B1.4 Interdedpendence and Adaptations

Animal adaptations

BTEOTSSSBAT know how animals adapt to different

environments

SummaryOrganisms are well adapted to survive in their normal environment. Population size depends on a variety of factors including competition, predation, disease and human influences. Changes in the environment may affect the distribution and behaviour of organisms.

Key words AdaptationArcticBiomassCamouflageCompetitorDesertHabitatOrganismPredatorPredationPrey

The desert:

1.

2.

3.

Use three words to describe each of these environments.

The Arctic:

1.

2.

3.

Survival

To survive, organisms require a supply of materials from their surroundings and from the other living organisms there.

Organisms live, grow and reproduce in places where, and at times when, conditions are suitable.

To do this they need to adapt to their environment.

The organisms that are best adapted to make use of their resources in a habitat are more likely to survive and increase in numbers

For example:

• To be able to obtain a certain food better.• To make it more difficult for predators to

catch them.• To survive in extreme climates, eg arctic or

deserts.

Adaptation

Adaptation is a special feature or behaviour that makes an organism particularly suited to its habitat.

What are a shark’s general adaptations to life in an aquatic environment?

A Shark’s General Adaptations

streamlined shape to reduce friction when moving through water

gills have a large surface area so that oxygen can be extracted from the surrounding water

fins provide stability, power and control

What are a shark’s specific adaptations to life as an aquatic predator?

highly sensitive sense of smell that can detect drops of blood from miles away

lots of very sharp teeth that are constantly replaced

silver colouring underneath acts as camouflage

specialized sense organs can detect the sound, movement and electrical fields of other organisms

A Shark’s Specific Adaptations

Compare these two animals…

Desert Fox Arctic Fox

Adaptations

• The two environments we saw before are harsh environments for animals to survive in so the animals have had to adapt to survive.

Cold climatesTemperatures:• arctic winter can dip to -51oC • warmest month is between 10oC and

0oC

Often permanent snow and ice

Animals in Cold Climates

• Arctic animals must keep themselves warm to survive.

• You loose body heat through your body surface, mainly your skin.

• Arctic animals have developed many adaptations to help them survive…

Look at the following…

What do these animals have in

common?

Animals in Cold Climates

Common features:

• Thick oily fur coats• Layer of blubber under the skin• Colour – many change colour in

the summer• Small ears• Large feet

What about body shape?

Body Shape

- Have fat, round body shapes with short legs

- Have small ears – why?

Hot Desert Climates

Temperatures

• Can reach 45 – 50oC during the day

• Can fall below 0oC at night

Less than 25cm rain a year

Animals in Dry Climates

• Animals in dry climates have to keep themselves cool to survive.

• They also have to cope with a lack of water.

• This means they are unable to lose heat through sweating

Look at the following…

What do these animals have in

common?

Animals in Dry Climates

Common features:

• Large thin ears• Little body fat• Thin, silky fur• Long limbs to help spread heat• They also often only come out at night.

Why?

What about body shape?

Have more elongated body shapes and long legs

Body Shape

Surface Area to Volume Ratio

These have the same volume: 4 units³

Surface area = 16 units²

Surface area = 18 units²

Surface Area to Volume Ratio

• Animals loose heat from the body surfaces that are in contact with the surrounding air/water.

• Reducing this contact surface reduces heat loss

• Increasing the surface increases heat loss

Compare these two animals…

Desert Fox Arctic Fox

Can you add any adaptations or reasons for the adaptation?

True or false?

Which of the birds, A, B, C or D, is best adapted for:

1.tearing flesh 2. finding insects in cracks in the ground

3. crushing fruit

4. sieving small animals from mud?

A

C

B

D

Adaptation for survival

Animals have adaptations that help them survive

The echidna has pointed spines on its back.

The brightly coloured poison dart frog has a toxic skin

A camouflage lizard

This is the caterpillar of the butterfly Blue Mormon, it’s very difficult for caterpillars to survive to become butterflies, given their susceptibility to predators. But this caterpillar in particular has developed different strategies to survive

Camouflage