Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Plant physiology wikipedia , lookup
Evolutionary history of plants wikipedia , lookup
Plant ecology wikipedia , lookup
Historia Plantarum (Theophrastus) wikipedia , lookup
Ornamental bulbous plant wikipedia , lookup
Plant reproduction wikipedia , lookup
Glossary of plant morphology wikipedia , lookup
Plant and Animal Adaptations Different plants need different amounts of sunlight and water. Some plants can survive with very little water. Others need a lot of water to live. Plants have adaptations, or special parts that allow them to grow in different environments. Many kinds of adaptations help plants live in their environment. Leaves help plants gather sunlight. They are adaptations. The different sizes and shapes of leaves are adaptations too. Plants that live in shady places tend to have large leaves. They help plants get more sunlight. Plants that live in sunny places tend to have smaller leaves. They do not have to be big to get enough sunlight. The smaller leaves help the plants save water too. Along Georgia’s coastline is the Atlantic Ocean. Many kinds of plants live in the ocean. Small plants that float on the surface of the ocean get lots of sunlight. Larger plants, like seaweed and kelp, live below the surface and sunlight must travel through the water to get to them. The water in the ocean is saltwater. These plants are adapted to live in saltwater. Some plants are adapted to live in streams, ponds, and lakes. The water in these areas is fresh water. Much of the water in Georgia’s swamps is fresh water too. Water lilies and pondweeds are plants that live in fresh water. Water lilies have long stems that reach through the water. At the end of the stems, the roots are buried in the mud of the pond or swamp. At the top of the stem is the lily pad. The lily pad floats on the water. It is a large, broad pad so it gets a lot of sun. Water lilies are adapted to living in a fresh water habitat. Cattails are a kind of grass that lives in water. They have long stalks with fuzzy tips on the ends. Ferns and mosses are two other plants that grow in swamp lands. Some plants have an adaptation that allows them to find nutrients in something other than soil. Carnivorous plants get some of their nutrients by trapping and digesting insects and other small animals. In the Okefenokee Swamp, there are many kinds of trees. Some of the trees grow on floating mats in the water. The mats are made of a soil-like material called peat. These mats of soil are known as tree islands. The trees that grow on these islands have special adaptations that allow them to grow on the floating soil. Bushes and cypress trees are two kinds of plants that grow on the tree islands. Georgia has many kinds of trees known as hardwood trees. These trees grow in the forests of the north. Here you will see oak, chestnut, and poplar trees. These trees grow very tall. They are adapted to live in a forest environment. Hardwood trees have long, woody tree trunks that are covered in bark. The bark protects the inside of the tree trunk. Each year these trees lose their leaves in winter. This helps the tree stay alive during the cold winter months. Without leaves, the tree does not lose much water. These trees are adapted to live in cold weather. The leaves fall on the forest floor and cover it. There, mushrooms and mosses grow. The mushrooms and mosses do not need a lot of sunlight to live. They grow well in damp, shady areas. In spring, the amount of daylight hours gets longer. There is more sunshine on the trees. The trees bloom. Leaves block the sun from the forest floor. There are few plants that grow well in the shade of the forest. Animals, like plants, have adaptations that help them survive. Different animals have different needs. Animals have many adaptations that help them live in their environments. Some animals are adapted to live in very cold habitats. These animals might have thick fur coats. Other animals are adapted to live in or near water. These animals might have fins or webbed feet or paws to help them swim. Even insects have adaptations. In Georgia, animals have different adaptations that allow them to live in different habitats. Georgia has many different habitats. There are mountains, swamps, and forests. Animals have body parts that are adaptations that help them survive in the different environments. One adaptation that some animals have is wings. Birds and bats both have wings. They use their wings to get food. Many birds and bats get food from flowers. Some bats use their ability to see in the dark to find food. One Georgia bat, the Big Brown Bat, feeds on bugs like beetles, flies, and moths that it catches while it flies. Beaks help birds gather and eat different kinds of food. The shape of the beak helps the bird eat the food that is found where it lives. Some of these birds live where there are lots of small insects. A small beak is best for eating this kind of food. Other birds live where there are lots of large seeds. A large, strong beak is best for eating seeds. A sharp, curved beak is best for catching small animals. Birds that live in Georgia’s swamps often have long beaks and long legs. The shapes of the birds’ beaks help them catch fish to eat. The long legs help the birds wade in the swamp water. Animals have body parts that help them swim too. Alligators, ducks, bears, and otters have webbed paws and feet. The webbing helps the animal paddle through the water of the swamps. Have you noticed that most fish have long slim bodies? Like fins, this shape is an adaptation for swimming in water. Fish also have feather-like gills. These are adaptations for getting the air they need from the water. Alligators, ducks, otters, and fish are all examples of aquatic animals (an animal that lives in a water habitat such as a lake, pond, river, stream, swamp, marsh, or the ocean). An animal’s behavior, or how it acts, can also be an adaptation. Some animals are able to become less active when it is very cold or very dry. Bears that live in the northern areas of Georgia often hibernate during the winter. This means they go into a sleep-like state. The bears use less energy so they are able to survive cold winters. Other animals migrate. This means they move to a habitat where it is warmer or where there is more food. In winter, many birds that are found in Georgia’s swamps have migrated from colder states in the north. The birds stay here until spring and then move north again. Animals that hunt for prey (an animal that is hunted and eaten by predators) have adaptations too. Birds of prey have sharp talons (curved claws that help a bird grab and hold prey). In order to prevent the predator from finding and eating them, some animals are able to camouflage themselves. This means that an animal’s coloring, marking, or other physical appearance helps it blend in with its surroundings. Another useful adaptation is mimicry. Mimicry is an adaptation that allows an animal to protect itself by looking like another kind of animal or like a plant. An example of this is the walking stick bug. In order to survive, living things need many resources. They need food, water, sunlight, soil, and air. Living things also need space to live. Changes to a habitat affect the amount of resources that animals and plants need to survive. There are many different ways that a habitat can change. For example, floods affect the amount of water in a habitat. A flood happens when there is a lot of rain. If there is a flood, plant and animal homes may be washed away. Fires can change habitats. A fire will destroy plants and trees. Many animals, like insects, birds, and squirrels, make their homes in trees. The animals who survive the fire must leave the area to continue to live since their homes and food supply are gone. Not all changes in habitats happen quickly. A drought is a long period of time when very little rain falls. The soil becomes dry. Plants need water to survive. Many plants will die because there is not water. Animals may die too if they can’t find water.