BIOLOGYBIOLOGY Adapting to Extreme Environments

Learning Objectives We are learning to: Understand why animals need to adapt to, and compete within, their environment What I’m looking for: You must be able to make simple suggestions on how animals are adapted to the conditions in which they live. (C grade) You should be able to suggest the factors for which organisms are competing in a given habitat. (B grade) You could be able to suggest reasons for the rate of heat loss being different in different animals? (A* grade)

How does adaptation help organisms? Well adapted organisms are better at coping with extremes of weather They are better at competing for food They are better at escaping from predators They are more likely to survive in their habitat and produce offspring

It is always a struggle for plants and animals to survive ANIMALS STRUGGLE : For food For water For protection against weather Against being eaten by predators Against disease Against accidents PLANTS STRUGGLE : For water For light For minerals in the soil Against weather Against disease Against being eaten

Task 1: 2 different habitats Identify the key features of these habitats? (3 mins)

A desert habitat A desert can have very little rainfall There is a lot of sunshine during the day There is very little shade The temperatures can get very hot At night it can become very cold Every living organism has been adapted to live in a particular environment.

An arctic habitat This sort of habitat can have extremely low temperatures The ground is covered with white snow for most of the year

Task 2: Adaptation How are the camel and the polar bear adapted to their environments? (3 mins)

Adaptation Example 1: The camel GCSE ScienceChapter 1 Stomach can hold 20 litres of water Produces very little urine Fat stored in hump No insulating fat under the skin Long legs hold it well above ground Flat feet with large surface area can drink 20 litres of water in just a few minutes

Example 2: The polar bear Animals like polar bears will have a thick insulating coat They usually have a large amount of body fat They have a large body size to surface area ratio ( Small ears and compact bodies reduce surface area) They have a camouflaged coat

Self-Assessment Question: Comparing two Foxes These two foxes are closely related, but because they have adapted to live in very different habitats they look very different TASK 1: (B/A* grade) Compare the adaptations of a Fennec Fox and an Arctic Fox to their environments. (3 mins) Fennec FoxArctic Fox GCSE Science

Self assessment answer - adaptation The Fennec Fox is smaller (C) than the arctic fox, giving it a larger surface area to volume ratio (B) which increases rate of heat loss (A*). Its longer ears (C) also increase surface area to volume ratio (B); it has less fat beneath its skin so heat can be lost more easily (A) Now! Assign a grade, justify that grade and set yourself a target