Warm-Up What is an adaptation?

Plant and Animal Adaptations Plants and animals possess adaptations to survive in a wide variety of environmental conditions Adaptation – an INHERITED characteristic that helps an organism survive in its environment.

Bright Sunlight/Hot Weather What is a stomata? What is a stomata?

Bright Sunlight/Hot Weather Is it best for the plant to open its stomata during the day or at night?

Bright Sunlight/Hot Weather AT NIGHT! AT NIGHT! This way, plants lose less water through transpiration if they open the stomata at night!

Bright Sunlight/Hot Weather What is a waxy cuticle? What is a waxy cuticle?

Bright Sunlight/Hot Weather Would it be good or bad for a plant to have a waxy cuticle on its leaves?

Bright Sunlight/Hot Weather GOOD! GOOD! The waxy cuticle helps keep water in the leaves.

Bright Sunlight/Hot Weather Would it be better for a plant to have small leaves or large leaves? Would it be better for a plant to have small leaves or large leaves?

Bright Sunlight/Hot Weather SMALL LEAVES SMALL LEAVES This reduces the water lost through transpiration.

Bright Weather/Hot Sunlight Is it best for an animal to be nocturnal (asleep during the day and awake at night) OR diurnal (awake during the day and asleep at night? Is it best for an animal to be nocturnal (asleep during the day and awake at night) OR diurnal (awake during the day and asleep at night?

Bright Weather/Hot Sunlight Nocturnal behavior Nocturnal behavior Animals are more active when it is cooler.

Bright Weather/Hot Sunlight Is it good for animals to have large ears or small ears? Is it good for animals to have large ears or small ears?

Bright Sunlight/Hot Weather Large ears with many blood vessels Large ears with many blood vessels Animals can lose heat through their ears.

Drought (limited water) Is it good to for a plant to have small, narrow spreading roots or wide spreading roots? Is it good to for a plant to have small, narrow spreading roots or wide spreading roots?

Drought (limited water) Wide spreading roots Wide spreading roots They can collect water from a wider area. They can collect water from a wider area.

Drought (limited water) Is it better for a plant to have deep roots or shallow roots? Is it better for a plant to have deep roots or shallow roots?

Drought (limited water) Deep roots Deep roots They can collect water stored deep in the soil

Drought (limited water) Would it be good for plants to have the ability to store water? Would it be good for plants to have the ability to store water?

Drought (limited water) YES!- Ability to store water YES!- Ability to store water They can take on water during rains and use it when there is a drought.

Drought (limited water) Would it be good for animals to have the ability to store water? Would it be good for animals to have the ability to store water?

Drought (limited water) YES!- Ability to store water YES!- Ability to store water They can collect water when it is available and use it during a drought.

Drought (limited water) Would it be best for an animal to migrate or stay in one place? Would it be best for an animal to migrate or stay in one place?

Drought (limited water) MIGRATION! MIGRATION! The animals move around from place to place to find water.

Cold Weather Is it better for plants to have narrow, needle-like leaves or broad, large leaves? Is it better for plants to have narrow, needle-like leaves or broad, large leaves?

Cold Weather Narrow, needle-like leaves Narrow, needle-like leaves These reduce water loss and help shed snow quickly.

Cold Weather Would it be good for trees to have thin bark? Would it be good for trees to have thin bark?

Cold Weather NO! NO! THICK bark protects the cells from freezing in cold temperatures.

Cold Weather Why is it good for plants to have the ability to lose leaves? Why is it good for plants to have the ability to lose leaves?

Cold Weather This keeps the trees from losing water in the winter. This keeps the trees from losing water in the winter.

Cold Weather What size do the plants tend to be and do they live alone or in clumps? What size do the plants tend to be and do they live alone or in clumps?

Cold Weather Plants tend to be SMALL and live in clumps. Plants tend to be SMALL and live in clumps. Staying close to the ground and to each other provides warmth.

Cold Weather Do the leaves of plant tend to be light or dark? Do the leaves of plant tend to be light or dark?

Cold Weather Dark Leaves Dark Leaves This helps the plant absorb more solar heat.

Cold Weather Do animals hibernate in cold weather? Do animals hibernate in cold weather?

Cold Weather Yes! - HIBERNATION Yes! - HIBERNATION Animals sleep during colder months.

Cold Weather Do animals migrate or stay in the cold environment? Do animals migrate or stay in the cold environment?

Cold Weather Migration Migration Animals move to warmer climates during cold weather.

Cold Weather Why do animals have thick, furry feet? Why do animals have thick, furry feet?

Cold Weather Provides insulation to keep animals warm. Provides insulation to keep animals warm.

Predation Are spines a good thing for a plant to have to avoid predators? Are spines a good thing for a plant to have to avoid predators?

Predation Of course! Of course! Spines make the plant harder (and less desirable) to eat.

Predation Would poisonous leaves or edible leaves be good for a plant to avoid predation? Would poisonous leaves or edible leaves be good for a plant to avoid predation?

Predation Poisonous leaves Poisonous leaves This reduces the chance of predation.

Predation Would it be best to live in herds or live alone? Would it be best to live in herds or live alone?

Predation Living in herds Living in herds Predators have a harder time isolating a “victim”

Predation Is it good for animals to have poisonous skin? Is it good for animals to have poisonous skin?

Predation YES! – Poisonous Skin YES! – Poisonous Skin Reduces the chance of predation

Limited Light Is it good for a plant to have broad leaves or narrow leaves? Is it good for a plant to have broad leaves or narrow leaves?

Limited Light Broad leaves Broad leaves Allow for collection of as much light as possible (high surface area)

Limited Light Is it good for a plant to be a climbing vine? Is it good for a plant to be a climbing vine?

Limited Light YES- Climbing Vines YES- Climbing Vines Allows plants to reach higher to get light.

Nutrient Poor/ Shallow Soil Is it good for a plant to have deep or shallow roots? Is it good for a plant to have deep or shallow roots?

Nutrient Poor Shallow Roots Shallow Roots They can capture nutrients available at top level of soil (from decaying matter)

Nutrient Poor What is a prop root? What is a prop root?

Nutrient Poor Is it good for a plant in a nutrient poor environment to have a prop root? Is it good for a plant in a nutrient poor environment to have a prop root?

Nutrient Poor Yes- Prop Roots Yes- Prop Roots It provides extra support.

Wind Is it good to have soft, flexible stems or tough, rigid stems? Is it good to have soft, flexible stems or tough, rigid stems?

Wind Soft, flexible stems Soft, flexible stems Allows the plant to bend without breaking.

Wind Is it good to have narrow leaves or broad leaves? Is it good to have narrow leaves or broad leaves?

Wind Narrow Leaves Narrow Leaves Reduces water lost through transpiration.