Trojské trumfy. pražským školám IMPORTANCE OF PHYSICAL COLORATION IN ANIMALS. projekt CZ.2.17/3.1.00/32718 EVROPSKÝ SOCIÁLNÍ FOND

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1 EVROPSKÝ SOCIÁLNÍ FOND PRAHA & EU INVESTUJEME DO VAŠÍ BUDOUCNOSTI Pracovní Didaktický list balíček č. 7 č. 9 Trojské trumfy pražským školám projekt CZ.2.17/3.1.00/32718 IMPORTANCE OF PHYSICAL COLORATION IN ANIMALS

2 A B? complete homework write?! help laboratory work presentation optional task take a photo DP = didactic pack Members of the project team: Manager of the project Mgr. Radim Jendřejas (Trojské gymnázium) Head methodist Mgr. Zuzana Venclíková (Trojské gymnázium) Methodists Mgr. Ivana Motýlová (Trojské gymnázium) Mgr. Ada Hrstková (Trojské gymnázium) Mgr. Tereza Chýlová (Trojské gymnázium) Ing. Ludmila Horká (Trojské gymnázium) Ing. Lukáš Marek (Trojské gymnázium) Expert supervisors Mgr. Věra Bidlová (Botanická zahrada hl. m. Prahy) PhDr. Eva Vítová (Botanická zahrada hl. m. Prahy) RNDr. Milena Peterová (Zoo Praha) Mgr. František Tymr (Zoo Praha) Art director Bc.A. Eva Göndörová (Zoo Praha)

3 DP No. 9 COLORATION IN PLANTS AND ANIMALS WORKSHEET No. 1 Importance OF PHYSICAL COLORATION IN ANIMALS Worksheet for the zoo project ZOOLOGY, ECOLOGY Intended for group work Charles Darwin was fascinated by animal colours. In a letter written to his colleague A. R. Wallace he asked him why some animals were so splendidly and artistically coloured. To the question Why one may answer: Because they have certain pigment in their skin cells and someone else might say: because their ancestors have passed the coloration on them, and then someone else can add: because their coloration enables them to do something. Therefore you are going to explore reasons for coloration in some animals kept in the Prague Zoo. Not all of them are splendidly and artistically coloured, and often they will be coloured inconspicuously. Surely you can guess why 1. What can animal coloration serve for? Note down all your ideas and give examples of particular species: 2. Write down what colours and patterns you associate with warning of danger. You can think of traffic signs etc. Conspicuous coloration can be a predator warning sign: Don t eat me! I am dangerous! A typical example of a warning sign are black and yellow stripes on wasps. The same function can be achieved by black and white stripes or the combination of black and red in the common firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus). Although these warning signs or aposemic coloration are typical of insects we can also observe them in vertebrates (e.g. task No. 3 in house A or in task No. 5). 3. Choose if you want to study coloration in animals either in Big Mammal House or Feline House and complete the given task. BIG MAMMAL HOUSE a/ At the lower part of the zoo within terrariums placed in the Big Mammal House you can find one of these snake species: 1 2 1

4 Write down the names of both species and check the one you have found: Is this snake venomous? How can we explain its coloration similarities with the other one? What do we call the phenomenon when one organism imitates the colors of another one? b/ A few terrariums further on you can find another animal with a warning sign, this time it s a venomous species. Write its name: What is its coloration and patterns? Describe it or draw it. c/ In the next terrarium there is a Green Tree Python whose coloration serves a completely different purpose. What is the purpose? d/ The wasp coloration is a warning (aposematic). What would you call the type of coloration in the Green Tree Python? Try to suggest an English and/or Latin adjective: FELINE HOUSE Find the animals, observe them and try to find answers to the questions. Then double check with information boards and make sure if you were right. a/ What environment is Gaboon viper adapted to and why does it take cover? your presumption: information board: b/ What environment is Emerald Tree monitor adapted to and why does it hide? your presumption: information board: c/ Wasp coloration is aposematic. What would you call the type of coloration of Gaboon viper or Emerald Tree monitor? Try to suggest an English and/or Latin adjective: 2

5 d/ Recall what large cats (felines) have their fur with or without spots and marks. Circle the cats names with marks and spots. Then match the names with the pictures. lion fishing cat amur leopard clouded leopard jaguarondi tiger A B C D E F e/ What s the function of spots and marks in big cats (felines)? your presumption: information board: 4. Namely in birds, there are different colorations in males and females. You can notice that on your way from the houses in the lower part of the zoo. a/ While females would rather seek a hideaway, males coloration is often conspicuous. Why do you think it is so? b/ Find two birds with different coloration for a male and female and note: name female coloration male coloration Did you find out about the causes of differences from information boards? If so, what? 5. In the upper part of the zoo in Africa House you can observe at close range some other animals with interesting coloration. Choose two from tasks a c. a/ The Common Agama is another example of an animal with warning coloration. A warning sign in this case is based on a simple contrast of two colours. What are the colours? Is the coloration the same for both sexes? Why? 3

6 b/ The Rainbow Mabuya coloration serves a different purpose than in the other species which you were observing. What impressions do you get from the blue colour? What is the function of tail coloration in the offspring and females of the Rainbow Mabuya? What s their body coloration? c/ Find other two animals with camouflaging coloration. Name: The environment it lives in: 6. Finally, try to sum up briefly why animal coloration is so important. Name as many examples as possible. 7. Camouflage patterns of animals inspired designers of military wear. In your opinion, what animals actually inspired them? 8. Write down what you found most interesting during this tour and what else you would like to know about animal coloration. 4