Question

The species diversity of plants (22 per cent) is much less than that of animals (72 per cent), What could be the explanations to how animals achieved greater diversification?

Answer 1

Answer:

There is a huge difference in the percentage of species diversity of plants (22%) and the species diversity of animals (72%). It is due to the following reasons:

• Adaptation of animals to changing environments for survival. For instance – animals and insects have grown to develop a complex nervous system for coordinated and controlled body movements. Also, insects have grown to be versatile and developed a potential to survive in different habitats in comparison to other life forms as they possess repeated body segments with external cuticles and paired appendages

• Plants are immobile while animals can move around. Hence, animals have achieved more diversity as they have moved and adapted to different habitats.