Survival of the Fittest Adaptation Survival of the Fittest

Make a “starfish” graphic organizer as we go Make a “starfish” graphic organizer as we go. Write down the stuff in orange AT LEAST.

It’s all about traits Quick Review What type of traits…. Happen after birth Can be learned Can easily be changed Include scars and pierced ears

It’s all about traits Quick Review What type of traits are… Programmed at Birth Written in DNA Cannot be changed Include eye color and height

An ADAPTATION is an inherited trait that helps an organism survive Write ADAPTATION in the center of the starfish For it to be an adaptation, most members of the population must have the same trait Adaptations can be physical or behavioral adaptation

Physical Adaptation (write this on one of the arms) How an Organism LOOKS or its structure (write this on the other side of the physical adaptation line) Example: Camouflage (write this as a finger off of the physical arm) Body coloring that helps an organism blend in with its surroundings is called camouflage. This leaf insect is protected from predators eating it because it lives on trees and blends in with the leaves.

Physical Adaptation (write this on one of the arms) How an Organism LOOKS or its structure (write this on the other side of the physical adaptation line) PHYSICAL

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. Write camouflage as a “whisker” 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 other organisms that are poisonous or dangerous. They are protected because of the way they look. Tasty Viceeroy butterfly on the left, poisonous Monarch butterfly on the right. The Viceroy is protected by mimicing the color of the Monarch. Bee story.

Physical Adaptation How an Organism LOOKS or its structure Example: Specialized Structures Some organisms have adapted special body parts that make them well suited to their environment. These African elephants live in a hot climate. Large ears help dissipate the heat by bringing blood close to the skin surface. What other adaptations do elephants have?

Physical Adaptation How an Organism LOOKS or its structure Example: Flight adaptations All birds have hollow bones and feathers. This allows most members of the bird family to fly. Humans and other mammals have marrow inside their bones. Bird bones are hollow. How would hollow bones help a bird to fly?

Physical Adaptation How an Organism LOOKS or its structure Example: Swimming adaptations Fish have adapted to marine life by having scales and using fins to move. This catfish has many fins that allow it to glide through the muddy river bottoms. What other adaptation is unique to catfish?

Behavioral Adaptation Draw another arm out from the center and label it.) What an organism DOES (write this on the other side of the arm) AKA instinct BEHAVIORAL

Behavioral Adaptation Example: Hunting and stalking (write examples as fingers) Hunting behavior is coded in an animal’s genes. It is an instinct. This tiger is stalking prey. This behavioral adaptation helps it get food, and ensures that the species will survive.

Behavioral Adaptation Example: Hibernating Hibernating conserves an organism’s energy resources and helps it survive when food is scarce. Mammals aren’t the only ones that have adapted to cold weather by hibernating. Turtles, frogs, and some snakes share the same trait.

Behavioral Adaptation Example: Mating Behavior Many animals have adapted mating behavior to ensure that the strongest males pass on their genes. These bull elk are battling to determine which one is the strongest. The winner gets to mate with all of the cow elk.

Natural Selection (make an arm) “Survival of the Fittest” (write under on arm) NATURAL SELECTION

Natural Selection (make an arm) 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.

Natural Selection What would happen to a sea turtle born with tiny fins? What would happen to a white mouse born into a family of brown mice? What would happen to a bird born blind?

Speciation (make a new arm)

Speciation (make a new arm) When a group of organisms are isolated in a new environment, the traits that are best suited to that new environment will be passed on. After MANY generations, a whole new species may be formed.

Speciation Example: Snowshoe Hares and Jackrabbits (make a finger) Both descended from a common ancestor Live in very different environments

Evidence (make a new arm)

Evidence (make a whisker for each) Fossils DNA Similar embryos Homologous (similar) structures Observable examples: Peppered Moths in England Antibiotic resistant bacteria