Squirrel Island

Purpose
• To explain how adaptations help organisms survive in different
environments

Background
• Mutations are random changes in the genetic information of an organism.
They cause new traits in an organism. Most are harmful, but a few are
neutral or even beneficial.
• There are two main types of genetic mutations: a point mutation and a
frameshift mutation. In a point mutation, one of the bases (chemicals) in
the chain of DNA is replaced by a different base. In a frameshift mutation,
one base pair is "deleted,“ so it throws off the DNA sequence, leading to
different proteins that are usually useless or harmful.
• A beneficial or neutral mutation can quickly become harmful when the
environments change. The environment greatly affects an organism’s
ability to survive, and even a small change can be harmful to some
organisms.
Some Examples
• The panda’s "thumb" is actually an enlarged bone of the wrist. In the panda’s environment, bamboo is
the main food source. It is difficult to handle and break the hard stalks, so an enlarged wrist bone helps
to grasp the bamboo. In another environment where the food source is not plants, an extra ‘finger’
would have little benefit, perhaps even be cumbersome. The mutated hands of pandas have been
beneficial only because of their need for a better grip on bamboo.

• The kokapo is a strange flightless parrot that lives in the brush on the mountains of New Zealand. Before
man reached its shores, the island was almost mammal-free, with no ground predators of birds. As a
result, the many ground dwelling birds lost the ability to fly, because there was no need. Their wings are
small and useless. When man did come they brought mammals, such as cats and weasels. The kokapo
was easy prey for them, and is now nearly extinct. This happened to several other birds, including the
kiwi. These birds inability to fly quickly caught up to them when the environment changed, showing how
their mutation of bad wings was harmful in a different environment.

• The penguin has a similar situation, living in the waters of Antarctica and surrounding places. They have
evolved into flightless birds that are cumbersome and ineffective on land, but are masters of the water.
In Antarctica, the sea is the best place to get food, so that is where the penguin has hunted. It has
gradually lost its ability to fly, attained huge amounts of insulating blubber, and gained mutated legs that
are great for swimming and terrible for walking. If the penguin was not in the environment it is so well
suited for, it would be very vulnerable and helpless. The mutations that have helped it survive in
Antarctica would quickly become useless in a place like the grasslands or mountains. In an environment
without water nearby, mutated wings and legs suited for swimming are useless.
 Procedure
• Based on your LAST name, learn about the island habitat you squirrel has had to evolve
in/adapt to. (See below)
• Based on this information you will
• Draw the island
• Design your squirrel and label at least 4 adaptations
• Describe and explain each of the adaptations
• Be creative but realistic (if it exists in nature, it is fair game as long as it makes sense; laser beams shooting from their eyes is off limits!)
• Neatness and attention to detail matters
• Research (as needed) and identify each entity on your squirrel island as directed in the slides that follow.

E, F, M, N, U, V, W G, H, O, P, X, Y, Z

A, B, I, J, Q, R, C, D, K, L, S, T,
Island 3
• Change the title of this slide to which island you have 1-4
• Draw your island on a piece of paper, including all of the features mentioned in the description. Label the
features and any notable locations.
• Scan and paste here.
• If you want to do different views (birdseye + eyelevel) you can, just duplicate this slide as needed.
inamabilis sciurus incanos spicis
• Change the title of this slide & give your squirrel a name
• Draw your squirrel on a piece of paper, including a minimum of 4 labelled adaptations.
• Scan and paste here.
Adaptations
• Name each of the 4 adaptations
• Describe what feature of the island drove the evolutions of each adaptation
• Explain how the adaptations helps the squirrel survive in this environment & reproduce

The quills are used for defence against bigger animals such as the birds and giant tortoises.
The large teeth and papillae help the squirrel to eat the cactus and get the water it needs. The large teeth
help chew up the tuff cactus and the papillae protect the squirrel's mouth from the spikes on the cactus.
The talons are used to help the squirrel dig holes to sleep in and protect itself from the hot desert sun.
The multi chambered stomach is used to help the squirrel digest the cactus and get the needed nutrients
from the cactus leaves and fruit.
Food & Water
• Describe what the squirrel eats, how it gets it’s food, hunts, collects,
stores, etc.
• Describe how and where the squirrel gets fresh water

The squirrel eats cactus leaves and fruit and stores its food in the holes
it digs. The squirrel bites off the leaves from the cactus plants and uses
the cactus’s fruit as food and the leaves as water.
Producers & Consumers
• Identify 2 producers & 2 consumers on the island
• Explain how they help or hinder the squirrel’s ability to survive

One producer is the cactus, and it provides the squirrel with food and
water. A consumer is the giant birds located on the island and one of
their food sources is the squirrel, so they make it harder for the squirrel
to survive. Another consumer is the giant tortoises, and they hinder the
squirrel's ability to survive because they compete with squirrel since
both species rely on the cactus to survive. Another producer is the desert
grass and they help hide the squirrel from the giant birds when the
squirrels are looking for food.
Predator vs Prey
• Identify 1 predator/prey relationship on the island (this may or may
not include your squirrel)
• Explain how this relationship helps or hurts the squirrel

One predator prey relationship is between the giant birds and the
squirrels. This hurts the squirrels because they are one of the main foods
in the giant bird’s diets. This means if the squirrel gets eaten it can’t
reproduce and pass on its genes to its offspring.
Habitat
• Identify which part of the island the squirrel makes it’s home in/at
• Explain WHY this area makes the most sense for survival and rearing
young
• Explain what is used for nesting material

The squirrel makes its home at the opposite end of the island the one
away from the windy side. This part makes the most sense for the
squirrel’s survival because its away from its main predator and its near
the squirrel’s main food source, the cactus. The desert sand it used as
nesting material because it cools the squirrel and protects it from the
squirrel’s predators.