Systems and Survival Created by Mrs. Groover West Ottawa Public Schools September, 2010

What is an Organism? An organism is a living thing. Plants and animals are organisms. People are organisms too. An organism is a living thing. Plants and animals are organisms. People are organisms too.

Classifying Organisms Scientists classify organisms. This means they sort them, or put them in order. Scientists examine the characteristics of an organism to help decide which group an organism belongs to. Scientists classify organisms. This means they sort them, or put them in order. Scientists examine the characteristics of an organism to help decide which group an organism belongs to.

Physical Characteristics Organisms have different physical characteristics like size, color, shape, and body covering. We can describe what an organism looks like by its physical characteristics. Organisms have different physical characteristics like size, color, shape, and body covering. We can describe what an organism looks like by its physical characteristics.

Behavioral Characteristics Behavioral characteristics describe what an organism does. For example, a turtle swims, a dog barks, and a tiger leaps on its prey. Behavioral characteristics can help us understand how an organism lives. Behavioral characteristics describe what an organism does. For example, a turtle swims, a dog barks, and a tiger leaps on its prey. Behavioral characteristics can help us understand how an organism lives.

Vertebrates A vertebrate is an animal that has a backbone. Lions, snakes, and birds are all vertebrates. A vertebrate is an animal that has a backbone. Lions, snakes, and birds are all vertebrates.

Invertebrates An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. Snails, spiders, and worms are all invertebrates. An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. Snails, spiders, and worms are all invertebrates.

Warm-blooded Animals that are warm-blooded can make their own body heat. Mammals and birds are warm-blooded. Animals that are warm-blooded can make their own body heat. Mammals and birds are warm-blooded.

Cold-Blooded A cold-blooded animal can NOT make its own body heat. Reptiles, amphibians, and fish are cold-blooded. Many cold-blooded animals sit in the sun to warm themselves. A cold-blooded animal can NOT make its own body heat. Reptiles, amphibians, and fish are cold-blooded. Many cold-blooded animals sit in the sun to warm themselves.

Mammals Mammals are warm-blooded. Their young are born live. Mammals produce milk to feed their babies. They are covered in fur or hair. Mammals have 4 limbs. People, bears, dogs, and dolphins are all mammals.

Birds Birds are warm-blooded. Their young hatch from eggs. Birds have feathers covering their bodies. Birds have 2 legs and 2 wings. Penguins, parrots, eagles, and robins are all birds.

Reptiles Reptiles are cold-blooded. Their young hatch from eggs on land. Their bodies are covered in scales or plates. They have either 4 or 0 limbs. Snakes, turtles, and crocodiles are all reptiles.

Amphibians Amphibians are cold-blooded. They lay eggs in water or wet places. Amphibians do not have scales. They have smooth, wet skin. Amphibians have 4 limbs. Frogs, toads, and salamanders are all amphibians.

Fish Fish are cold-blooded. They lay their eggs in water. Fish must live in water because they breathe through gills. Fish have scales on their bodies. Sharks are the only fish that give live birth and have smooth skin.

Aquatic Life An organism that is aquatic lives in the water. Both plants and animals can be aquatic. Seaweed is an aquatic plant. A shark is an aquatic animal. An organism that is aquatic lives in the water. Both plants and animals can be aquatic. Seaweed is an aquatic plant. A shark is an aquatic animal.

Survival Animals have characteristics that can either help or hurt their chance of survival. For example, an antelope that runs fast has a better chance of survival than one that runs slow. A chameleon can change colors to hide from predators. Animals have characteristics that can either help or hurt their chance of survival. For example, an antelope that runs fast has a better chance of survival than one that runs slow. A chameleon can change colors to hide from predators.

Adaptation Organisms can adapt (change) to survive better in their environment. Animals can learn new ways to find food or keep their babies safe. This helps their species (type of animal) to survive. Organisms can adapt (change) to survive better in their environment. Animals can learn new ways to find food or keep their babies safe. This helps their species (type of animal) to survive.

Physical Adaptation Animals depend on their physical features to help them get food, keep safe, build homes, attract mates, and withstand weather. Over time, a species may go through physical changes or adaptations. Some examples include: fur color, thickness of fur, and shape of nose, ears or beak.

Adaptation of a Camel Camels have adapted to life in hot, dry desert regions. They have long eyelashes to protect their eyes from blowing sand. They have thick lips so they can eat prickly desert plants without feeling pain. Camels store fat in their humps to use for energy if food is not available.

Mimicking One way animals adapt to survive is through mimicry. This is when an animal copies another animal’s appearance either for camouflage or to send a false message that it is dangerous or tastes bad. The viceroy butterfly mimics the bad-tasting monarch.

Extinction Changes in an organism’s environment can cause an entire species to die or become extinct. These can be small changes, like a slight temperature change, or big changes, like a flood or volcanic eruption. Changes in an organism’s environment can cause an entire species to die or become extinct. These can be small changes, like a slight temperature change, or big changes, like a flood or volcanic eruption.

We can classify organisms by looking at their characteristics. It is important to study organisms so that we can help them to survive. If we take care of the environment we will have many species of organisms to see and learn about for years to come. We can classify organisms by looking at their characteristics. It is important to study organisms so that we can help them to survive. If we take care of the environment we will have many species of organisms to see and learn about for years to come.