Adaptation
Survival of the Fittest
It’s all about traits
Acquired Traits
Happen After Birth
“LEARNED”
Scars
Pierced Ears
Learning a Skill
Changing Appearance
It’s all about traits
Inherited Traits
Programmed at Birth
skin eye hair color
height
face shape
sight, taste, smell
body part or
behavior that
help an
helps an animal adapted
animal breathe, to live in
survive in a catch certain
particular
environment.
food, or habitats. Physical Behavioral
hide.
body structures that help an animal allow animals to
allow an animal to survive in its
animals’
respond to life
find and consume environment
needs. actions
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.
Body coverings
Camouflage Mimicry Chemical & parts
use of color in a (looking or
sounding like
defenses (claws, beaks, feet,
surrounding armor plates, skulls,
another living (like venom, teeth)
organism) ink, sprays)
An ADAPTATION is an inherited trait
that helps an organism survive
For it to be an adaptation, most members
of the population must have the same trait
Adaptations can be physical or behavioral
When words appear in orange, write them down.
Example of Adaptation
The shape of an
animal’s teeth is
related to its diet.
– Herbivores, such as deer,
have many molars for
chewing tough grass and
plants.
– Carnivores, such as lions,
have sharp canines to kill
and tear meat.
Physical Adaptation
How an Organism
LOOKS or its structure
Example: Camouflage
Body coloring that helps
an organism blend in
This leaf insect is protected
with its surroundings is
from predators eating it
called camouflage. because it lives on trees and
blends in with the leaves.
Physical Adaptation
How an Organism
LOOKS or its structure
Example: Camouflage
Body coloring that helps
an organism blend in
with its surroundings is
called camouflage. The camouflage of this crab
spider is an adaptation that
lets it blend in with flower
petals – until lunch flies by…
Physical Adaptation
How an Organism
LOOKS or its structure
Example: Mimicry
Some organisms look like Tasty Viceeroy butterfly on the left,
other organisms that poisonous Monarch butterfly on the
are poisonous or right.
dangerous. They are The Viceroy is protected by
protected because of mimicing the color of the Monarch.
the way they look.
Bee story.
Physical Adaptation
How an Organism
LOOKS or its structure
Example: Specialized
Structures
These African elephants live in a
Some organisms have hot climate. Large ears help
adapted special body dissipate the heat by bringing blood
close to the skin surface.
parts that make them
well suited to their What other adaptations do
environment. elephants have?
Physical Adaptation
How an Organism
LOOKS or its structure
Example: Flight
adaptations
Humans and other mammals have
All birds have hollow marrow inside their bones. Bird
bones and feathers. bones are hollow.
This allows most How would hollow bones help a
members of the bird bird to fly?
family to fly.
Physical Adaptation
How an Organism
LOOKS or its structure
Example: Swimming
adaptations This catfish has many fins that
allow it to glide through the
Fish have adapted to muddy river bottoms.
marine life by having
scales and using fins to What other adaptation is unique
to catfish?
move.
Behavioral Adaptation
What an organism
DOES
Some traits are
passed down as
instincts or
behaviors. These
behaviors help the
organism survive.
Behavioral Adaptation
Example: Hunting and
stalking
Hunting behavior is
coded in an This tiger is stalking prey. This
animal’s genes. It is behavioral adaptation helps it get
food, and ensures that the
an instinct. species will survive.
Behavioral Adaptation
Example: Hibernating
Hibernating conserves
an organism’s
energy resources Mammals aren’t the only ones
and helps it survive that have adapted to cold weather
by hibernating. Turtles, frogs, and
when food is some snakes share the same
scarce. trait.
Behavioral Adaptation
Example: Migration
Many animals travel
long distances yearly
in search of new
habitats. The trigger
for the migration may
be climate or
availability of food,
What are some physical adaptations of
this porcupine?
What are some behavioral adaptations
of this cheetah?
What are some physical adaptations of
this cactus?
What environment are these
mushrooms best suited for?
Natural Selection
The organisms that are best suited to the
environment will live and be able to pass on
their genes by reproducing.
Organisms that are not well suited to the
environment will die before they can
reproduce.
“Survival of the Fittest”
Speciation
When a group of After MANY
organisms are generations, a
isolated in a new whole new species
environment, the may be formed.
traits that are best
suited to that new
environment will be
passed on.
Speciation
Example: Snowshoe
Hares and
Jackrabbits
Both descended from
a common ancestor
Live in very different
environments
Charles Darwin
Was a Brittish
“naturalist”
Wrote 19 books in his
lifetime
Studied science by
observing the natural
world
1809-1882
Buried in Westminster
Abbey
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin sailed on a ship named the
Beagle.
It may have been the defining experience of his
life.
It may have also ruined his health.
A poisonous bug bite caused chronic illness:
ulcer, diverticulitis and gall bladder disease.
He studied marine life and flora and fauna of
South America for the five year trip.
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Darwin’s theory stated that the diversity of
organisms on earth is the result of billions of
years of adaptations to changing
environments.
He didn’t coin the phrase “survival of the
fittest”.
He did develop the idea of natural selection.
Charles Darwin
Most famous for his
discoveries on the
Galapagos Islands.
Near the end of his
discovery tour
Western tip of S.A.
near Ecuador
Charles Darwin
Studied many plants
and animals.
Famous for making
detailed
observations and
measurements of
finches. Size, color,
habitat, beaks.
Darwin’s video
