1. Animal Interactions with the Environment
Animals must obtain food and water from their habitat.
An animal’s body has many adaptations that allow it to process food: digestive respiratory and circulatory systems.
In many animals, muscle and skeletal systems provide movement and support. A nervous system allows the animal to sense and respond to stimuli.
Sounds like Levels of Complexity at work!

2. Behavior: inherited or learned?
A behavior is any observable response to a stimulus.
Behaviors can be inherited--present at birth--or learned.

3. Learned Behaviors
A learned behavior is one that is taught or discovered.
The monkey eating ants from a stick is a learned behavior.
At your table, discuss other behaviors that you consider to be learned.

4. Innate Behaviors Innate behaviors are those that are inherited.
Innate behaviors are those that are based on instincts.
A spider building a web is an innate behavior.
Being able to jerk your hand away from a hot surface is an innate behavior. How is this behavior an adaptation for survival based upon our level of complexity?

5. Three Categories of Behaviors
Individual behaviors
Interaction between animals of the same species
Interactions between animals of different species
Before we interact further, I want you to discuss with your group how the three categories differ and come up with examples for each one.

6. Individual Behaviors
Meeting basic needs like getting food, water and finding shelter.
Responding to changes in the environment.
Basic survival skills!

7. Interaction between animals of the same species
Social behaviors
Parents and offspring
Attracting a mate: competitive
Hunting in packs: cooperative

8. Interaction between animals of different species
Often involve the search for food
Predator and Prey
Predators have behaviors that allow them to search for and capture other organisms.
An animal that is hunted by a predator is prey.
Both prey and predators have adaptations that help them survive. Discuss with your group what these adaptations might be.

9. Predator versus Prey Predator Stalking Fast Strong Sharp teeth
Eyes facing forward
Prey
Herds
Camouflage
Spikes
Spines
Hard shells
Poison
Mimicry

10. Interaction between different species
Can be beneficial to both species.
Birds that eat ticks off of deer or cows.
Scavengers eating dead animals.