Adaptations Notes

Adaptation: trait that enhances an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in its environment

            --predator adaptations help them catch prey; prey adaptations help them escape predators

**All plants, animals, etc. have developed traits that help with defense and survival

*include adaptations to get food, avoid predators, reproduce, protect offspring, find shelter, move in environment, etc., etc., etc.

Defense Adaptation examples: thorns, odor, camouflage, horns, warning coloration, etc.

Offense Adaptation examples: sharp teeth, claws, camouflage, eyes facing forward, etc.

Movement Adaption examples: Fins to swim, wings to fly, feathers, hollow bones, etc.

Camouflage—ability to blend in with the environment because of inherited traits

            --help prey to avoid being seen/hunted by predators

            --help predators to sneak up on prey

Thermal adaptations—

            Cold-blooded organisms: need to be warmed by source outside themselves (ie: the sun)

                        --requires less energy, because not using energy for heat

            Warm-blooded organisms: can maintain their own body temperature

                        --organisms are more mobile, can live in more variable habitats

Antarctic Toothfish—have special proteins in body that act like antifreeze and keep blood from freezing; allows them to survive in subfreezing water

            --also have slow heartbeat (1 every 6 seconds)

 

Mimicry—similarity between species which protects one or both species

--may include warning coloration (example: animal that isn’t poisonous looks like one that is)

--may look like predator to scare off animals (big owl-like “eyes” on moth wings)

--multiple organisms may take on same coloration to protect all of them (example: bees, hornets, wasps, etc. all have black and yellow stripes to warn of danger)

Structure—physical feature of an organism

Structural Adaptations—changes to physical features of an organism, such as size, color, size

            *example—bones of birds are hollow to help them fly

            Endoskeleton—internal skeleton – support structure inside the body

                        --protects soft organs, tissues, etc.

                        --gives something for muscles to pull against and allow movement

                        --forms blood cells, stores minerals

            Exoskeleton—external skeleton—outer covering/ support structure

                        --protects organism

                        --keeps organism hydrated by preventing water loss

            Egg laying—mother lays eggs, so organisms develop outside her body

                        --female does not have to provide baby with nutrients or energy before born

                        --eggs can be buried or protected

                        --mother can lay many more eggs than produce live young

            Live birth—mother gives birth to a living baby after it develops inside her body

                        --mother protects baby from predators while its inside her

                        --mother maintains the baby’s body temperature

            Desert adaptations—traits that help organisms survive in the desert

--plants develop deep roots to reach water and/or widespread, shallow roots to catch whatever rain does fall

--cactus needles are very thin leaves, which decrease surface area that water can be lost through

--tough/leathery leaves keep plant from losing water

--large ears help circulate blood flow near the surface and cool the animal

--storing fat (ie: camels) in central location instead of around body keeps animal cool

**Traits are particular to a specific environment

            *May not do well in other environments

                        *Camouflage would need to be different in different environments

                        *Being fast is good in open spaces, not as useful in tight jungle environments

                        *etc.

Invasive species—species that moves into an environment it is not native to

--if new environment is similar enough to home environment, the organism’s traits may help it to do very well in the new environment

            --often can be harmful to native species that can’t compete with new environment

(example: if an organism is from a very harsh environment that is hard to live in, and it gets displaced into a similar—but not quite as dangerous—environment, it may already adapted traits that make it stronger in that environment than the native species)

 

Successful Reproduction—ability to have offspring that live long enough to also reproduce

            --may have special traits to increase the odds of successful reproduction

 

Plant Reproductive Adaptations:

*strong scents, pretty colors, sweet nectar:

            --attract insects, birds, mammals, reptiles

            --pollen gets stuck to the animal, which then carries the pollen to the next plant

*Delicious fruit:

            --attracts animals, which carry seeds in the fruit to new locations (by hand or in gut)

                        --seeds aren’t digested, and get left behind in animal droppings

*Other dispersal examples:

            --Dandelion “parachutes” carry seeds on the wind

            --Maple seed “wings” or “helicopter seeds” carry seeds on the wind

            --Tiny hooks on seeds cling to fur and get carried around by animals

*Adaptations to Fire: some pine cones only open to allow pollen in if there is extreme heat

            --actually need forest fires to reproduce

 

Animal Reproductive Adaptations:

*Animals adapt to attract the opposite sex to produce young (“mating”)

            --in many species, the males have to attract the females

*Courtship behaviors—dances, songs, competition, etc to attract mates

            Examples:

                        --peacock raises tail feathers to show bright colors (sign of healthy male)

                        --blue-footed booby and birds of paradise—perform elaborate dances

                        --whales sing; frogs croak

                        --male deer clash antlers to prove who is strongest/healthiest

*Traits show strength/power/healthy…all good qualities in a mate

            --largest antlers on deer (see competition behavior above)

            --which lion has the fullest/darkest mane tends to lead the pride

            --which bird is the most colorful, with the most stunning feather display

            --which primate has the biggest/sharpest teeth

 

Adaptations for Caring for Young (more likely to live to reproductive age)

*Most birds and mammals care for their young while they are young

            --build shelters, feeding, protecting from predators

                        Example: killdeer (a bird) mother pretends to have a broken wing to lead predators away from the nest

*Most mammals also teach young how to thrive on their own once mom/dad are gone

            --teach young how to hunt/ how to hide

                        --teach by example (offspring learn by watching what parents do)

                        Example: meerkat teach pups to eat scorpions without being stung