A matter of survival

Adaptation a change that helps a species survive and reproduce  Characteristic: body structure, the way it eats, the way its body processes materials  Behavior: the way it acts  Inherited trait: passed from parent

When baby animals are born they are slightly different than their parents and each other. If the differences help them survive better, if is called an adaptation. Over time the animal and its children survive better than the others of its species.

Fennec A desert fox with large ears and sand colored fur. The ears help it release heat and keep cool. The fur color helps it blend in with the desert sand.

Arctic fox A fox that lives in the cold north. Its small ears and small nose reduce the loss of heat from its body. Its blue–gray fur is replaced by thick white fur in winter. This keeps it warm and helps it blend in with snow.

Red fox This fox lives in grasslands and woodlands. Its ears are medium sized. Its fur is reddish- brown. This helps it blend in with its environment.

These foxes are predators. How does blending in with their environment help them?

Some living things have protective physical traits. Don’t touch!!! Puffer Fish Barrel Cactus Sea Urchin North American Porcupine

Some animals have protective shells Armadillo Turtle

Bird flight can keep birds safe from predators or weather. Or it can take them to a food or water source. Bird bone material is very strong to support weight in flight. The bones have air spaces which makes the bones weigh less.

What were the adaptations in the last three slides that prey animals may use?

Animals aren’t the only living things that adapt. Plants adapt too. Look at their:  Roots  Stems  Leaves

Conifers stay green all year. They need less water than deciduous trees, and they produce food all year.

They drop their leaves seasonally and grow new leaves. This requires more water BUT it means they are bothered by insects less. Also, inside their trunk, the parts that carry water grow larger so more water travels faster to the leaves as the trees mature. Deciduous trees have large flat leaves.

Grasses of various types have great root systems. While a forest fire will totally wipe out trees, a grass fire will not wipe out grasses. The roots of grasses are different from trees’ roots, and their water needs are less. Grass can grow again after fire OR drought, freezing tempera- tures, or animal grazing!

Carnivorous plants like the Venus Fly Trap can grow where the soil lacks nutrients. The insects that it traps provide those missing nutrients. Get me outta here!

Behaviors are the way living things act. Behaviors can improve the chances of getting food, surviving a predator and mating.

Cooperation among animals can help them escape predators. So traveling in herds or schools is an adaptation too.

Migration allows animals to meet their needs by escaping food shortages or severe weather.

Hybernation and dormancy: Allow living things to slow their heart rate and the rate they burn food energy Examples of hybernation: Examples of dormancy: Wood frog Goldfish Basking shark Ground squirrel Marmot Dwarf Lemur Red belly snake (brumates)

Adaptation helps in reproduction (It’s all about getting those seeds to where they can grow) : We’ve all seen these helicopters (maple tree seeds) Pilobus (means “hat thrower”) tips its stem toward the sun, the water pressure inside the top builds up until its spore cap shoots off.

How have Western New Yorkers adapted to our environment?