Animal Adaptations and variation

1. Animal Adaptations and variation Unit 12

2. What is a Trait Cont.? • A characteristic of some organism, like how it looks or acts. • Can be passed down from parents to offspring = (inherited) • Can be learned • Allows organism to survive and reproduce in its environment in which it lives. Add this information to your definition if you do not have it.

3. Inherited vs. Learned • What do we mean when we say inherited? • Whom are traits inherited from? • How are they passed down? • Give some examples of things you inherit: • Looks… • Behaviors…

4. Learned Behaviors • What are some things you are NOT born knowing? • List some items you must learn and share with a partner to see if you come up with some similar or different ideas. • Share your thoughts with the teacher.

5. Natural Selection:These pictures show variation in species in big cats and owls. Natural selection is considered to be the biggest factor resulting in the diversity of species (speciation).

6. Natural Selection: This 'weeding out' of the less suited organisms and the reward of survival to those better suited led Darwin to conclude that species evolve at different times and places and his survival of the fittest theory. All organisms need to reproduce to survive. The successful organisms pass on the genetic information of the surviving species from generation to generation.

7. The Galapagos Finches: An Example of Natural Selection DNA data indicate the origin of Darwin’s finches from a single ancestral species. The most important differences between species are in the size and shape of their beaks, and the beaks are highly adapted to different food sources. The adaptive evolution and specialization of Galápagos Finches

8. Adaptation vs. Mutation:What is a Mutation? • When a new/different genetic trait first appears in an organism it is often looked at as a “mutation”. • Note: Not all “Mutations” are bad. When they are caused by “Gene Shuffling” it just means something different than what is normally expected, was passed on to the offspring due to the large amount of DNA combination possibilities. Which fox is best suited for the environment it is in? Why? Are these adaptations or mutations? Why?

9. Thoroughbred Horses - bred for speed! What is Selective Breeding? Angora Rabbits - bred for soft fluffy fur. Used in clothing. • Breeders of animals and plants in today's world want to produce organisms that will possess the most desirable characteristics. What are desirable characteristics? • So how do you think they make plants and animals with all the best characteristics????? Corn – new hybrids created to be high producing, drought resistant, and disease resistant.

10. Cattle like this are used to increase beef production. SelectiveBreeding: • This process of selecting the “best” parents is called artificial selection or selective breeding. • Specific plants or animals with specific traits are crossed to get offspring with the same desirable traits. Some selective breeding can change things about a species. Like this cauliflower that has had color bred in to it.

11. In Conclusion: • Adaptations can be both how an organism looks and how it acts. • Adaptations are how a population becomes better suited to live in its environment. They can be random at times and thus called mutations at first. • Natural Selection – Organisms with the most favorable traits survive in the natural environment and reproduce most successfully. • Selective Breeding – People picking only the traits they like to be passed on.

12. Basic Animal Requirements: • Find food to grow • Defend against predators • Find mates for reproduction

13. Body parts—structural adaptation • Behavioral adaptation • Physiological adaptation • Learned behavior • Coloration/Camouflage How do these factors help animals survive?

14. Structural Adaptation

15. Structural Adaptation A body part that aids in survival Examples: • Fins • Gills • Teeth • Streamline body • No eye lids

16. How do different feet types aid in survival?

17. Structural Adaptation A body part that aids in survival Examples: Heron’s feet are for wading in mud Eagle’s feet for grabbing and holding prey Duck’s feet are for swimming Sparrow’s feet are for perching

18. Body parts—structural adaptation • Behavioral adaptation • Physiological adaptation • Learned behavior • Coloration/Camouflage How do these factors help animals survive?

19. Behavioral Adaptation

20. Behavioral Adaptation An action that aids in survival Clown fish seek shelter from predators in sea anemones. Sea anemones are poisonous to other marine creatures.

21. Behavioral Adaptation

22. Behavioral Adaptation An action that aids in survival Lions stay together in a pride. As a group they can help each other hunt, care for young, and watch for danger.

23. Body parts—structural adaptation • Behavioral adaptation • Physiological adaptation • Learned behavior • Coloration/Camouflage How do these factors help animals survive?

24. Physiological Adaptation

25. Physiological Adaptation Jobs of the body parts controlling life process that aid in survival. A bear’s body slows down in the winter. This helps them survive the long winter temperature and scarce food during winter months. Many know this as hibernation. Most bears do not sleep through the entire winter. They do get up and change dens, so this is not true hibernation, but a winter sleep.

26. Physiological Adaptation

27. Physiological Adaptation Jobs of the body parts controlling life process that aid in survival. Dolphins are mammals and need to breath air. They spend their entire lives in the water and their body’s have adapted so that they can hold their breath for several minutes.