1. Essential Question: How can changes in an organism’s environment affect its survival?

2. Environment = Habitat A habitat is the place where an animal or plant lives that includes essential things for its survival—food, water, shelter, and space. Habitat loss is the main reason a species can become endangered or threatened. Other causes include the over-killing and over- collection of animals and plants for food or trade, the introduction of nonnative plants and animals to environments, pollution, and disease. Humans are changing the air, water, and land faster than species can adapt. When the changes are too severe, they cannot survive.

3. What is extinction? While species have evolved and disappeared throughout time, experts warn that today's rate of extinction is alarmingly high. Scientists say that it is natural to lose one species every 100 years. Yet North America has lost more than 500 species since 1620. The National Wildlife Federation, an organization that encourages Americans to protect wildlife, estimates that today nearly twenty plant and animal species around the world are lost every hour.

4. Does your state have endangered species? Are there any species that are now extinct ? http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/StateListin g.do?state=allhttp://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/StateListin g.do?state=all

5. What is a structural adaptation? Structural adaptations are changed body parts that help the organism survive in its ecosystem. Example: A tree frog This type of frog can better avoid its enemies because of its’ suction cups on its’ toes and its’ green skin. How do these structural adaptations help the frog survive?

6. What is a behavioral adaptation? Behavioral adaptations are inherited behaviors that help animals survive. Some of these behavioral adaptations are called instincts. Example: A lemming The lemming is a small rodent that has an instinct to migrate if their population in an area gets too large. How does this behavioral adaption help the lemming population survive?