Adaptation

1. Adaptation Noadswood Science, 2011

2. Adaptation • To understand how plants and animals are adapted for survival

3. Habitats • Different habitats are able to support different organisms, however plants and animals develop features to adapt to their environment – they become better suited to the conditions • Think of the following organisms – how is a polar bear / camel / cactus / fish adapted to the environmental conditions of their habitat?

4. Adaptations • A habitat is only populated by organisms that are adapted to survive there • Adaptations are special features or behaviours that make an organism particularly suited to its environment – adaptations are a part of the evolutionary process • Why is it important that living things are adapted to their environment? • Adaptations increase an organism’s chance of survival and so increase its chance of reproducing

5. Polar Bear • Polar bears live in the Arctic, which is very cold • Adaptations of a polar bear include: - • Black skin to absorb heat well • White appearance to camouflage it against the snow and ice • Thick layers of fat and fur for insulation • Wide feet with hair on their soles to avoid slipping

6. Camel • Camels live in deserts, which are hot and dry during the day but cold at night • Adaptations of a camel include: - • They can go for a long time without water (fat stored in hump) • Slit-like nostrils and two rows of eyelashes to help keep the sand out • Wide, flat feet to help them walk on the sand • Thick fur to keep the sun off their skin (+ keep warm at night)

7. Cactus • Cactuses live in deserts, which are hot and dry during the day but cold at night with <25mm rainfall per year • Adaptations of a cactus include: - • No leaves and small surface area (reduces water loss) • Thick stem to store water • Spines to stop herbivores eating them • Shallow but extensive roots to absorb water as quickly as possible

8. Fish • Fish live in the sea, where temperature is reasonably stable • Adaptations of a fish include: - • Gills so they can breathe under water • Streamlined to move through the water easily • Some are highly adapted, such as a shark, to detect prey via highly sensitive taste glands • Some deep-sea fish have very large eyes, to detect what little light there is

9. Animal Adaptation • Complete the animal adaptation worksheet – cut out the animal and write down how it is adapted to its environment

10. Animal Adaptation • Elephant (dry grassland) – trunk to suck up water to drink and cool itself down; tusks for protection / mating / knocking over trees to eat; large ears to help it cool down; little hair so as to not overheat; large size aiding protection; large feet to support body

11. Animal Adaptation • Dolphin (sea) – fins to swim; streamlined; air hole on top of head allowing it to breathe

12. Animal Adaptation • Frog (pond) – long tongue to catch flies; camouflage; strong hind legs for leaping

13. Animal Adaptation • Polar bear (Arctic) – white fur for camouflage; thick hair to keep warm; sharp claws for catching prey & gripping ice; large feet to stop it sinking into the snow

14. Animal Adaptation • Zebra (grassland) – tall to spot predation; stripes for camouflage; strong legs for running quickly

15. Plant Adaptation • Why do plants need water? • Plants take in water through their roots in the soil – it moves up through the plant and is lost through the leaves in the transpiration stream • Stomata in the leaves allow gas in and out for photosynthesis and respiration, and as they do this water is lost by evaporation

16. Plant Adaptation • How can plants reduce water loss? • Surface area: volume ratio is extremely important – most plants have reduced the surface area of their leaves cutting down the area from which water can be lost • Some desert plants have small fleshy leaves with a thick cuticle to keep water loss down • One of the biggest problems for plants is being eaten by animals – vicious thorns, unpleasant taste and poisonous chemicals are some adaptations

17. Daily Changes • Many habitats do not stay the same all the time • Daily changes to the environment include: - • Changes in the amount of light (between day and night) • Changes in the temperature • Changes in the amount of water (i.e. rainfall / tidal variations)

18. Seasonal Changes • Many habitats do not stay the same all the time • Seasonal changes to the environment include: - • Changes in temperature between the seasons (warm in summer, cold in winter) • Changes in the amount of light (between long daylight hours in the summer to shorter days in the winter) • Changes in vegetation due to conditions (lots of vegetation in summer, to bare trees and snow-covered grown in winter)

19. Daily Changes - Adaptations How are plants and animals adapted for daily changes? • Most flowers open their petals during the day (for pollination), but close them at night for protection • Some animals avoid predation by being nocturnal (come out at night) – however some predators specialise at hunting during the night! • Factors such as the tide (in or out) also affect the distribution of organisms

20. Seasonal Changes - Adaptations How are plants and animals adapted for seasonal changes? • Some organisms hibernate during the cold winter months when food is scarce • Different sized coats are grown by animals, e.g. a summer and winter coat • Insects spend the winter as pupae • Animals store food during plentiful times in preparation for when food becomes scarce • Some organisms migrate • Flowers die off in winter as there are fewer birds or insects to pollinate tem • Deciduous leaves lose their leaves (in case of permafrost)

21. Blue Planet • Watch the deep episode of The Blue Planet • How are these organisms adapted to their environment?!