roles in ecosystems and food chains, animals and plants are also used in industries. Thus, both of these organisms are essential for humans as well as for nature. Now, let us study the functions of various given animals:
a) Honeybees are flying insects that belong to the genus Apis. They are known for their sweet honey and wax. Beekeeping is done worldwide for the collection of honey. Also, bees act as pollinators for many flowers.
b) Sharks are large marine organisms usually known for their sharp teeth capable of tearing apart even a human. Their characteristic fins are used in medicine, cosmetics, etc.
c) Yaks also known as ‘Bos grunniens’ are large furry animals that are used to obtain wool. They are domesticated throughout the Himalayan region, Yunnan, Mongolia, etc.
d) Sheep is a wooly animal that is reared to obtain wool. They are also used to make pharmaceuticals in their blood. Sheep milk is also harvested from them.
e) Earthworms are soil worms usually found in agricultural fields. They are called farmer’s friends as they fertilize the soil by their castings. They are also reared for their compost called vermicompost.
f) Dogs are usually used for their social purposes and companionship. They are the most loved pets. Due to their good sense of smell, they are used by police for sniffing the clues. They are also used as a therapeutic organism in nursing clinics.
g) Bivalves are aquatic molluscs that have a hinged shell, in which their body is compressed. Oysters, mussels, scallops, etc are bivalves. They are used as marine food.
h) Horses are known for their speed and strength. They are majorly used as transport. They are also used as sports animals for horse races.
i) Mice are model organisms for scientists. They are also used as pets. They have wide applications in genetics, biotechnology, medicines, etc.
The various uses of the given plants are as follows:
a) Ginger is a root vegetable that is used widely in cooking and is a common Indian spice. It is a herbaceous plant and is perennial. It is also used for medicinal purposes.
b) Mango is considered the king of fruits and has a very attractive yellowish hue having soft and sweet pulp eaten as a fruit. Various types of mango species are used as a fruit.
c) Eucalyptus plants are amongst the tallest tree species in the world. They are flowering plants and are used for obtaining essential oils and making paper.
d) Babul or Acacia bark is used for oral hygiene and is chewed to strengthen teeth and gums. It is also used as a treatment for dysentery, diarrhoea, etc. The flowers produced by Acacia are very useful in treating nausea, vomiting, or even a hangover.
e) Teak is known for its strong and reliable wood. Teak wood is used widely in making furniture.
f) Spinach is a green vegetable high in iron and is used as food. Spinach is also known to have antioxidant properties. It also has benefits in treating cancer, cardiovascular disease, age-related disorders, etc.
g) Aloe vera is an evergreen perennial plant that is a succulent species and stores essential fluids in its stems. Its fluid is used as beverages, skin lotion, cosmetics, ointments, etc.
h) Turmeric is a flowering plant whose roots are edible and are used in cooking. It is used as a common spice in Indian recipes. It also has various medicinal purposes and is used as a cure for many diseases.
i) Holy basil or Tulsi is a medicinal herb that has a wide range of uses in the medicinal area. It holds spiritual importance in the Indian subcontinent.
j) Karanja is a medicinal herb that is employed to be used in many skin disorders. All of its plant parts hold medicinal importance. It is also a spiritually valued plant.
k) Moh is also a medicinal herb that is majorly used as a treatment for skin inflammation, burns, and breakouts. It is also used to boost the immune system and finds its place in coronavirus precaution.
l) Mulberry is a small medium-sized plant that produces sweet edible fruits. White, red, and black mulberry is used in various desert cuisines.
m) Grapevine is majorly used to obtain its fruits and it is used in vine making. It also holds potent anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.

Note: Plants and animals hold utter importance in the human lifestyle and environment. Thus, they should be conserved and protected. Overexploitation has caused the extinction of various important plants and animals.