Q. Consider the following statements:

1. Almost all birds and mammals are capable of thermoregulation and osmoregulation.
2. Nearly all plants cannot maintain a constant internal environment.
3. Aquatic animals and mostly all plants are conformers.

Which of the above is / are correct?
Answer: Only 1 and 3
Notes: Some organisms are able to maintain homeostasis by physiological (sometimes behavioural also) means which ensures constant body temperature, constant osmotic concentration, etc. All birds and mammals, and a very few lower vertebrate and invertebrate species are indeed capable of such regulation (thermoregulation and osmoregulation). An overwhelming majority (99 per cent) of animals and nearly all plants cannot maintain a constant internal environment. Their body temperature changes with the ambient temperature. In aquatic animals, the osmotic concentration of the body fluids change with that of the ambient air, water osmotic concentration. These animals and plants are simply conformers.

This question is part of UPSC Daily 20 MCQ Series Course on GKToday Android app.