How Does Water Contribute to the Fitness of the Environment to Support Life?
Water is essential to all living things on Earth. Water supports the life of plants and animals and human beings alike. Without water, the environment would not be fit enough to support life.
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Life Began in Water
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The evolution from tadpole into frog demonstrates this process. Life as we know it began in water. It took over 3 billion years for life to spread and thrive on dry land. Even now, living organisms require mostly water in order to survive. Cells are surrounded mainly by water and are made up of at least 70 percent water themselves.
Water Controls Temperature
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Oceans, lakes and rivers regulate Earth's temperature. Earth is ideal for living beings and organisms because the amount of water on the planet regulates the temperature. The heat from the sun is moderated by the 75 percent of the Earth that is water. The evaporation of water from the sun's heat cools off the air, keeping it at a livable temperature.
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Water is the Solvent of Life
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Water is essential but not necessarily a universal solvent. It is the most versatile solvent, but because it is not universal, our bodies do not dissolve in it. It also allows us to differentiate acids and bases, as water is neutral.
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References
- Photo Credit purple water lilly in a water pond image by Jorge Moro from Fotolia.com crapaud buffle image by Christophe Fouquin from Fotolia.com ocean image by avtosak from Fotolia.com
