Have you ever wondered what life would be like without water? It’s hard to imagine because we need freshwater to survive. But did you know that some living things have found amazing ways to live with very little water?
There’s not much freshwater on Earth. Imagine if all the Earth’s water was in a big gallon jug. The freshwater would only be a tiny teaspoon! That’s a small amount for all the living things on our planet.
There are three types of water on Earth: saltwater, liquid freshwater, and surface freshwater. Saltwater is in the oceans, while liquid freshwater is underground or in glaciers. The surface freshwater, which is the smallest amount, is what humans, plants, and animals can use.
Let’s visit a place with plenty of freshwater: Lake Baikal in Russia. It’s the deepest lake in the world and holds a lot of the Earth’s freshwater. Many plants and animals live there, including the nerpa, a type of freshwater seal.
Nerpas have adapted to their cold, watery home. They have big, strong flippers to break through ice and make breathing holes. They also have more blood than other seals, allowing them to store oxygen and stay underwater longer.
Now, let’s travel to a place with very little freshwater: the Sahara Desert in Africa. Here, water sources change with the seasons. Lake Chad is one of the few water bodies in the Sahara, but it’s much smaller than Lake Baikal.
Animals like the addax antelope have adapted to the desert’s heat. The addax changes its coat color to stay cool in summer and warm in winter. This helps them need less water to regulate their body temperature.
From our trips to Russia and Africa, we’ve learned that some animals live near lots of freshwater, while others survive with very little. They thrive because they’ve adapted to their environments. So, yes, living things can survive with limited freshwater, but only if they can adapt.
Now, I’m off to try on a purple wig. What do you think? Maybe not the best idea!
Water Detective: Go on a water hunt around your home or school. Look for places where you see water being used, like in the kitchen, bathroom, or garden. Make a list of all the things that need water to work or grow. Discuss with a friend or family member why each of these things needs water and what might happen if there was no water available.
Adaptation Art: Choose an animal from the lesson, like the nerpa seal or the addax antelope. Draw a picture of your chosen animal and label its special features that help it survive in its environment. For example, you might draw the nerpa’s flippers or the addax’s changing coat. Share your drawing with the class and explain how these features help the animal live with either lots or little freshwater.
Water Experiment: With the help of an adult, fill a small container with water and place it in the freezer to see how water turns into ice. Then, take it out and watch it melt back into liquid water. Discuss how this is similar to the water in glaciers and how it changes with temperature. Think about how animals might use ice or liquid water differently in their habitats.
