Download How do adaptations help an organism survive?

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 hand
Little red flying fox
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 –
Adaptations allow species to live successfully in
habitat.
compare the their
polar
bear and the camel
●
Whatspecies
is adaptation?
Adaptations allow
to live successfully in
their habitat.
Species living in different habitats need
different adaptations.
Species living in different habitats need
different adaptations.
Prey Adaptations
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.
●
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 =
Your turn. Write a three to five
sentence summary about the
notes you just took.
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