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Adaptations

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What is Adaptation? “...the way in which a species becomes

better suited to living in its environment.”

structures, characteristics, and behaviors that increase an organisms’ chance of surviving and reproducing in an environment.

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Structural adaptations are physical characteristics that help the organism survive (keep warm or cold, feed, communicate, move, etc.).

Ex: Thick layer of blubber of a polar bear is used to keep it warm in the artic temperatures

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Movement

• Many methods: running, flying, swimming, etc.• Different habitats present different problems to

movement that need to be overcome• Specialists vs. Generalists

...cumbersome on landGood in water...

Leopard seal – aquatic specialist

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Why move?

Radiated tortoises mating

American pika collecting food Common warthog fleeing from cheetah

Grass snake hatchlings dispersing

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• Things to think about: • Speed vs. agility (mode of feeding dictates movement) :

– Move to catch prey or to escape predators– Land may be open or have obstacles such as trees

• Moving over different substrates e.g. sand, snow, mud

(What does it feel like when you run in sand?)

Adaptations to moving on land

Movement on Land

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• Meter long tail used for balance when walking across rocky cliffs

• Short fore limbs and long hind limbs for agility in steep rugged habitat.

Snow Leopard

Adaptations for living in trees

Things to think about:

• Forested areas may not be continuous• Moving from one tree to another :swinging, jumping, gliding • Balance and grip (falling could be fatal)

Arboreal Movement

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Sugar glider

• Patagium (flaps on side of body) allow it to glide up to 50 meters

• Tail used to control direction when gliding, grasp tree when sitting• Feet are hand-like to grasp branches

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Adaptations to aquatic movement

• Things to think about:

• Friction – causing drag• Buoyancy – saline (salt) vs. freshwater• Currents and tides

Aquatic Movement

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Great white shark

• Streamlined body to reduce drag

• Fins and tail used to propel/direct itself through water• No swim bladder, liver contains squalene which maintains constant buoyancy

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Spotted handfish

• Two different methods of moving through water a. fins for swimming or walking along sea floor

•Color allows it to blend into surroundings

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Adaptations to aerial movement

• Things to think about:

• Overcoming friction• Use of air currents• Hot air vs. cold air

Aerial Movement

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Peregrine falcon

Fastest flying bird 155 miles/hour• Tear drop body shape makes it aerodynamic• Nostrils with baffles (small cones) that slow down air

entering lungs so they do not explode

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California condor

• Adapted for gliding using 3 meter wingspan, can go miles on a single flap

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Behavioral adaptations are actions that are used by an organisms to help it survive.

Ex: Birds migrating south during the winter

Why? When fall turns to winter, temperature dips, food sources become scarce Birds move to locations where there is a constant food supply and nesting opportunities.

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Sea otters wind themselves up in the tops of kelp. Young otters must learn this behavior from older otters.

Why? Prevents them from being swept away from their ecosystem by the tide.

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What occurs?oheartbeat drops from 55 beats/min to 10 beats/min

obody temperature drops 5-9 degrees below normal

oWhile in hibernation the bear uses stored energy it accumulated as fat to survive.  A bear can lose 15 to 40 percent of its body weight during the winter just by sleeping!

Why?When fall turns to winter,temperature dips, food sourcesbecome scarce

Bear Hibernating

• Open plains specialist

• Adapted for speed

Cheetah

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Spanish ibex

• Rocky habitat specialist

• Adapted for agility

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Polar bear

• Habitat generalist – can move over land and in water• Adapted to polar habitat

22Leopard slugSidewinder

• Movement without limbs

• Adapted to overcome friction

Legless movement

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• Fossa

• Habitat generalist – can move quickly through trees as well as on the ground

• Adapted to jump between branches

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White-handed gibbon

• Master of agility

• Adapted to swing between branches

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Rainforest

Open grassland

Woodland

River

Ocean

Desert

Polar Which habitat?Mountains

Snow leopard

Nile crocodile

Bornean orangutan

Red squirrel

- You will be given an ‘Adaptations for Movement’ worksheet.

- Write in the adaptations that each species has for moving through its natural habitat.

Once you have finished the worksheet, you can begin your ‘Wild Journey’

• Get into groups of 5 or less

• Each group will need:

• 1x Wild Journey board game

• 5x Species characters - use as your playing pieces on the board

• 5x Species fact files - explains how your particular species is

adapted to moving through its natural habitat

• 1x Rules sheet - read before beginning the game

Wild Journey

SpeciesHabitat

Natural Least suitable

Cheetah African savannah Polar

White-handed gibbon Rainforest African savannah

Polar bear Polar Rainforest

Sidewinder Desert Rocky cliffs

Spanish ibex Rocky cliffs Desert

• If you land on your natural habitat square: roll the dice again.

• If you land on your least suitable habitat square: miss a go!

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Snow leopard

Nile crocodile

Bornean orangutan

Red squirrel

How are they adapted to move in their habitat?