Animal Adaptations

What is ecology? The study of the interactions that take place among organisms and their environment

Adaptations

How do adaptations help animals survive in their environment? An adaptation is a body part or behavior that helps an animal survive in a particular environment. Adaptation can help an animal breathe, catch food, or hide. All animals are adapted to live in certain habitats. Animals that cannot adapt will die out.

help an animal breathe, catch food, or hide. 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.

We can separate adaptations into two categories: Physical Adaptations AND Behavioral

help an animal breathe, catch food, or hide. 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

Physical adaptations are body structures that allow an animal to find and consume food, defend itself, and to reproduce its species. Physical adaptations help an animal survive in its environment. Hey! I’m a walking stick. I look just like a stick you’d find on the ground. © A. Weinberg

Physical Behavioral help an animal breathe, catch food, or hide. 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) Physical adaptation Camouflage (use of color in a surrounding) The chameleon can change its color to match its surroundings. Can you do that?

Physical Behavioral help an animal breathe, catch food, or hide. 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

(looking or sounding like another living organism) Physical adaptation Mimicry (looking or sounding like another living organism) The Viceroy butterfly uses mimicry to look like the Monarch butterfly. Can you tell them apart? I’m the Viceroy! Not poisonous Poisonous I’m the Monarch!

Physical Behavioral Mimicry 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 Mimicry (looking or sounding like another living organism) Camouflage use of color in a surrounding

Chemical defenses (like venom, ink, sprays) Physical adaptation Chemical defenses (like venom, ink, sprays)

Physical Behavioral Mimicry 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 Mimicry (looking or sounding like another living organism) Camouflage Chemical defenses (like venom, ink, sprays) use of color in a surrounding

Physical adaptations Body coverings & parts (claws, beaks, feet, armor plates, skulls, teeth) The elephant’s trunk is a physical adaptation that helps it to clean itself, eat, drink, and to pick things up.

Physical Behavioral Mimicry 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 Mimicry (looking or sounding like another living organism) Body coverings & parts (claws, beaks, feet, armor plates, skulls, teeth) Camouflage Chemical defenses (like venom, ink, sprays) use of color in a surrounding

Behavioral Adaptations allow animals to respond to life needs.

Physical Behavioral Mimicry 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 allow animals to respond to life needs. Mimicry (looking or sounding like another living organism) Body coverings & parts (claws, beaks, feet, armor plates, skulls, teeth) Camouflage Chemical defenses (like venom, ink, sprays) use of color in a surrounding

Behavioral Adaptations are animals’ actions. Remember that Physical Adaptations are body structures. Each organism has unique methods of adapting to its environment by means of different actions.

Physical Behavioral Mimicry 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 allow animals to respond to life needs. animals’ actions Mimicry (looking or sounding like another living organism) Body coverings & parts (claws, beaks, feet, armor plates, skulls, teeth) Camouflage Chemical defenses (like venom, ink, sprays) use of color in a surrounding

Homeostasis Maintenance of constant internal conditions in the face of a varying external environment. Examples: The thickening of fur in winter. The seeking of shade in heat. The production of more red blood cells at high altitude.

Maintenance of constant internal conditions in the face of a varying external environment

Endotherms vs. Ectotherms

Ectotherms Endotherms Maintenance of constant internal conditions in the face of a varying external environment Ectotherms Endotherms

Endotherms Endotherms are animals that warm their bodies mainly from their own metabolism. We call these animals warm-blooded. Maintain a constant body temperature regardless of changes in the surrounding temperature

Ectotherms Endotherms Body temp the same regardless of weather Maintenance of constant internal conditions in the face of a varying external environment Ectotherms Endotherms animals that warm their bodies mainly from their own metabolism Body temp the same regardless of weather Warm-blooded

How do endothems adapt? Fat layers, fur, and feathers insulate the body and retain heat. Shivering muscles contract to increase body heat. Some animals hibernate. Hibernation enables animals to survive long periods of cold and lack of food. Canines, like this Brittany, use panting as a means of temperature regulation.

Ectotherms Endotherms Shivering Muscles Hibernation Maintenance of constant internal conditions in the face of a varying external environment Ectotherms Endotherms How do endothems adapt? animals that warm their bodies mainly from their own metabolism Fat layers, fur, and feathers Body temp the same regardless of weather Shivering Muscles Warm-blooded Hibernation

Ectotherms Ectotherms are animals that warm their bodies by absorbing heat from their surroundings. We call these animals cold-blooded Body temperature fluctuates with changes in the surrounding temperature.

Ectotherms Endotherms Shivering Muscles Body Temp changes with weather Maintenance of constant internal conditions in the face of a varying external environment Ectotherms Endotherms How do endothems adapt? animals that warm their bodies by absorbing heat from their surroundings animals that warm their bodies mainly from their own metabolism Fat layers, fur, and feathers Cold-blooded Body temp the same regardless of weather Shivering Muscles Body Temp changes with weather Warm-blooded Hibernation

How do ectotherms adapt? Most marine fish and invertebrates, however, live in water that stays the same temperature. When the weather is warm, they become active. They slow down when the temperature drops. To warm up, reptiles find sunny places, and stretch out for maximum exposure. If it gets too warm, lizards alternate between sun and shade. Amphibians warm up by moving into the sun or diving into warm water. They cool off by entering the shade.

Ectotherms Endotherms Shivering Muscles How do ectotherms adapt? Maintenance of constant internal conditions in the face of a varying external environment Ectotherms Endotherms How do ectotherms adapt? How do endothems adapt? animals that warm their bodies by absorbing heat from their surroundings animals that warm their bodies mainly from their own metabolism weather is warm, they become active. They slow down when the temperature drops. Fat layers, fur, and feathers Cold-blooded Body temp the same regardless of weather Shivering Muscles Body Temp changes with weather Warm-blooded warm up by moving into the sun or diving into warm water cool off by entering the shade Hibernation

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.

Who experiences adaptations? All species have experienced adaptation and will continue to slowly adapt as the next generations are born. We will identify certain species from each of these groups and the reasons for their success: Mammals Birds Reptiles Amphibians

Mammals Endothermic or warm-blooded All have some type of “hair” Some are very specialized, such as white polar bear fur Method of locomotion Care for young

Birds Leg Length Foot Webbing Beak Shape Roseate Spoonbill (top right) Laughing Gull (top left) Bird Feet Adaptations Beak Shape Long Billed Curlew (bottom) Bird Beaks and Uses

Reptiles Ectothermic or cold- blooded Scales Some undergo hibernation and estivation Lay eggs on land Leg structure and position

Amphibians Ectothermic Lay eggs in water Partially or fully webbed feet Have lungs or can absorb oxygen through their skin

Animal Defense Some animals use these methods of defense to protect themselves: Camouflage Snake Mimicry Mexican Milk Snake Bright colors Skunk and Poison Arrow Frog “Hair” projections Hedgehog quills Deer Antlers

Adaptation Applications: Lions Why 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: Lions What 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: Giraffe Why 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: Giraffe How 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.

Adaptation Applications: Zebras How do zebras defend themselves? Capable of running up to 40 mph. Zebras defend themselves by kicking and biting. Coloration also plays a role in evading predators, although theories have not reached an agreement.

Resources This PowerPoint is partially adapted from Ms. Weinberg. The original PowerPoint can be viewed at http://www.quia.com/files/quia/users/amiew/Animal-Adaptations-PPT It is also partially adapted from an animal adaptation powerpoint created by City of Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History the original can be viewed at http://www.ccmuseumedres.com/Animal%20Adaptations.ppt http://science.jrank.org/pages/6750/Temperature-Regulation-Internally-heated-animals.html http://science.jrank.org/pages/6749/Temperature-Regulation-Externally-heated-animals.html