ANIMAL
ADAPTATIONS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Define what adaptation is among organisms in
an ecosystem;
2. Describe the different adaptations of
organisms;
3. Analyze how biodiversity affects the stability
of an ecosystem; and
[Link]
Cite at KNOW?
YOU least two important aspects of
biodiversity in everyday life.
Every organism has a unique ecosystem where it lives
—its natural habitat.
A habitat provides the basic needs for survival.
Habitats are
constantly changing
and evolving over
time.
Adaptation is key
to survival.
WHAT IS AN ADAPTATION?
An adaptation is a physical or
behavior change that helps
an animal or plant survive in
their habitat.
DID YOU KNOW?
Cheetahs can run over
100 miles per hour to
catch prey.
STRUCTURAL OR
PHYSICAL ADAPTATIONS
using body structures to help an animal survive.
Type of body covering
Color
Body parts
Defenses
DID YOU KNOW?
Owls have big eyes that allow
them to hunt prey at night.
BUFF - TIP
MOTH
STRUCTURAL OR PHYSICAL
ADAPTATIONS
1. CAMOUFLAGE
a defense mechanism or tactic that
the organisms use to disguise their
appearance, usually to blend in
with their surroundings.
CAMOUFLAGE & MIMICRY
Chameleon Walking Leaf Cuttlefish
Their skin changes These insects look Dubbed the
color to blend in like the leaves "chameleon of the sea,"
with surroundings. where they live.
SCARLET KING SNAKE CORAL SNAKE
STRUCTURAL OR PHYSICAL
ADAPTATIONS
2. MIMICRY
ability of an organism to imitate and
copycat another species in terms of
sound, appearance, smell, behavior or
location to protect itself.
MIMICRY
Owl Butterfly Elephant Hawk Moth Viceroy Butterfly
Caterpillar
It has large eyespots It has large eye-like This looks like the toxic
on its wings that markings on its Monarch butterfly so
resemble the eyes head, making it predators stay away.
of an owl. resemble a snake
when threatened.
If threatened,
skunks spray a
foul-smelling
liquid from their
anal glands.
STRUCTURAL OR PHYSICAL
ADAPTATIONS
3. CHEMICAL DEFENSES
include substances utilized
by prey which are harmful
to invading organisms.
CHEMICAL DEFENSES
Octopus Lionfish Blue Poison Dart Frog
The ink contains The spines contain Its skin secretes
tyrosinase, which can deadly venom for potent alkaloid toxins,
irritate predators' eyes unsuspecting which can paralyze or
and senses predators. kill predators.
STRUCTURAL OR PHYSICAL
ADAPTATIONS
4. BODY COVERINGS
cover the body and protect
animals from external factors.
Fur or Hair Shell
Feathers Moist Skin
Scales Whiskers
BODY COVERINGS
Tortoise Sheep Earthworms
PHYSICAL ADAPTATIONS OF A CAMEL
Large eyelashes
Slitted nostrils
Humps store fat
Thick fur Thin fur
Large, flat feet
BEHAVIOR
ADAPTATIONS
how animals respond or act to life
needs. Behavioral adaptation could be
instinctive or happen naturally.
DID YOU KNOW?
Monkeys climb so they can
travel fast through the forest
canopy and escape
predators.
BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATIONS
1. HIBERNATION
when animals bare sleep as
a response to cold weather
and survive the cold winter.
HIBERNATION
Squirrels Bats Groundhog
BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATIONS
2. MIGRATION
It involves an animal or group of animals
travelling from one place to another and
then back again when seasons change.
MIGRATION
Wildebeest Dragonfly Salmon
Over a million migrate each Generations migrate in These fish migrate up streams to
year in a large loop from the relay race style, completing their mating grounds using the
Serengeti to the Masai Mara. a north to south loop. magnetic field of the Earth.
BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATIONS
3. LEARNED BEHAVIORS
behaviors are obtained and acquired by
interacting with the environment and
cannot be passed on to the next generation
except by teaching.
LEARNED BEHAVIORS
Ducklings Tigers Dolphin
Ducklings walking after By playing, these tigers Dolphins use echolocation,
their mother. are learning moves that whistling, clicking and body
will help them become language.
successful predators as
adults.
BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATIONS OF
A POLAR BEAR
Sneaky hunter
Shorter
Play fight hibernations if
needed
ADAPTATIONS OF SPECIES
OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS
IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT
COULD RESULT TO
HIGH BIODIVERSITY.
BIODIVERSITY
RICHNESS EVENNESS
measure of the
number of
different kinds of
organisms or
species present in a
particular area.
COMMUNITY 1 COMMUNITY 2
COMMUNITY 1 COMMUNITY 2
HIGHLY RICH LOWLY RICH
BIODIVERSITY
RICHNESS EVENNESS
measure of the compares the
number of similarity of the
different kinds of
population size of
organisms or
species present in a each of the species
particular area. present
COMMUNITY 1 COMMUNITY 2
COMMUNITY 1 COMMUNITY 2
LESS EVEN MORE EVEN
MORE
DIVERSE AND MORE
EVENLY STABLE
DISTRIBUTED ECOSYSTEMS
ECOSYSTEMS
GREATER GREATER
DIVERSITY STABILITY
BIODIVERSITY benefits people in many ways. The
greatest value to humans, however, comes from the
ecosystem services it provides.
THE VALUE OF SPECIES CAN BE DIVIDED
INTO VARIOUS CATEGORIES:
1. DIRECT ECONOMIC VALUE
Species are sources of the basic needs
of human such as food, clothing,
shelter, medicine, and energy.
THE VALUE OF SPECIES CAN BE DIVIDED
INTO VARIOUS CATEGORIES:
2. INDIRECT ECONOMIC VALUE
A species has an indirect economic
value if there are benefits produced by
the organism without using them.
THE VALUE OF SPECIES CAN BE DIVIDED
INTO VARIOUS CATEGORIES:
3. AESTHETIC VALUE
A lot of species provides visual
or artistic enjoyment.
