Animal Adaptations Presented by Heidi Klumpe Further questions to Kris Tesh kitesh@ncsu.edu
Overview I. II. III. What to Bring What to Expect What to Know
What To Bring Teams MUST bring writing instruments Teams MAY bring 1 3-ring binder Any size Containing any form of information Any sources This material MUST be 3-hole punched Must be on the binder rings Sheet-protectors are ok
What To Expect Stations Rotate through stations Respond to questions at each station Design Challenge Create a habitat which suits an animal s adaptations Create an animal which could survive in a certain habitat
What to know Adaptations: populations and their habitats Changes passed between generations that help a population thrive in a particular habitat, i.e. Behavioral changes Structural changes Not to be confused with acclimatization Individual Getting used to the cold during the winter Learning to raid trash cans
Behavioral Adaptations Things creatures do to survive. Must improve the population s survival Migration to avoid harsh winters Bird calls for mating Nocturnal life to avoid predators OR to eat nocturnal prey
Structural Adaptations Physical features: Focus on Body Structures Larger eyes to see in the dark Long neck to reach high leaves Shark teeth to hold and rip prey Anglerfish lure to attract prey
Questions to ask students How does this adaptation make an animal more suited for its habitat? How do behaviors adapt? Why do those changes work? For this animal, what is the best habitat? In this habitat, what does an animal need to survive?
Giraffe Why would any creature have a neck like this? Thanks to DesktopRating.com s Wallpapers site: http://www.desktoprating.com/wallpapers/giraffe-wallpaper.htm
To reach high food To reach food in a swamp Giraffe Why would any creature have a neck like this? Thanks to DesktopRating.com s Wallpapers site: http://www.desktoprating.com/wallpapers/giraffe-wallpaper.htm
Giraffe What kind of place must a giraffe live? Thanks to DesktopRating.com s Wallpapers site: http://www.desktoprating.com/wallpapers/giraffe-wallpaper.htm
Giraffe What kind of place must a giraffe live? Someplace with hard-to-reach food Grass isn t abundant there Giraffes can eat tree leaves Thanks to DesktopRating.com s Wallpapers site: http://www.desktoprating.com/wallpapers/giraffe-wallpaper.htm originally from National Geographic
What does it take to survive here? Thanks to DesktopRating.com s Wallpapers site: http://www.desktoprating.com/wallpapers/amazing-snow-landcape-wallpaper.htm
Humans Coats, fire, igloo building Animals Thick fur Hibernate when food is scarce Migrate to avoid cold What does it take to survive here? Thanks to DesktopRating.com s Wallpapers site: http://www.desktoprating.com/wallpapers/amazing-snow-landcape-wallpaper.htm
What structural changes would suit this habitat? 80F, humid & rainy Sunny, branches Strong winds Blocks light below A roof for the forest Larger leaves to gather light Densest growth Very dark Fast decay
In the desert: What behaviors help animals live here? Daytime temperatures reach 113F/45C Nights are cold, around freezing Pebbly dry soil Shifting dunes Spiky plants Little rainfall Windblown sand And what behaviors help humans live here?
Other Ideas for In-Class Learn about adaptations of unusual animals http://www.uen.org/utahlink/activities/view_activity.cgi?activity_id=4750 Divide the class in two. Each creates a habitat, swaps drawings, and then creates an animal well-suited (or unsuited!) for that habitat. Have students describe an adaptation that would help an animal they know of survive better (e.g. butterflies with steel wings). Discuss potential drawbacks of these changes.
Additional Resources http://www.sciencenc.com/eventhelp/animaladaptations.php Project WILD (projectwild.org) Project Aquatic WILD Learnnc.organimals.ppst.com/adaptations Seaworld.org Ecokids.ca School.discoveryeducation.com Google Animal Adaptations for more interactive websites.
Questions? heklumpe@ncsu.edu kitesh@ncsu.edu