Question

Fig. shows the diversity of animals in an ecosystem. Observe the image carefully. Can you guess how the organisms are grouped in the image?

1. Ponder on the questions given below:
   • Which animals can you identify in the given picture?
   • Where are they seen?
   • Which animals in the picture seem active:
     1. during the day? 
     2. during the night? 
     3. both during the day and the night?
2. Record your observations in Table: 
   

   Observation table for recording the data
   Organism (draw or write name)	Where do you see it? (flying high in air/flying near the ground/tree/water/forest floor)	When does it appear to be active? (day/night/unsure)	Any visible feature(s)
   Owl	Tree	Night	Feathers

3. Now, try grouping the same organisms in more than one way. Each time change the criterion you are using for grouping (Table 12.2).
   

   Grouping the organisms
   The grouping criterion	Which organisms fit in this group?	What feature or pattern helped you decide?
   Carnivore	Eagle, tiger, leopard	Eating habits

Answer 1

The organisms are grouped based on their habitat, feeding habits, body features, and activity patterns. Some animals are active during the day, while others are active at night.

1. 
   
   • Tiger, leopard, elephant, monkey, owl, peacock, rabbit, deer, bear, bat and other birds.
   • The animals are seen on trees, on the forest floor, near water bodies and flying in the air.
   • 
     
     1. Tiger, elephant, monkey, peacock and other birds.
     2. Owl, bat and leopard
     3. Tiger, leopard and some other animals.
2. 
   

   Observation table for recording the data
   Organism (draw or write name)	Where do you see it? (flying high in air/flying near the ground/tree/water/forest floor)	When does it appear to be active? (day/night/unsure)	Any visible feature(s)
   Owl	Tree	Night	Feathers
   Tiger	Forest floor	Day	Striped body, sharp claws
   Monkey	Tree	Day	Long tail, fur
   Bat	Flying in air	Night	Wings
   Elephant	Forest floor	Day	Trunk, large ears
   Peacock	Tree	Day	Colourful feathers
   Rabbit	Forest floor	Day	Long ears, fur
   Leopard	Forest floor	Day/Night	Spotted body, sharp claws

3. 
   

   Grouping the organisms
   The grouping criterion	Which organisms fit in this group?	What feature or pattern helped you decide?
   Carnivore	Eagle, tiger, leopard	Eating habits
   Herbivore	Elephant, rabbit	Eating habits
   Flying animals	Eagle, owl, bat	Ability to fly
   Tree-dwelling animals	Monkey, squirrel	Habitat
   Nocturnal animals	Owl, bat	Active during the night
   Diurnal animals	Peacock, monkey	Active during the day
   Mammals	Tiger, elephant, monkey	Body hair and feeding milk to young ones
   Birds	Peacock, owl, eagle	Feathers, beak and wings