How do adaptations help an organism survive?

Natural Selection

● A characteristic that makes an individual better suited to a specific environment may eventually become common in that species through natural selection.

● Individuals whose unique characteristics are well-suited for an environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. Offspring then inherit these traits which results in adaptation.

Sumatran orangutan handLittle red flying fox

Adaptations allow species to live successfully in their habitat.Adaptations allow species to live successfully in their habitat.

Species living in different habitats need different adaptations.

Species living in different habitats need different adaptations.

What is adaptation?

●Adaptations allow animals and plants to live successfully in their habitat e.g. help get the food they need, to communicate with each other, and to avoid predators●Because habitats are different, animals living in different habitats need different adaptations – compare the polar bear and the camel

●Many animals have adaptations for the same reason – to escape from predators. No one wants to be eaten!●In the sea, fish such as five-lined snapper form huge groups called schools. In a group, there is safety in numbers. This is why many land animals such as zebras form herds.●You could also have physical defences – for example sea urchins have hard spines that stop predators from eating them.●Another example of this is the torpedo ray – this ray protects itself using an electric shock, and also hides by burying in the sand.

Prey Adaptations

If you are a predator, then you need adaptations that make it easier for you to catch your prey, Predator adaptations.●For example, you could hunt in a group and work together, like emperor penguins do.●You could use poison to subdue your prey, like the sea snake.●Or you could be like the most effective sea predator of all, the shark, and have huge teeth!

An organism's role in its habitat or how it survives, is called its niche.

Staying warm

Getting food

Reproduction

Different species can share the same habitat and food requirements, however when 2 species occupy the same niche competition begins.

The struggle between organisms to survive with limited resources is called competition.

Populations are always changing

Birth rate vs. Death rate

● The birth rate is the number of births in a specific population in a certain time period.

● The death rate is the number of deaths in a specific population in a certain time period.

Immigration and Emigration

Immigration means moving into a population.

Emigration means leaving a population (usually for food).

A limiting factor is an environmental factor that causes a population to stop growing, example food, water, shelter,

space,…

Population Density: the number of individuals of a population in a specific area. Formula: Population density = # of individuals

Unit area

Population Density of the Flamingos in the Pond

In the pond on the top, there are 10 flamingos in

● 8 square meters. The population density is 1.25 flamingos per square meter.

● What is the pop. Density on the bottom?

● There are 20 flamingos, divided by 8 =

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