Download adaptations

Diversity and
Adaptations
Adaptations
• A characteristic, structure or behavior
that helps an organism live.
• Examples:
We can separate adaptations into two categories:
A
D
A
Physical
P
T
A
T
I
O
N
S
Behavioral
Physical adaptations
are body structures that allow an
animal to find and consume food,
defend itself, and to reproduce its
species.
Physical adaptations
help an animal survive in
its environment.
© A. Weinberg
Now let’s learn about
Behavioral Adaptations…
Behavioral Adaptations allow animals to
respond to life needs.
Adaptations help organisms:
•
•
•
•
•
Get food
Protect themselves
Move
Reproduce
Carry on the life processes
Activity
• Observe your hand. Notice the
relationship of your thumb to the rest of
your fingers. Note your thumb can move
in a number of directions and angles.
• Work with a partner. Perform the list of
activities as you normally would paying
attention to your thumb involvement.
Record “thumb involvement”
PART 2
• Tape your thumb to your palm and
perform the same list of tasks. Don’t tape
so tightly to cut off circulation!
• Pay attention to any differences in
performance.
Analysis
• Which tasks required least “thumb
involvement”? Most?
• Any correlation between thumb use and
fine or gross motor skills?
• Many scientists believe the opposable
thumb has helped humans adapt to their
environment and survive.
• What are ways in which the use of the
thumb enables humans to better survive in
their environment?
Terms to Know
• Habitat:
– An area or place where an organism lives
Habitats include:
Biotic and Abiotic Factors
• Population:
– A group of the same species that live in a
particular area
• Diversity:
– The variety of life in a habitat
Terms to Know (cont.)
• Variation:
– Differences between individuals within a
species
• Species:
– Organisms that look similar and can
interbreed
• Evolution:
– The process in which organisms change over
time
Charles Darwin
The famous explorer
H.M.S. Beagle
• One of the most important voyages in
history!
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
• The Galapagos are an archipelago of
several volcanic islands located in the
Pacific Ocean, about 650 miles west of
Ecuador.
• The Blue-footed Boobie
Giant Tortoises
• The giant tortoise is probably the best
known of all Galapagos animals and even
gave the archipelago its name; 'Galapago'
means tortoise in Spanish.
Finches
• 14 different species
What is Natural Selection ?
• Organisms that best adapt to a changing
environment will survive.
• Survival of the Fittest!
• Examples from the Galapagos Islands
Table Chat
• Darwin refers to both Natural
Selection and Artificial Selection.
– What is the difference between the two?
– Give an example of each
Selective Breeding- what
Darwin calls “Artificial” Selection
-mating organisms to get the
desired traits
Examples:
Worksheets
• Bird Adaptations
• Squirrels of the Grand Canyon
• Why are some animals able to
survive to adulthood and
others are not?