How do organisms adapt to their Environments?? Pages 18-28 from BC Science 10 Emperor penguins Live in probably the most extreme conditions endured by any warm-blooded animal on earth. - They breed in the depths of the Antarctic winter at temperatures of -50 to -100 °C (-22°F) and - Winds of 200 km/h (125mph) and more which gives a wind chill factor that you don't even want to think about that would freeze exposed human flesh in seconds.
Today’s Objectives
Adaptations to Biomes Adaptation: characteristics that better allow an organism to survive and reproduce There are 3 types of Adaptations Structural Physiological Behavioural
Structural Adaptation Physical feature that helps an organism survive.
Example 1: Arctic Fox color The Arctic fox has adapted it’s coat color to suit it’s environment with white fur in the winter to blend in, and brown fur in the summer (This allows it to sneak up on prey, also not to become prey easily)
Example 2: Pine tree “leaves” Pine trees are cone -shaped so that lots of snow falls off easily
Example 3: American Alligator Eyes American Alligator has eyes positioned high on head so that they can peek out of the water without their body showing. Their eyes and nostrils close by reflex when the animal goes underwater, and they have a transparent third eyelid, that covers the eye as the animal moves through the water.
Physiological Adaptation Physical or chemical event that occurs in the body of the organism that helps it survive.
Example 1 Wolf Body Temperatures Wolves have chemical reactions that happen in their body that help them maintain a constant body temp, regardless of weather.
Example 2: Cactus Water saving Cacti carry on a different /special type of photosynthesis and therefore only need ½ as much water as normal plants
Behavioral Adaptations Behaviors that an organism does to survive.
Example 1: The “Burrowing” Owl The Burrowing owl make it’s nest out of abandoned prairie-dog burrows, and hisses like a rattlesnake to scare of predators
Mimicry Mimicry: A similarity of one species to another which protects one or both. This similarity can be in appearance, behavior, sound, scent, or location. Mimics are found in the same areas as their models.
Example 2: Bat’s Sleeping patterns Bats are nocturnal (as well as other rodents, and coyotes) so that they sleep during the day and then come out at night when the temperature is more comfortable
Example 3: A bird attracting prey with shade A Snowy Egret will stand still in the water with its wings stretched out, because fish are attracted to the shade. These are ways of behaving.
Show the creature in its natural setting Assignment Draw a picture of an animal/creature that is adapted to living in YOUR biome. Use the lists of animal adaptations for each biome on pages 20-28 of your text as a guide Show the creature in its natural setting Your creature should have: 3 structural adaptations At least 1 physiological adaptation At least 1 behavioral adaptation For each adaptation, write a sentence explaining how that adaptation helps the creature survive in YOUR biome