Download Examples of Animal Adaptations

12 Weeks to TAKS
Week 3
Objective 3 8a-b, 13a
Adaptation and
Evolution of
Plants and
Animals
All animals and plants have
adaptations that help them
survive in their environment.
Examples of Plant Adaptations:
Support/food storage: Above ground (prop) roots,
Stiff cell walls in stems and trunks (vascular
tissue that also carries water and food), Starch
storage in roots.
Prevention of water loss: Waxy cuticle, stomata
on leaves, reduced leaf surface area (cactus),
seed coats.
Reproduction: Seed dispersal by wind and animals,
colors to attract pollinators, pollen, coevolution
with insects.
Defense: Toxins, thorns, bark.
Examples of Animal Adaptations:
Protection and prevention of
dehydration: exoskeletons, armor,
scales, skin, kidneys.
Defense/Predation: Claws, teeth,
well developed eye lens, sense of
smell, speed, camouflage, armor,
mimicry.
Reproduction: Eggs, internal
fertilization, placentas, care of
young, nesting.
Life is very Diverse. Diversity is a
measure of how many different types of
organisms live in an area. For example, a
rainforest is a very diverse habitat (many
different species of insects, plants and
animals). A desert is not as diverse (lots of
the same kind of cactus and a few species
of animals). A species is a group of animals
that can breed and produce fertile
offspring. (Poodles and Dalmatians can make
Doodles/Palmations. They are the same
species. Lions and tigers are not. There are
no ligers/tions)
Populations of animals adapt to
their environment by Natural
Selection.
1.All species have variations (caused by
genetic makeup…Mutations can cause
variation).
2. Variation is inherited.
3. More species are produced than will live.
4. Those species that survive to reproduce will
pass their characteristics (genes) on to the
next generation those that don’t become
extinct.
5. Over time, characteristics and behavior
that allow the species survive are “selected”
for. Unfavorable traits won’t be passed on.
If two populations of organisms become
separated by a barrier, each separate
group may have different selection
pressures on it and change in different
ways. Eventually they may not be able to
reproduce and become separate species.
This process is called speciation.
Phylogenetic Trees
are diagrams that show
the relatedness (Phylogeny) of organisms based
on physical and chemical similarities.
C
Present
D
E
F
G
B
100mya
A
A is the common
ancestor. B is
extinct. E and F
are the most
closely related.
Scientist look at both physical and
biochemical similarities (like DNA and protein
comparisons) to see how organisms are
related. Which two organisms in this chart
are the least related?
The silkworm moth and the screwworm fly.
Polar bears
and brown
bears have
the most
bands of DNA
in common and
are the most
closely
related.
Brown and
Black bears
share 4 bands
out of 9 total.
(44.4%)