How are aquatic plants and animals adapted to water habitats?

Aquatic plants and animals are adapted to water habitats through special features that help them survive, move, and perform life processes in water. These adaptations allow them to live successfully in freshwater or marine environments.

Aquatic plants may have flexible stems, floating leaves, and structures that help them remain supported by water. Some plants have air-filled spaces that provide buoyancy. Aquatic animals have features suited for underwater life, such as streamlined bodies and fins in fish for swimming. Many aquatic animals use gills to obtain oxygen dissolved in water.

These adaptations help aquatic organisms obtain resources and survive in their water-based surroundings.