Animal Adaptations. VOCABULARY Environment External conditions affecting the life and survival of...
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Transcript of Animal Adaptations. VOCABULARY Environment External conditions affecting the life and survival of...
VOCABULARYEnvironmentExternal conditions affecting the life and
survival of an organism. Includes abiotic and biotic factors. Examples include:
CompetitionProcess by which organisms contend for
limited resources.
Adaptation a structure or behavior that helps an organism
better survive and reproduce in its environment.
VariationDifferences between individual organisms of the
same species. Because of variation, some members of a species are better adapted to their environment.
Natural SelectionOnly the best adapted survive and reproduce.
The genes that made them the best adapted are then passed on to the next generation. Over time, more and more members of the species will have these “better” traits.
What is an adaptation?An adaptation is a change in an animal’s physical
structure or behavior that helps an animal to survive in their habitat. Examples: The shape of a bird’s beak, number of fingers and
toes, or the color of an animal’s fur.
Adaptations do not develop during one lifetime, but over many generations.
Two types of adaptations… PHYSICAL and BEHAVIORAL
Physical adaptations
Body structures that allow an animal to find and consume food, defend
itself, and to reproduce
Examples of Physical Adaptations
1. The shape of an animal’s teeth is related to its diet. Herbivores, such as
deer, have molars (flat surfaces) for chewing tough grass and plants.
Carnivores, such as lions, have sharp canines to kill and tear meat.
2. Animal Defenses
Some animals use these methods of defense to protect themselves:Camouflage
Horseshoe hare, arctic fox
MimicryMexican Milk Snake
Chemical Defenses Skunks, OctopiBright colors
Poison Arrow Frog“Hair” projections
Hedgehog quillsDeer Antlers
Protective Coloration Coloration and
protective resemblance allow an animal to blend into its environment.
Another word for this is camouflage. Their camouflage makes it hard for enemies to single out individuals.
MimicryMimicry allows one
animal to look, sound, or act like another animal to fool predators into thinking it is poisonous or dangerous.
Mimicry (looking or sounding like another living organism)
The Viceroy butterfly uses mimicry to look like the Monarch butterfly. Can you tell them apart?
Poisonous
Not poisonous
Physical adaptation
I’m the Monarch!
I’m the Viceroy!
Behaviour adaptationsBehaviour adaptations
include activities that help an animal survive.
Behaviour adaptations can be learned or instinctive.
MigrationThis is a
behavioural adaptation that involves an animal or group of animals moving from one region to another and then back again.
Animals migrate for different reasons.
better climate better food safe place to live safe place to raise young go back to the place they
were born.
HibernationThis is deep sleep in which animal’s body
temperature drops and body activities are slowed to conserve energy.
Examples: bats, woodchucks & bears.
Adaptation Applications: LionsWhy are the eyes of a lion set in front of
the head rather than on the sides?
Answer: Eyes in front of the head allow for depth perception and ability to judge distances when hunting.
Adaptation Applications: LionsWhat is the purpose of the mane on a male
lion? What is the reason for the lion’s color?
A thick mane helps the male to appear larger and serves as protection for the throat. The tawny brown coat color camouflages the animal and young among vegetation.
Adaptation Applications: GiraffeWhy are giraffes able to go for long periods
of time without water?
Answer: Giraffes drink water when available, but can go weeks without it. They rely on morning dew and the water content of their food.
Adaptation Applications: GiraffeHow are their long necks adapted to their
lifestyle?
Answer: This extra length is thought to have evolved to help the giraffe spot predators and other giraffes in the distance. Interestingly, giraffes and humans have the same number of vertebrate in their necks.