Habitat The characteristics Biotic and abiotic factors of

Habitat The characteristics Biotic and abiotic factors of the type of environment where an

Niche The niche of a species consists of: • Its role in the ecosystem (herbivore, carnivore, producer etc) • Its tolerance limits (e. g. soil p. H, humidity) • Its requirements for shelter, nesting sites etc, all varying through time © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

The niche as a two-dimensional shape Species A Niche represented by a 2 -dimensional

Separate niches Species B Species A No overlap of niches. So coexistence is possible

This niche is not big enough for the both of us! Species A Species

Adaptation & Variation

Extinction • To completely disappear from Earth • Results when species either lack diversity and/or the ability to change (adapt) within their environment • Eg. Dodo bird, woolly mammoth, etc.

Adaptations • Helps an organism survive & reproduce • Can be structural, behavioural or a physiological process

1. Structural Too many to name – Owls (talons, eyesight); sharks (sensory organs, teeth, graceful swimmers); bats (sonar); humans (brain, bipedal, thumbs), etc. • Includes camouflage (stick insect, octopus…)

Octopus Camouflage

1. Structural • Mimicry: – A special structural adaptation – Harmless creatures posing as harmful species in either colour or structure – Tricks predators into believing the critter is untasty – Eg. Viceroy butterfly, king snake

Mimics

Coral Snake vs. King Snake

2. Behavioural • • Things that animals do, not what they have Eg. Meerkats standing, bird calls, migration,

Fainting Goats

3. Physiological • • Adaptations that occur within the body, organs and tissues of an animal or plant Venom Secreting slime Phototropism

Hagfish

Activity Instructions • Have everyone in your group pick one item from your tray and eat it. DO NOT tell anyone what it tastes like!! • Repeat this 8 times, remaining silent! Pick one item per round! • After the activity is finished discuss the observations with your group • How did each item taste? • Did the taste of the items have an effect on which items you went for in the next rounds?

Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Type of food left after round is finished (write description/name of food type below) Green Purple Pink Yellow Orange Gummy Bears

Discussion 1. What colors remain and in what proportion? Explain these results. 2. How might this exercise relate to organisms in nature? 3. What method of evading predators does this activity illustrate? 4. Give actual examples from nature that this activity simulated.

How do Adaptations Develop? • Gradual, accumulative changes over generations • Random, heritable mutations in DNA • Variations → differences between individuals (structural or physiological) • Not all variations become adaptations

Interactions with Environment • Very important to adaptation & variation • Climates change; floods, droughts and famines occur • Human activities – deforestation, agriculture change landscapes • Unimportant characteristics may eventually become crucial for survival if things change

Saguaro cactus • Fleshy stem holds water • Most roots < 15 cm deep but cover huge area • Can absorb 750 L of water in a single storm • Leaves reduced to spines to reduce transpiration rate • Spines also ↓ predation • Stomata only open at night

Variation to Adaptation The English Peppered Moth • Light peppered colour and black • Historically black was rare – lichen on trees in England was light coloured and moths were easy targets for birds • Industrial Revolution killed lichen and put soot on trees; 50 years later 95% of Manchester moths were black

English Peppered Moth Pre-industrial revolution Post-industrial revolution

• Green & orange bug game

Questions 1. Sharks have an excellent sense of smell. Is this a variation or an adaptation? 2. A black and yellow insect buzzes around you, causing you to freak out. When it lands you see that it is only a fly. What is the fly’s adaptation and explain the advantage. 3. When could genetic variation have no significant effect on a species’ survival?

Mutations • Changes in genetic material (DNA) • New alleles = genetic variation • Eg. Your DNA has about 175 mutations compared to your parents’ (you freak) • Could be harmful or beneficial • In somatic cells → tumour • In gametic cells → may be passed on

Selective advantage • A genetic advantage of one organism over its competitors • Helps it to survive changing environmental conditions • Eg. Water flea surviving in warmer water temperatures

Antibiotic Resistance • Staphylococcus aureus (bacteria) can reproduce every 30 minutes • Adaptation can occur very quickly • Treatment of Staph. Infections can be inhibited by the adaptive bacteria • Populations of bacteria with the new allele can create antibiotic resistance

“Superbugs”