Inherited Traits that Help Organisms Survive and Reproduce Adaptations Inherited Traits that Help Organisms Survive and Reproduce

Adaptations Notice the spelling and pronunciation! “a-dap-tay-shuns” is correct (many people say “a-dap-shuns” – wrong!) Adaptations = any inherited trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce (they’re nouns, not verbs!). Adaptations can be Physical (internal or external body parts) Chemical (proteins, etc.) or Behavioral (reflexes, instincts, or learning). Here are names and descriptions of the types of adaptations, but wait for the next slide to fill in examples on your chart!

Examples of Adaptations The fur of a polar bear Insulin controlling blood sugar levels An angler fish waiting for prey A squirrel hibernating through the winter Adrenaline signaling the body to speed up The bright colors of a male peacock The 4 chambers of mammal’s hearts The ability to learn language Structural Chemical Now tell if each of these is a structural, chemical, or behavioral adaptation!! Behavioral Behavioral Chemical Structural Structural Behavioral

Adaptations cannot change in a single lifetime! Since adaptations are inherited, they can not change during a single organism’s lifetime! Individuals can not adapt!! But species can adapt over many generations. This seems confusing to us, since our major adaptation is our adaptability – but if an organism does not inherit a trait, it won’t suddenly develop it as needed. For example, a whale born without the gene to make blubber won’t be able to adapt – it will just die!

Fish Feeding Adaptations Answer the questions in the chart! Notice the placement of its mouth – it must get food from the seafloor. Sawfish – related to sharks and rays. From which part of its habitat does it get its food? Describe its major structural adaptation. Describe its major behavioral adaptation. Its long snout, with teethlike projections. Swinging its snout through the sand to distrurb shellfish, worms, etc., then it gobbles them up!

Fish Feeding Adaptations Now you get to answer the questions yourself! Angler fish – lives in the dark benthic zone. From which part of its habitat does it get its food? Describe its major structural adaptation. Describe its major behavioral adaptation. Male!!

Fish Feeding Adaptations Moorish Idol – lives on coral reefs. From which part of its habitat does it get its food? Describe its major structural adaptation. Describe its major behavioral adaptation.

Fish Feeding Adaptations Barracuda – lives in open water. From which part of its habitat does it get its food? Describe its major structural adaptation. Describe its major behavioral adaptation.

Fish Feeding Adaptations Stonefish– lives on the sea floor From which part of its habitat does it get its food? Describe its major structural adaptation. Describe its major behavioral adaptation. Also has poisonous spines on its fins for defense!

Fish Feeding Adaptations GWS!! From which part of its habitat does it get its food? Describe its major structural adaptation. Describe its major behavioral adaptation.