Adaptations and the Environment
If an environment changes, plants & Animals will do 1 of 3
things1 Become extinct
2 Move to another environment or location (migrate)
3 Traits change over time (change genetically) Individuals with
variations that are favorable in the new environment will survive
and reproduce. The population with the favorable variation will
increase! ex: Gray moths on gray bark will increase.Adaptations and
the Environment
Tutorial: Adaptations and
Survivalhttp://lgfl.skoool.co.uk/content/keystage3/biology/pc/learningsteps/ADSLC/launch.html
What is an Adaptation?Adaptations are favorable variations of
traits that help an organism better survive in a given
environment!
Ex: shape of a beak or claw, teeth, antlers, feathers/fur (body
coverings), the presence of a tail or movement
There are two types of adaptations:1. Physical Body Structures2.
Behavioral Actions
Examples of Physical AdaptationsStructure of TeethAnimals that
eat meat, are called Carnivores.Sharp Canine Teeth and Incisors in
the top jaw indicate a Carnivore Animals that eat plants, they are
called herbivores.Flat Molars and no incisors on the top jaw
indicate an Herbivore
simplyteeth.comPHYSICAL ADAPTATIONSDense Root Structures in
Plants(Allows plants to grow in compacted soil and anchors
plants)
Hollow Hair(Insulates animals from hot & cold)Like
insulation around your home!
Physical Adaptation: Hollow bonesBirds have hollow bones
(nothing on the inside) to help them fly.It makes them light enough
or less dense to soar through the air.
PHYSICAL ADAPTATIONSDesert Plants have small leaves or spines
and/or wax coatings to reduce the loss of water from the plant.
Physical adaptationsArctic Animals have short ears, legs, &
round bodies to reduce the surface area of their bodies. This
reduces the amount of body heat loss. Keeps them warmer!!
Physical Adaptation: VisionOwls can see at night because of
their large eyes.
More physical adaptations
Animals with armored plates protect them from predators and
harm.
Physical Adaptations of birdsBirds and their beaks: beaks allow
them to eat.This house finch has a short, stubby beak for eating
seeds.
More physical adaptationsHummingbirds long pointed beaks allow
them to reach inside the flower for nectar.
More Physical AdaptationsThe European goldfinch eats insects
with its sharp, pointed beak.
Physical Adaptation: ClawsClaws, or talons, help animals to
catch and eat their food.
Red-Tailed Hawk
Ospreys talons Physical Adaptation: Forked tonguesThey allow
reptiles to smell and to tell which direction the smell is coming
from.
Physical Adaptation: CamouflageCamouflageWhere organisms are
colored or shaped like their surroundings.This adaptation helps
protect organisms from their enemies. On the other hand, camouflage
also helps a predator "fit in" to its environment so that it won't
be seen very easily as it comes up on its prey.Take the Arctic fox.
During summer months, the Arctic fox has a brown coat. During
winter, the coat of the Arctic fox is white, matching its icy,
snowy surroundings.
More Physical CamouflageHawkfish changes colors to blend in with
their environment.
Even more physical camouflageA tiger uses its stripes to blend
into grass, leaves and trees.
Physical Adaptations: MimicryAn adaptation in which an organism
is trying to look, act, or sound like another organism to survive
(or for their own protection).Like a Copycat!!!Plant mimicking and
insects trying to get pollinated.Caterpillar mimicking bird
droppings.
MimicryMonarch butterflies are toxic to predators, and you can
tell from their bright colors, so the Viceroy mimics the Monarch to
protect itself.
Monarch (original) Viceroy (imitator)
MimicryThe King Snake tries to imitate the Poisonous Coral
Snake.
Behavioral Adaptations: InstinctWhat does it mean to act on
instinct or have an instinct?
An instinct occurs naturally without thinking (sneezing,
tripping).
It does not have to be taught, it is natural.
Animals are born with instincts.Behavioral Adaptation:
INSTINCTBears or Squirrels hibernate in the winter to escape the
cold.
Behavioral Adaptation: InstinctSea turtles migrate (move
somewhere else during a season) no one tells them to, it is
something that naturally happens.
Behavioral Adaptation: InstinctSnakes like the rattlesnake shake
their rattles to warn predators to stay away.A snake would rather
hide, not attack.
Behavioral Adaptation: InstinctTurtles withdraw their bodies
into their shells to hide from predators.Desert Tortoise burrow
into the ground to escape the heat during the day time.
Behavioral Adaptation: Instinct
Chameleons change color because of their mood, or because they
sense a predator nearby.
AcclimationAn individual changes in response to the environment
over the course of its life.NOT passed on through genes
What does it mean to learn something?
You are taught it, it is not an instinct.
You observe it being done, and then you practice it
yourselfAcclimation: Learned Cheetahs watch their mothers to learn
how to hunt.
Acclimation: LEARNEDChimpanzees learn sounds in order to
communicate with each other.
Wrap it Up..Adaptations are qualities that help animals to
survive in a given environment.There are physical and behavioral
adaptations. Physical AdaptationsCamouflage helps an animal hide by
changing color.Mimicry helps an animal survive by imitating
something more dangerous. Behavioral AdaptationsInstinct is
natural. AcclimationNew behavior is learnedThe End