Adaptation Survival of the Fittest

It’s all about traits Acquired Traits Happen After Birth “LEARNED” Scars Pierced Ears Learning a Skill Changing Appearance

It’s all about traits Inherited Traits Programmed at Birth skin eye hair color height face shape sight, taste, smell

body part or behavior that helps an animal survive in a particular environment. help an animal breathe, catch food, or hide. adapted to live in certain habitats. Physical Behavioral body structures that allow an animal to find and consume food, defend itself, and to reproduce its species. help an animal survive in its environment Camouflage use of color in a surrounding Mimicry (looking or sounding like another living organism) Chemical defenses (like venom, ink, sprays) Body coverings & parts (claws, beaks, feet, armor plates, skulls, teeth) allow animals to respond to life needs. animals’ actions

An ADAPTATION is an inherited trait that helps an organism survive For it to be an adaptation, most members of the population must have the same trait Adaptations can be physical or behavioral When words appear in orange, write them down.

Example of Adaptation The shape of an animal’s teeth is related to its diet. – Herbivores, such as deer, have many molars for chewing tough grass and plants. – Carnivores, such as lions, have sharp canines to kill and tear meat.

Physical Adaptation How an Organism LOOKS or its structure Example: Camouflage Body coloring that helps an organism blend in with its surroundings is called camouflage. This leaf insect is protected from predators eating it because it lives on trees and blends in with the leaves.

Physical Adaptation How an Organism LOOKS or its structure Example: Camouflage Body coloring that helps an organism blend in with its surroundings is called camouflage. The camouflage of this crab spider is an adaptation that lets it blend in with flower petals – until lunch flies by…

Physical Adaptation How an Organism LOOKS or its structure Example: Mimicry Some organisms look like other organisms that are poisonous or dangerous. They are protected because of the way they look. Tasty Viceeroy butterfly on the left, poisonous Monarch butterfly on the right. The Viceroy is protected by mimicing the color of the Monarch. Bee story.

Physical Adaptation How an Organism LOOKS or its structure Example: Specialized Structures Some organisms have adapted special body parts that make them well suited to their environment. These African elephants live in a hot climate. Large ears help dissipate the heat by bringing blood close to the skin surface. What other adaptations do elephants have?

Physical Adaptation How an Organism LOOKS or its structure Example: Flight adaptations All birds have hollow bones and feathers. This allows most members of the bird family to fly. Humans and other mammals have marrow inside their bones. Bird bones are hollow. How would hollow bones help a bird to fly?

Physical Adaptation How an Organism LOOKS or its structure Example: Swimming adaptations Fish have adapted to marine life by having scales and using fins to move. This catfish has many fins that allow it to glide through the muddy river bottoms. What other adaptation is unique to catfish?

Behavioral Adaptation What an organism DOES Some traits are passed down as instincts or behaviors. These behaviors help the organism survive.

Behavioral Adaptation Example: Hunting and stalking Hunting behavior is coded in an animal’s genes. It is an instinct. This tiger is stalking prey. This behavioral adaptation helps it get food, and ensures that the species will survive.

Behavioral Adaptation Example: Hibernating Hibernating conserves an organism’s energy resources and helps it survive when food is scarce. Mammals aren’t the only ones that have adapted to cold weather by hibernating. Turtles, frogs, and some snakes share the same trait.

Behavioral Adaptation Example: Migration Many animals travel long distances yearly in search of new habitats. The trigger for the migration may be climate or availability of food,

What are some physical adaptations of this porcupine?

What are some behavioral adaptations of this cheetah?

What are some physical adaptations of this cactus?

What environment are these mushrooms best suited for?

Natural Selection The organisms that are best suited to the environment will live and be able to pass on their genes by reproducing. Organisms that are not well suited to the environment will die before they can reproduce. “Survival of the Fittest”

Speciation When a group of organisms are isolated in a new environment, the traits that are best suited to that new environment will be passed on. After MANY generations, a whole new species may be formed.

Speciation Example: Snowshoe Hares and Jackrabbits Both descended from a common ancestor Live in very different environments

Charles Darwin Was a Brittish “naturalist” Wrote 19 books in his lifetime Studied science by observing the natural world Buried in Westminster Abbey

Charles Darwin Charles Darwin sailed on a ship named the Beagle. It may have been the defining experience of his life. It may have also ruined his health. A poisonous bug bite caused chronic illness: ulcer, diverticulitis and gall bladder disease. He studied marine life and flora and fauna of South America for the five year trip.

Charles Darwin

Darwin’s theory stated that the diversity of organisms on earth is the result of billions of years of adaptations to changing environments. He didn’t coin the phrase “survival of the fittest”. He did develop the idea of natural selection.

Charles Darwin Most famous for his discoveries on the Galapagos Islands. Near the end of his discovery tour Western tip of S.A. near Ecuador

Charles Darwin Studied many plants and animals. Famous for making detailed observations and measurements of finches. Size, color, habitat, beaks. Darwin’s video