1. Traits for Survival

2. What do living things need to survive?

3. Losing access to any of these things will reduce your chance of survival.

4. Losing access to food = starvation

5. Losing access to water = dehydration

6. Losing access to oxygen = suffocation

7. An organism’s survival is dependent not only on its ability to meet its needs, but also on its ability to survive environmental threats.

8. Threat: Predators
Predation- when one organism capture and feeds on another.
A predator will eat prey.
Not enough prey can cause predators to starve.

9. Threat: Extreme temperatures
Shelter or body coverings can help protect against this threat
Feathers and nests are examples of ways in which birds protect themselves and their offspring from extreme temperatures in the environment.

10. Threat: Diseases
Diseases can weaken an organism and make it difficult for it to meet its needs
Starvation and dehydration can weaken an organism and make it more susceptible to disease.

11. Physical Traits for Survival
Physical Trait: A distinct feature or body part.
Some physical traits protect organisms from predators, while others help them avoid dehydration, starvation, or extreme temperatures.

12. Protection from predators

13. Protection from Dehydration
Plant roots grow deep to find water
Camels can store extra water in their bloodstream

14. Protection from starvation

15. Protection from Extreme Temperatures

16. Traits inspire Design
Armadillo lizard

17. Behavioral Traits and Survival
Behavioral Trait – a distinct way in which an organism interacts with its environment

19. Environmental Influences on Traits
Some traits will change over time, maybe even in response to the environment.
The smaller, pinkish rainbow trout spends its life in streams or rivers. The larger, silvery rainbow trout lives most of its life in the ocean. Although both fish are the same species and looked similar when young, the environment has played a large role in their color, size, and behavior.

20. The color of flowers can also be affected by the environment
The color of flowers can also be affected by the environment. Hydrangea flowers are sensitive to acid and other chemicals in soil. When the soil contains a lot of acid, the flowers are blue. In soil that is not acidic, the flowers are pink. A gardener can affect the color of the flowers by adding certain chemicals to the soil.

21. Passing on Traits to Offspring
Many traits that aid in survival are passed from parent to offspring. (coloration, thick fur, good eye sight, etc.)

23. Some behavioral traits are passed on when the parent teaches the offspring.
Lion cubs know they have to kill their prey, but mom will teach them how to stalk, how to work with other lions to ambush, how to pick out the weak prey, and how to attack.

24. Only organisms with the best traits which survive long enough to reproduce, will pass on the traits to their young.
Which zebra will be easier to single out and chase?
Will it survive and reproduce to pass along its traits?