Q.What is xerokinesis or dehydration adaptation? Give an example.

Soil is a foundational abiotic factor for terrestrial life: it supplies anchorage, water and mineral nutrients to plants, and its texture, structure, pH, mineral composition and moisture-retention capacity determine which plant species — and, indirectly, which animal species that depend on those plants — can establish themselves in a given area. Soil-dwelling organisms such as earthworms, burrowing insects and diverse soil microbes are themselves shaped by soil texture and aeration, while simultaneously contributing to soil fertility through the decomposition of organic matter, making soil a two-way ecological factor rather than a purely passive substrate.

Altitude presents organisms with a combination of stresses: low atmospheric oxygen partial pressure (hypoxia), lower temperatures, and higher UV exposure than at sea level. Organisms adapted to high-altitude life typically show physiological adjustments such as an increased red blood cell count and haemoglobin with a higher affinity for oxygen (to compensate for reduced oxygen availability), an increased breathing rate, and in some species, smaller body size or denser fur/feather insulation to conserve heat in the colder conditions. …