P6 Science
Interactions
-
Adaptations
Name: ________ ( )
Class: _________
Adaptations
- Organisms have special characteristics that ensures survival in their
habitats.
- These adaptations allow them to adapt to their environment
There are 2 main types of adaptations, Structural and Behavioural.
Adaptations.
Structural adaptations
-Are the physical characteristics of an organism that help it
survive in its natural habitat.
Examples: The shape of a dolphin’s body helps it to move
quickly through water.
Behavioural adaptations
-Special ways an organism behaves to survive in its
natural habitat.
Examples: Animals stay underground in the shade during
the day and come out at night when it is cooler it hunts for
food.
Adaptations for coping with extreme temperatures
*Refer to last pages to see more adaptations for coping with different conditions
-An example of a hot environment is a dessert. Animals
have adapted to survive in these environments.
Adaptations for keeping cool
-The desert fox has large ears to lose excess body heat.
-Other animals stay underground in the shade during the
day and come out at night when it is cooler it hunts for
food.
Adaptations for obtaining and conserving water
-Some animals obtain water from plant parts that they eat
(leaves, fruits) or feed on the nectar or saps of plants
-Other animals (Camel) sweat and urinate very little to
conserve as much water as possible.
-Plants have needle-like leaves (spines) which reduce
surface area of leaves and therefore reduces water loss.
-Cacti have thick fleshy stems that store water, which can
be used during dry weather.
-Roots of some plants are spread out over a wide area to
absorb as much water as possible.
Living in a cold environment and adapting to keep
warm
-In cold environments, food and water are not easily
available when ground freezes so organisms living there
must adapt to the conditions.
-For example, Birds have closely packed feathers to stay
warm
Thick layer of fur/feather traps air (poor conductor
of heat) to reduce heat loss (from its body) to the cooler
surrounding
CONGRATULATIO
NS
More Examples of
Adaptations
Adaptations for breathing underwater
Air tubes – Aquatic insects (young of
mosquito) breathe through the air tubes. This
air tube extends from their bodies and stick
above the water surface.
Moist Skin – Animals like frogs can stay
underwater for a long time as it uses its skin to
take in oxygen underwater and must be kept
moist all the time.
Gills – Most aquatic animals such as fish has
gills. O2 is taken in while CO2 is given out as
water passes over the gills.
More other adaptations: Air bubbles,
Special Nostrils ,Blowhole
Adaptations for moving
-Needed for animals to move efficiently to hunt
and escape danger.
Moving in water- Bodies of aquatic animals are
streamlined. Streamlined body shapes are narrow at
both ends and broad in the middle which enables animals to
move quickly in the water.
Special Body Parts- Fins, webbed feet and flippers
are special body parts that help aquatic animals move in
water.
Moving in the air- A streamlined body shape, well –
developed wings and feathers of a bird allow it to fly easily.
Birds must be small and light to fly. Feathers of a bird help
keep them warm and help them to fly.
Adaptations for living in dark environment
Night vision, lighting up are adaptations used by owls
and deep-sea creatures. Since sunlight is unable to
reach deep into the sea, there is total darkness so
some deep-sea animals have body parts that kind
light up. They use the light to see, find mates, attract
prey and confuse predators.
Aquatic Plants
A water lily has waxy leaves so water will run off the
leaves and not weigh the leaves down. Air Spaces in
swollen leaf stalk can help the plant to float.
Adaptations for obtaining sunlight
Land plants have strong and wooden stems to hold branches
and leaves to get sufficient sunlight. Other plants have weak
stems and cannot grow upright. These plants have
adaptations to obtain sunlight.
Climbing on supports – Some plants climb onto walls,
fences and other plants to obtain sunlight
Creeping on the ground - Grass grow horizontally on the
ground and their stems spread out so the leaves can get
sunlight.
