Question

The species diversity of plants (22%) is much less than that of animals (72%). What

could be the explanation to how animals achieved greater diversification?

Answer 1

The ratio of diversification of plant and animal is 11:36.

Answer 2

Answer:

Animals have achieved greater diversification than plants due to reasons :

(i) They have nervous system to receive stimuli and respond against them Most of their responses are adaptive for their survival in changing environment.

(ii) They are mobile and to avoid competition. They show niche specialization.

(iii) They are subjected to less seasonal and more constant environment. Plants are fixed and require fewer evolutionary adaptations in order to obtain their requirement of water, minerals and sunlight or avoid destruction due to excessive herbivory. All this has resulted in higher species diversity among animals than plants.