Animal Adaptations What is ecology The study of

Animal Adaptations

What is ecology? • The study of the interactions that take place among organisms and their environment

Adaptations

How do adaptations help animals survive in their environment? • An adaptation is a body part or behavior that helps an animal survive in a particular environment. • Adaptation can help an animal breathe, catch food, or hide. • All animals are adapted to live in certain habitats. • Animals that cannot adapt will die out.

body part or behavior that helps an animal survive in a particular environment. help an animal breathe, catch food, or hide. adapted to live in certain habitats.

We can separate adaptations into two categories: Physical AND Behavioral

body part or behavior that helps an animal survive in a particular environment. help an animal breathe, catch food, or hide. adapted to live in certain habitats. Physical Behavioral

• Physical adaptations are body structures that allow an animal to find and consume food, defend itself, and to reproduce its species. Hey! I’m a walking stick. I look just like a stick you’d find on the ground. © A. Weinberg • Physical adaptations help an animal survive in its environment.

body part or behavior that helps an animal survive in a particular environment. help an animal breathe, catch food, or hide. adapted to live in certain habitats. Physical body structures that allow an animal to find and consume food, defend itself, and to reproduce its species. help an animal survive in its environment Behavioral

Physical adaptation Camouflage (use of color in a surrounding) The chameleon can change its color to match its surroundings. Can you do that?

body part or behavior that helps an animal survive in a particular environment. help an animal breathe, catch food, or hide. adapted to live in certain habitats. Physical body structures that allow an animal to find and consume food, defend itself, and to reproduce its species. Camouflage use of color in a surrounding help an animal survive in its environment Behavioral

Physical adaptation Mimicry (looking or sounding like another living organism) The Viceroy butterfly uses mimicry to look like the Monarch butterfly. Can you tell them apart? I’m the Viceroy! Not poisonous Poisonous I’m the Monarch!

body part or behavior that helps an animal survive in a particular environment. help an animal breathe, catch food, or hide. adapted to live in certain habitats. Physical body structures that allow an animal to find and consume food, defend itself, and to reproduce its species. Camouflage use of color in a surrounding Mimicry (looking or sounding like another living organism) help an animal survive in its environment Behavioral

Physical adaptation Chemical defenses (like venom, ink, sprays)

body part or behavior that helps an animal survive in a particular environment. help an animal breathe, catch food, or hide. adapted to live in certain habitats. Physical body structures that allow an animal to find and consume food, defend itself, and to reproduce its species. Camouflage use of color in a surrounding Mimicry (looking or sounding like another living organism) help an animal survive in its environment Chemical defenses (like venom, ink, sprays) Behavioral

Physical adaptations Body coverings & parts (claws, beaks, feet, armor plates, skulls, teeth) The elephant’s trunk is a physical adaptation that helps it to clean itself, eat, drink, and to pick things up.

body part or behavior that helps an animal survive in a particular environment. help an animal breathe, catch food, or hide. adapted to live in certain habitats. Physical body structures that allow an animal to find and consume food, defend itself, and to reproduce its species. Camouflage use of color in a surrounding Mimicry (looking or sounding like another living organism) Behavioral help an animal survive in its environment Chemical defenses (like venom, ink, sprays) Body coverings & parts (claws, beaks, feet, armor plates, skulls, teeth)

Behavioral Adaptations allow animals to respond to life needs.

body part or behavior that helps an animal survive in a particular environment. help an animal breathe, catch food, or hide. adapted to live in certain habitats. Physical body structures that allow an animal to find and consume food, defend itself, and to reproduce its species. Camouflage use of color in a surrounding Mimicry (looking or sounding like another living organism) Behavioral help an animal survive in its environment Chemical defenses (like venom, ink, sprays) allow animals to respond to life needs. Body coverings & parts (claws, beaks, feet, armor plates, skulls, teeth)

Behavioral Adaptations are animals’ actions. Remember that Physical Adaptations are body structures. Each organism has unique methods of adapting to its environment by means of different actions.

body part or behavior that helps an animal survive in a particular environment. help an animal breathe, catch food, or hide. adapted to live in certain habitats. Physical body structures that allow an animal to find and consume food, defend itself, and to reproduce its species. Camouflage use of color in a surrounding Mimicry (looking or sounding like another living organism) Behavioral help an animal survive in its environment Chemical defenses (like venom, ink, sprays) allow animals to respond to life needs. Body coverings & parts (claws, beaks, feet, armor plates, skulls, teeth) animals’ actions

Example of Adaptation • The shape of an animal’s teeth is related to its diet. – Herbivores, such as deer, have many molars for chewing tough grass and plants. – Carnivores, such as lions, have sharp canines to kill and tear meat.

Who experiences adaptations? • All species have experienced adaptation and will continue to slowly adapt as the next generations are born. • We will identify certain species from each of these groups and the reasons for their success: – – Mammals Birds Reptiles Amphibians

Mammals • Endothermic or warm-blooded • All have some type of “hair” – Some are very specialized, such as white polar bear fur • Method of locomotion • Care for young

Birds • Leg Length – Roseate Spoonbill (top right) • Foot Webbing – Laughing Gull left) • Beak Shape – Long Billed Curlew (bottom) (top

Reptiles • Ectothermic or cold- blooded • Scales • Some undergo hibernation and estivation • Lay eggs on land • Leg structure and position

Amphibians • Ectothermic • Lay eggs in water • Partially of fully webbed feet • Have lungs or can absorb oxygen through their skin

Animal Defense • Some animals use these methods of defense to protect themselves: – Camouflage • Snake – Mimicry • Mexican Milk Snake – Bright colors • Skunk and Poison Arrow Frog – “Hair” projections • Hedgehog quills • Deer Antlers

Adaptation Applications: Lions • Why are the eyes of a lion set in front of the head rather than on the sides? • Answer: Eyes in front of the head allow for depth perception and ability to judge distances when hunting.

Adaptation Applications: Lions • What is the purpose of the mane on a male lion? What is the reason for the lion’s color? • A thick mane helps the male to appear larger and serves as protection for the throat. The tawny brown coat color camouflages the animal and young among vegetation.

Adaptation Applications: Giraffe • Why are giraffes able to go for long periods of time without water? • Answer: Giraffes drink water when available, but can go weeks without it. They rely on morning dew and the water content of their food.

Adaptation Applications: Giraffe • How are their long necks adapted to their lifestyle? • Answer: This extra length is thought to have evolved to help the giraffe spot predators and other giraffes in the distance. Interestingly, giraffes and humans have the same number of vertebrate in their necks.

Adaptation Applications: Zebras • How do zebras defend themselves? • Capable of running up to 40 mph. Zebras defend themselves by kicking and biting. Coloration also plays a role in evading predators, although theories have not reached an agreement.

Resources • This Power. Point is partially adapted from Ms. Weinberg. The original Power. Point can be viewed at – http: //www. quia. com/files/quia/users/amiew/Animal. Adaptations-PPT • It is also partially adapted from an animal adaptation powerpoint created by City of Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History the original can be viewed at – http: //www. ccmuseumedres. com/Animal%20 Adaptati ons. ppt • http: //science. jrank. org/pages/6750/Temperature. Regulation-Internally-heated-animals. html • http: //science. jrank. org/pages/6749/Temperature. Regulation-Externally-heated-animals. html