Ecological Adaptations of Plants & Animals

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Environmental Science Unit

Adaptations• Adaptations help plants &

animals survive (live and grow) in different areas.

• Adaptations could be coloration to blend in with surroundings (camouflage) or coloration that is bright(warning sign to stay away).

• Adaptations could also be odd behaviors!

Top 10 Animal Adaptations: Creature Countdowns:

Animal Planet

Instead of adapting to 1 particular area or possibly hibernating, some

animals MIGRATE…• Fly, walk, swim…• Migratory routes exist on earth

(land,air,water) with resting spots (habitat) along the way.

• Humans live within these migratory routes and have altered the landscape resulting in decreased/degraded habitat.

Tundra Swan at Coe Lakeon their way south to the Carolinas

Whale Migration Routes

• Increased human population, increased human habitat, increased consumption of resources END RESULT = decreased/degraded natural habitat & resources

As human habitat expands natural habitat decreases.

• Added stress b/c of increased edge

• Less food• Less shelter• Decreased chance

finding mate• Leads to decrease in

population size • generalist vs specialist

species

Habitat Degradation/Destruction can be remedied…teach

here…

C.L.O.S.E. Project to Offset Human Habitat Development

Osprey ReintroductionPictured Left: Our meeting with ODNR

Division of Wildlife Osprey SpecialistInvestigating “Osprey Island” on Coe

Lake to install an osprey nesting platform.

Alum Creek Ohio Osprey MigrationOver winter in Brazil Along Amazon River

• Spring Migration – head north from Mexico (begins in March); few weeks to live, they race to produce the next generation (have up to 4 generations each summer, one traveling a little further north than the last).

• Summer- breeding season, monarchs live from 2-5 weeks during which they mate and lay the eggs (only on Milkweed) that become the next generation.

• Last Generation (in reproductive diapause) are the ones that migrate to Mexico.

• Enormous Task: weigh less than a gram & have to fly 2,000-3,000 miles!

• Then this generation of butterflies become reproductive in February and March as they move north, laying eggs on milkweeds as they progress northward into the United States. Some of these butterflies can live as long as 9 months!

Monarch MigrationMonarch Migration

The Fall Migration (September - November). This figure is an

interpretation of the routes taken by Monarchs during the Fall migration. The

pathways are based on tag recoveries and observations of Migrating Monarchs.

Journey North: Monarch Butterfly

MigrationLiveLink

MIGRATION NORTH MIGRATION SOUTH

Over-wintering Site for Monarchs

Copy Cats• Mimicry- Animals can make

copies. Smaller, weaker animals can imitate stronger animals to stay alive. These "copycats" are called MIMICS.

• Take a look at these two butterflies. One is a Monarch and very yucky to eat. The other is a Viceroy and very yummy.

This moth caterpillar defends itself by mimicking a snake.

Plant Adaptations• help them survive (live and

grow) in different areas; they are special features that allow a plant to live in a particular place or habitat.

• Desert =small leaves, hair on leaves, wax covering

• Temperate deciduous=broad leaves, lose leaves in winter

• Polar(tundra)=small,together&close to ground,small leaves, shallow roots.

Desert Plants Adaptations• Succulents (store water)• Deep roots• Little/no leaves (reduce SA, reduce

vapor. Of water)• Spines (discourage predation)• Little hairs shade the plant reducing

water loss• Waxy covering (cuticle) reduce

water loss• Flowers at night; lures evening

pollinators bc they are more likely to be nocturnal as well.

Temperate Deciduous Adaptations• Where we live• Wildflowers grow on forest floor early in the

spring before trees leaf-out and shade the forest floor

• Many trees are deciduous (they drop their leaves in the autumn, and grow new ones in spring; provides nutrients for itself w/ help of decomposers).

• Thin, broad, light-weight leaves that can capture a lot of sunlight to make a lot of food for the tree in warm weather; when the weather gets cooler, the broad leaves cause too much water loss and can be weighed down by too much snow, so the tree drops its leaves. New ones will grow in the spring.

• Trees have thick bark to protect against cold winters

Flowers Bloom on Forest Floor First

• They draw on food (starches,sugars also called “bottled sunshine”) stored the year before in bulbs, tubers, fleshy roots and rootstocks.

• In a few short weeks they bloom, make seed, replenish their underground stores of plant food, then wither, soon after the trees come into full leaf and shade them.

• Picture Right: top-Hepatica also called Liverleaf (early bloomer,Feb/March), Bloodroot, Springbeauty.

Anthropogenic Effects on Ecosystems

• Negatives-human expansion & settlement has converted natural/wild habitat into human habitat (impervious surfaces like parking lots, driveways, roads); less habitat; less resources for plants & animals; increased stress; decline in #’s individuals; decline gene pool; eventual extinction

• Positives-we can bring it back! Replace low biodiversity habitat (lawns, parking lots) into high biodiversity habitat (habitat-renewal).

Habitat Renewal food / water /cover

• Add native plants to your yard

• Hang a bird feeder• Add a simple water

feature• Install a nesting box

(provides cover, place to raise young)

• Invite nature of all kinds to share your yard

• Help the environment • Do your part to counter the effects

of Urban Sprawl • Make a homes for butterflies,

songbirds & more• Reduce chemical and rainfall

runoff to help improve water quality

• Save on energy costs • Add science & entertainment

value for children & family members of all age

Green Roof Idea