Adaptation and Survival

Do you think a polar bear could survive in a desert?

• No. • Polar bears have fur coats and swim in

water, but deserts are dry.

Do you think a rain-forest plant could survive in the same environment as a cactus? Why?

• No• Rain-forest plants need a lot of water to grow

and it is very dry where a cactus lives.

What makes each of these organisms (polar bear and rain-forest plant) suited to its environment?

• Traits, or characteristics, that help them survive.

Adaptations

• An adaptation is any characteristic that helps an organism survive in its environment.

• Types:– Structural adaptations–Behavioral adaptations

Structural Adaptations

• Structural adaptations are adjustments to internal or external physical structures.

• Examples are fur color, long limbs, strong jaws, and the ability to run fast. These can help organisms survive in certain environments.

Structural Adaptations

• The webbed feet of a duck helps it survive in water.

• This type of adaptation can protect organisms or enable them to hunt.

• Turtles have a shell for protection.• Sharks have an excellent sense of smell and

sharp teeth to help them catch food.

Behavioral Adaptations

• Behavioral adaptations are adjustments in an organism’s behavior.

• Examples: Wolves travel in packs to help them be able to hunt and capture large animals.

• Migration helps animals survive seasonal changes.

• Hibernation helps animals escape the cold. The animals remain inactive until the weather becomes warm.

Why are adaptations important to organisms?

• They help organisms survive their environments.

• How do organisms get adaptations?• They inherit adaptations from their

parent or parents when they reproduce.

How are structural adaptations and behavioral adaptations different?

• Structural adaptations have to do with the organism’s structure and behavioral adaptations are how the animal acts or behaves.

Adaptations of Cacti

• Spines (needles) to protect them from plant-eating animals.

• Thick stems to store water• Large flowers to attract pollinators

Behavioral Adaptations of Elephants

• Form herds to protect their young• Rest during the hottest part of the day• Spray water on their backs to cool off• Teach their young what to eat

Plant Adaptations

• Some plants have scented flowers to attract pollinators.

• Leaves to catch sunlight • Roots to soak up water• Some plants have waxy stems to prevent

water loss such as a cacti.• Tiny pores on their leaves called stomata that

allow gases to enter and leave.

More Plant Adaptations

• Orchids, plants in the rain-forest, have adaptations to help them survive wet, hot temperatures.

• Orchid stems have storage organs called pseudobulbs that store water for the plant.

• The roots help secure it high in a tree and absorb water from the air.

• Drip-tip leaves help drain excess water.

More Plant Adaptations

• Some plant adaptations protect them from animals that want to eat them.• Some plants produce chemicals that

give them a bad taste.• Some produce chemicals that are

poisonous.

Animal Adaptations

• Adaptations can help animals survive in certain environments.

• Mammals living in cold climates have thick fur and extra body fat to keep them warm.

• Desert animals are nocturnal- they remain inactive during the hottest time of the day and become active during the night.

• Aquatic animals can move very fast underwater. Some can hold their breath for a long period of time or breath with gills.

More Animal Adaptations

• Skunks use chemicals to help being caught.• Owls have adaptations that make them good

hunters.• Running fast helps animals avoid getting eaten

like a gazelle.

Camouflage

• Camouflage is any coloring, shape, or pattern that allows an organism to blend in with its environment.

• Camouflage allows animals to sneak up on organisms that they are hunting or it helps organisms hide from predators.

Camouflage

Protective coloration

• A type of camouflage in which the color of an animal helps it blend in with its background.

• An arctic fox has a unique coat. During the winter it has a white coat that allows it to blend in with the snow. The coat changes color in the summer to blend in with plants and surroundings.

• Stripes on a tiger allows it to blend in with the grass and helps it hide from organisms it hunts.

Protective Resemblance

• This is matching the color, shape, and texture of an environment.

• A walking stick looks like a branch.• A pipefish looks similar to sea grass.

Why do you think an owl has one ear higher than the other?

• It helps them distinguish where a sound comes from and how far away the sound is.

How is an owl able to fly silently?

• Special tips on the wing feathers muffle the sound of air rushing over the owl’s wings.

Mimicry

• Mimicry is an adaptation in which an animal resembles an unpleasant animal.

• A viceroy butterfly looks like a poisonous monarch butterfly and this helps keep it from getting eaten.