Weather, Climate And Adaptations Of Animals To Climate

Weather, Climate, And Adaptations Of Animals To Climate

Rainfall is measured by an instrument called the rain gauge. It is basically a measuring cylinder with a funnel on top to collect rainwater. The day-to-day condition of the atmosphere at a place with respect to the temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speed, etc., is called the weather at that place. Temperature, humidity, and other factors are called the elements of the weather. The average weather pattern taken over a long time, say 25 years, is called the climate of the place.

The western region of India, for example, Rajasthan, will show that the temperature is high during most part of the year. But during winter, which lasts only for a few months, the temperature is quite low. This region receives very little rainfall. This is the typical desert climate. It is hot and dry. Northeastern India receives rain for a major part of the year. Therefore, we can say that the climate of the northeast is wet.


1. The polar regions

  • The polar regions present an extreme climate.
  • These regions are covered with snow and it is very cold for the most part of the year.
  • For six months the sun does not set at the poles while for the other six months the sun does not rise.
  • In winter, the temperature can be as low as –37°C.
  • Animals living there have adapted to these severe conditions.
  • Polar bears, the penguin many types of fishes, muskoxen, reindeer, foxes, seals, whales, and birds have
  • been seen in this region.
  • Siberian crane comes from Siberia to places like Bharatpur in Rajasthan and Sultanpur in Haryana.


2. The tropical rainforests

  • The tropical region has generally a hot climate because of its location around the equator.
  • Even in the coldest month, the temperature is generally higher than about 15°C.
  • During hot summers, the temperature may cross 40°C.
  • Days and nights are almost equal in length throughout the year.
  • These regions get plenty of rainfall.
  • An important feature of this region is the tropical rainforests.
  • Tropical rainforests are found in the Western Ghats and Assam in India, Southeast Asia, Central America
  • , and Central Africa.
  • Because of continuous warmth and rain, this region supports a wide variety of plants and animals.
  • The major types of animals living in the rainforests are monkeys, apes, gorillas, lions, tigers, elephants,
  • leopards, lizards, snakes, birds, and insects.
  • The lion-tailed macaque (also called Beard ape) lives in the rainforests of the Western Ghats
  • Many tropical animals have sensitive hearing, sharp eyesight, thick skin, and skin color that helps
  • them to camouflage by blending with the surroundings.
  • This is to protect them from predators.

CLIMATE AND ADAPTATION

Climate has a profound effect on all living organisms. Animals are adapted to survive in the conditions in which they live. Animals living in very cold and hot climates must possess special features to protect themselves against extreme cold or heat.  Features and habits that help animals to adapt to their surroundings are a result of the process of evolution.

As examples of the adaptation of animals to climatic conditions, we discuss only animals living in polar regions and tropical rainforests. As the name suggests, the polar regions are situated near the poles, i.e., the north pole and the south pole. Some well-known countries that belong to the polar regions are Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Alaska in the U.S.A., and the Siberian region of Russia. Examples of some countries where tropical rainforests are found are India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil, the Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria.

(i) The polar regions
The polar regions present an extreme climate. These regions are covered with snow and it is very cold for the most part of the year. For six months the sun does not set at the poles while for the other six months the sun does not rise. In winter, the temperature can be as low as –37°C. Animals living there have adapted to these severe conditions.

Let us see how they are adapted by considering the examples of polar bears and penguins. Polar bears have white fur so that they are not easily visible in the snowy white background. It protects them from their predators. It also helps them in catching their prey. To protect them from extreme cold, they have two thick layers of fur. They also have a layer of fat under their skin. In fact, they are so well-insulated that they have to move slowly and rest often to avoid getting overheated. Physical activities on warm days necessitate cooling.

So, the polar bear goes swimming. She is a good swimmer. Its paws are wide and large, which helps it not only to swim well but also to walk with ease in the snow. While swimming underwater, it can close its nostrils and can remain underwater for long durations. It has a strong sense of smell so that it can catch its prey for food.

Other animals living in the polar regions are many types of fish, musk oxen, reindeer, foxes, seals, whales, and birds. It is to be noted that while fish can remain under cold water for a long, birds must remain warm to survive. They migrate to warmer regions when winter sets in. They come back after the winter is over. You know probably that India is one of the destinations of many of these birds. You must have seen or heard about the Siberian crane that comes from Siberia to places like Bharatpur in Rajasthan and Sultanpur in Haryana, and some wetlands of the northeast and some other parts of India

(ii) The tropical rainforests
The tropical region has generally a hot climate because of its location around the equator. Even in the coldest month, the temperature is generally higher than about 15°C. During hot summers, the temperature may cross 40°C. Days and nights are almost equal in length throughout the year. These regions get plenty of rainfall. An important feature of this region is the tropical rainforests. 

Tropical rainforests are found in the Western Ghats and Assam in India, Southeast Asia, Central America, and Central Africa. Because of continuous warmth and rain, this region supports a wide variety of plants and animals. The major types of animals living in the rainforests are monkeys, apes, gorillas, tigers, elephants, leopards, lizards, snakes, birds, and insects. Let us read about the adaptations of these animals to a hot, humid climate. The climatic conditions in rainforests are highly suitable for supporting an enormous number and a variety of animals. Since the numbers are large, there is intense competition for food and shelter. 

Many animals are adapted to living on trees. Red-eyed frog has developed sticky pads on its feet to help them climb the trees on which it lives. To help them live in the trees, monkeys have long tails for grasping branches. Their hands and feet are such that they can easily hold onto the branches. As there is competition for food, some animals are adapted to get food not easily reachable.

A striking example is that of the bird Toucan, which possesses a long, large beak. This helps a toucan to reach the fruits on branches that are otherwise too weak to support its weight. Many tropical animals have sensitive hearing, sharp eyesight, thick skin, and skin color which helps them to camouflage by blending with the surroundings. This is to protect them from predators. For example, big cats (lions and tigers) have thick skins and sensitive hearing.

What you have learned
  • The day-to-day condition of the atmosphere at a place with respect to the temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speed, etc., is called the weather at that place.
  • The weather is generally not the same on any two days and week after week.
  • The maximum temperature of the day occurs generally in the afternoon while the minimum temperature occurs in the early morning.
  • The times of sunrise and sunset also change during the year.
  • All the changes in the weather are driven by the sun.
  • The average weather pattern taken over a long time, say 25 years, is called the climate of the place.
  • The tropical and polar regions are the two regions of the earth, which have severe climatic conditions.
  • Animals are adapted to the conditions in which they live.
  • The polar regions are very cold throughout the year. The sun does not set for six months in a year and in the other six months, it does not rise.
  • Animals in the polar region are adapted to the extremely cold climate by having some special characteristics such as white fur, a strong sense of smell, a layer of fat under the skin, wide and large paws for swimming and walking, etc.
  • Migration is another means to escape the harsh, cold conditions.
  • Because of the hospitable climatic conditions, huge populations of plants and animals are found in tropical rainforests.
  • Animals in tropical rainforests are adapted such that they eat different kinds of food to overcome the competition for food and shelter.
  • Some adaptations of animals living in tropical rainforests include living on the trees, development of strong tails, long and large beaks, bright colors, sharp patterns, loud voice, the diet of fruits, sensitive hearing, sharp eyesight, thick skin, ability to camouflage in order to protect themselves from predators, etc.

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