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Adaptation
Contents
What is an adaptation?
Adaptations for a cold climate
Other adaptations
Adaptation activities
Adaptations for a dry climate
Different types of habitat
In general, there are three major habitat types in the world.
land habitats
marine habitats
freshwater habitats
How do organisms survive in such different habitats?
What is an adaptation?
A habitat is only populated by organisms that are adapted to survive there.
Adaptations are special features or behaviours that make an organism particularly suited to its environment.
Adaptations are a part of the evolutionary process.
Why is it important that living things are adapted to their environment?
Adaptations increase an organism’s chance of survival and so increase its chance of reproducing.
Why is reproduction so important for all living species?
Matching organisms to their habitat
Adaptation
Contents
What is an adaptation?
Adaptations for a cold climate
Other adaptations
Adaptation activities
Adaptations for a dry climate
How are polar bears adapted to life in an extremely cold climate?
White fur acts as camouflage.
Large feet to spread the body’s weight. The wide paws act as good paddles and snow shoes.
How are polar bears adapted?
Thick fur and a thick layer of body fat insulate from the cold.
Small ears help to reduce heat loss.
Other adaptations that polar bears have evolved to cope with conditions in the harsh polar environment are:
How are polar bears adapted?
Skin is actually black to absorb any heat transmitted through the hairs.
Greasy fur repels water and keeps the bear dry.
Eyes have brown irises to reduce the glare from sunlight reflection.
Body surface area is small compared to volume to reduce heat loss.
Adaptation
Contents
What is an adaptation?
Adaptations for a cold climate
Other adaptations
Adaptation activities
Adaptations for a dry climate
Curious camel facts
…camels have three stomachs.
...some camels live to over 40 years old.
…some Bactrian camels can transport 450 kg.
…archaeological finds show that they originated in North America.
…Somalia is home to over 6 million camels!
Camels are amazing creatures! Did you know that…
Wide feet for spreading body weight over soft shifting sand.
How is a camel adapted to life in a very hot, dry climate?
Fat is stored in the hump. There is no other body fat to prevent overheating.
How are camels adapted?
Brown coat for camouflage.
Long, thin legs mean the body surface area is large compared to volume to increase heat loss.
Loses little water through sweating or urine.
Nostrils can close when needed to protect the camel in sandstorms.
How is a camel adapted?
Long eyelashes protect the eyes from sand and dust.
A very varied diet, ranging from grass and bark to thorns and bones, is eaten.
Ears are lined with fur to prevent sand and dust from getting in.
Other adaptations that camels have evolved to cope with conditions in the harsh desert environment are:
Leaves are narrow spines that reduce water loss and protect from predators.
Stores water in fleshy stem.
How is a cactus adapted?
Thick, waxy surface to reduce water loss.
How is a cactus adapted to life in a very hot, dry climate?
Plant surface area is small compared to volume to reduce water loss.
Some have shallow, spreading roots for surface water, others have deep roots.
A very varied diet ranging from grass and bark to thorns and bones.
Nostrils can closed when needed to protect the camel in sandstorms.
How is a kangaroo rat adapted?
Long tail for balance when hopping.
Brown fur for camouflage and only goes out at night when it is much cooler.
A kangaroo rat is a mammal that lives in dry desert habitats. How is this small animal adapted to this harsh environment?
Large back feet to escape from predators allow it to hop 2 metres at a time!
Most water comes from its diet of seeds.
Does not sweat, or pant, to reduce water loss.
Adaptation
Contents
What is an adaptation?
Adaptations for a cold climate
Other adaptations
Adaptation activities
Adaptations for a dry climate
How is this barracuda adapted to an aquatic environment?
Aquatic 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.
Silver colouring allows the fish to be camouflaged.
Unusual plant adaptations
Plants can live in acid or waterlogged soils where there is little nitrate. Some plants have evolved a rather cunning adaptation to obtain the nutrients they need.
Hairs on the slippery inside of the plant are angled down to ensure that the victim cannot escape!
Pitcher plants have a large hollow filled with fluid that traps insects or other small organisms that may fall in.
The plant digests its victims to absorb the nitrates it needs!
Adaptation
Contents
What is an adaptation?
Adaptations for a cold climate
Other adaptations
Adaptation activities
Adaptations for a dry climate
True or false?
Matching adaptations
Multiple-choice quiz
