ADAPTATIONS Card Sort SCIENCE CENTER

ADAPTATIONSCard Sort

SCIENCE CENTER

STRUCTURAL & BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATIONS: PLANTS & ANIMALS

Created by: Jennifer Maguire

No Life Science unit is complete without an in-‐depth look at the astounding diversity of structural and behavioral adapta<ons organisms have to ensure their survival.

This resource contains 32 task cards for students to sort according to the type of adapta<on described. I designed this product to introduce students to organisms they may already be familiar with, as well as several others that they may not have even heard of before. These unique organisms were carefully chosen to pique students’ interest in the vast diversity of organisms with which we share this amazing planet. Photos of each organism are included.

Behavioral adapta.ons highlighted include: hiberna<on, migra<on, bruma<on, aes<va<on, communal living, morphing and an<-‐preda<on adapta<ons. Structural adapta.ons highlighted include: camouflage, mimicry, preda<on adapta<ons, and body structures.

Organisms highlighted include: camels, woodchucks, hummingbirds, Emperor penguins, platypus, Komodo dragons, Sawflies, Indonesian Mimic Octopus, Harp seals, Walking S<ck bugs, dandelions, desert flowers, chameleons, Golden Wheel Spider, armadillos, earthworms, Massasauga raPlesnake, opossums, sea turtles, pebble toad, Green Basilisk Lizard, Venus Fly Trap, Bearded dragons, Candy crab, Lygodium Spider moth Download includes: 32 task cards with colorful backgrounds 32 task cards with black and white backgrounds (same organisms as color version) editable PowerPoint template for cards student recording sheet answer key

A physical feature of an organism that has evolved over time,

allowing it to become better suited to its

environment

Something an organism does in response to a

change in its environment to ensure

its survival

STRUCTURAL ADAPTATION

BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATION

J.MAGUIRE 2017 J.MAGUIRE 2017


MIGRATION

Lygodium Spider Moth is a moth that has evolved to look like a spider! The ability to mimic a spider protects it

from predators

Bearded Dragons, along with many other reptiles and amphibians, enter a

state of brumation when temperatures become cold – this is

similar to hibernation in mammals

The Candy Crab can blend itself into the coral on which it lives



Woodchucks are true hibernators. Their heart rate slows from 80 bpm

to a mere 5 bpm to conserve energy while they sleep for 6-7 months!

Venus Fly Traps have specially adapted leaves. Their leaves have

special hair-like teeth at the edge to seal in their prey.

The pebble toad has a unique escape mechanism when confronted by

predators. It curls itself into a ball, tenses its muscles and throws itself off the mountain top, bouncing like a pebble.

When threatened, the Green Basilisk Lizard drops from a tree and into the

water. Then, it sprints on the surface of the water, upright, at 5 ft. per second!



CAMOUFLAGE

Opossums play dead when they are threatened, a tactic used to make them less desirable to predators

Many plants have evolved to have spines or thorns to protect

themselves

Sea turtles, like many marine reptiles have adapted to their environment, saltwater, by having a salt gland that

removes excess salt from their bodies



Armadillos have armor plates covering their bodies to protect

them from predators

Massasauga Rattlesnake uses its rattle to warn others of its presence, in essence telling them to stay away

When soil becomes too hot or too dry, earthworms move deeper into the soil,

coil into a tight ball, excrete a protective mucus and lower their metabolic rate to

reduce water loss – this is called aestivation

HIBERNATION



MIMICRY The Golden Wheel spider uses a defense mechanism called flic-flacking to escape predators. It rolls itself into a ball and cartwheels down the sand dunes at

speeds up to 44 turns/second

Dandelion seeds are shaped in such a way to catch the wind, an important

adaptation for reproduction

Chameleons are able to change their color to blend in to their

environment



Harp seals have a fatty layer of blubber that allows them to survive the Arctic waters

Walking Stick bugs have evolved to look like part of the tree, allowing

them to blend in

The Indonesian Mimic Octopus does more than just mimic. It is known to morph its

body to behave in the same way as twelve different sea creatures, including,

but not limited to: the lion fish, the sole fish, poisonous sea snakes, sea stars, etc.

Sawfly larvae cluster together in large numbers as an anti-predator

adaptation. They demonstrate “safety in numbers”.



Hummingbirds have very long slender beaks to access nectar, and very tiny feet that don’t get in the way when

hovering

Emperor Penguins huddle together to conserve heat. The eggs and chicks sit on their parents’ feet to stay off the

ice and keep warm

Camels are well-suited for the desert: long eyelashes, closable

nostrils & ear hair keep sand out, wide feet prevent sinking, a hump that

stores fat for energy

Komodo Dragons are not only the largest lizard on Earth, they also have the most

disgusting mouths! Their mouths have two venom glands and their saliva contains E. coli, Staphylococcus, Providencia & other

deadly bacteria – excellent adaptations for a hunter



Some plants go dormant for survival during times of drought, and blossom

when moisture returns

A platypus is a unique organism whose predators are diurnal (daytime) hunters. In response, the platypus has adapted its

sleep patterns to become nocturnal.


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