MISS BOWEN 4 TH GRADE SCIENCE ADAPTATIONS (PACKET ANSWERS)

BUTTERFLY CAMOUFLAGE Define: Camouflage:_____________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ Disguise:__________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

BUTTERFLY CAMOUFLAGE Define: Camouflage: The color or pattern that helps an animal blend in with its environment. Disguise: An animal with a similar appearance to another natural object.

BIRD BEAKS How have birds adapted to survive? What would happen if birds had not physically adapted? 1.Which tools work best when picking up small items (oats and quinoa)? How do the beaks of birds that eat small producers and organisms likely to look? 2.Which tools work best when picking up the medium sized items (beans and cheerios)? How do the beaks of birds that eat medium sized producers and organisms likely to look? 3.Which tools work best when picking up large items (pasta)? How do the beaks of birds that eat large producers and organisms likely to look?

BIRD BEAKS How have birds adapted to survive? What would happen if birds had not physically adapted? Physically, bird beaks and feet have adapted, and behaviorally, bird songs have adapted. If birds had not adapted, they would be using the same tools to compete for the same foods and the biomass would go down. 1. Which tools work best when picking up small items (oats and quinoa) (answers will vary) How do the beaks of birds that eat small producers and organisms likely to look? Sharp and narrow 2. Which tools work best when picking up the medium sized items (beans and cheerios)? (answers will vary) How do the beaks of birds that eat medium sized producers and organisms likely to look? Larger/ rounded 3. Which tools work best when picking up large items (pasta)? (answers will vary) How do the beaks of birds that eat large producers and organisms likely to look? Largest

BALEEN WHALES Describe the teeth of a baleen whale. How do these teeth help them to catch their prey? What types of organisms do baleen whales eat? Run the comb through the water and assess the number of organisms on the comb. Record you findings below. Run the toothbrush through the water and assess the number of organisms on the comb. Record you findings below. Which tool was able to gather more, the toothbrush or the comb? How do the baleen whales’ teeth function as an adaptation? How would their biomass change if they had odontoceti?

BALEEN WHALES Describe the teeth of a baleen whale. How do these teeth help them to catch their prey? What types of organisms do baleen whales eat? Baleen whales have mustache or broom like teeth. The crustaceans, krill, and small fish get caught in the bristles. Run the comb through the water and assess the number of organisms on the comb. Record you findings below. A few specks stick to the comb. Run the toothbrush through the water and assess the number of organisms on the comb. Record you findings below. Specks get stuck to the outside and even more get caught in the bristles. Which tool was able to gather more, the toothbrush or the comb? The toothbrush was able to gather more. How do the baleen whales’ teeth function as an adaptation? How would their biomass change if they had odnotoceti? If baleen whales had odontoceti, they would not be able to catch as much of their prey. Their biomass would decrease and the biomass of crustaceans and krill would increase.

POLAR BEAR Which polar bear adaptations do you already know? What is blubber? How does it help polar bears to survive? Describe how your hand feels (temperature) when you cover it with the bag and place it into ice water. Now, place your hand in the bag with the thick layer of “blubber.” Describe how your hand feels (temperature) when you cover it with the bag and place it into ice water. Compare: When did your hand feel warmer, in the “thin skin” or with the blubber underneath of the thin skin? Explain how this activity illustrated one of the polar bears’ adaptations.

POLAR BEAR Which polar bear adaptations do you already know? Ears, fur, paws,… What is blubber? How does it help polar bears to survive? Blubber is a layer under the skin that helps to keep the polar bear warm. Describe how your hand feels (temperature) when you cover it with the bag and place it into ice water. Cool/ Cold/ Not very well protected Describe how your hand feels (temperature) when you cover it with the bag and place it into ice water. Warm/ body heat is trapped Compare: When did your hand feel warmer, in the “thin skin” or with the blubber underneath of the thin skin? Explain how this activity illustrated one of the polar bears’ adaptations. My hand was warmer in the bag with a layer of blubber. This showed me how, for polar bears, this layer is necessary for keeping in the warmth.