3. Habitat
The characteristics of the type of environment where an organism normally lives. (e.g. a rocky stream, a deciduous temperate woodland)
Biotic and abiotic factors
© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

4. Niche The niche of a species consists of:
Its role in the ecosystem (herbivore, carnivore, producer etc)
Its tolerance limits (e.g. soil pH, humidity)
Its requirements for shelter, nesting sites etc etc, all varying through time
© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

5. The niche as a two-dimensional shape
Species A
Niche represented by a 2-dimensional area
© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

6. Separate niches Species B Species A No overlap of niches.
So coexistence is possible
© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

7. This niche is not big enough for the both of us!
Species A Species D
Very heavy competition leads to competitive exclusion. One species must go
© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

8. Adaptation & Variation

9. Extinction To completely disappear from Earth
Results when species either lack diversity and/or the ability to change (adapt) within their environment
Eg. Dodo bird, woolly mammoth, etc.

10. Adaptations Helps an organism survive & reproduce
Can be structural, behavioural or a physiological process

11. 1. Structural Too many to name
Owls (talons, eyesight); sharks (sensory organs, teeth, graceful swimmers); bats (sonar); humans (brain, bipedal, thumbs), etc.
Includes camouflage (stick insect, octopus…)

12. Octopus Camouflage

13. 1. Structural Mimicry: A special structural adaptation
Harmless creatures posing as harmful species in either colour or structure
Tricks predators into believing the critter is untasty
Eg. Viceroy butterfly, king snake

14. Mimics

15. Coral Snake vs. King Snake

16. 2. Behavioural Things that animals do, not what they have
Eg. Meerkats standing, bird calls, migration,

17. Fainting Goats

18. 3. Physiological
Adaptations that occur within the body, organs and tissues of an animal or plant
Venom
Secreting slime
Phototropism

19. Hagfish

20. Activity Instructions
Have everyone in your group pick one item from your tray and eat it. DO NOT tell anyone what it tastes like!!
Repeat this 8 times, remaining silent! Pick one item per round!
After the activity is finished discuss the observations with your group
How did each item taste?
Did the taste of the items have an effect on which items you went for in the next rounds?

21. Type of food left after round is finished (write description/name of food type below)
Round
Green
Purple
Pink
Yellow
Orange
Gummy Bears 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

22. Discussion
What colors remain and in what proportion? Explain these results.
How might this exercise relate to organisms in nature?
What method of evading predators does this activity illustrate?
Give actual examples from nature that this activity simulated.

23. How do Adaptations Develop?
Gradual, accumulative changes over generations
Random, heritable mutations in DNA
Variations → differences between individuals (structural or physiological)
Not all variations become adaptations

24. Interactions with Environment
Very important to adaptation & variation
Climates change; floods, droughts and famines occur
Human activities – deforestation, agriculture change landscapes
Unimportant characteristics may eventually become crucial for survival if things change

25. Saguaro cactus Fleshy stem holds water
Most roots < 15cm deep but cover huge area
Can absorb 750 L of water in a single storm
Leaves reduced to spines to reduce transpiration rate
Spines also ↓ predation
Stomata only open at night

26. Variation to Adaptation
The English Peppered Moth
Light peppered colour and black
Historically black was rare – lichen on trees in England was light coloured and moths were easy targets for birds
Industrial Revolution killed lichen and put soot on trees; 50 years later 95% of Manchester moths were black

27. English Peppered Moth Pre-industrial revolution
Post-industrial revolution

28. Green & orange bug game

29. Questions
Sharks have an excellent sense of smell. Is this a variation or an adaptation?
A black and yellow insect buzzes around you, causing you to freak out. When it lands you see that it is only a fly. What is the fly’s adaptation and explain the advantage.
When could genetic variation have no significant effect on a species’ survival?

30. Mutations Changes in genetic material (DNA)
New alleles = genetic variation
Eg. Your DNA has about 175 mutations compared to your parents’ (you freak)
Could be harmful or beneficial
In somatic cells → tumour
In gametic cells → may be passed on

31. Selective advantage
A genetic advantage of one organism over its competitors
Helps it to survive changing environmental conditions
Eg. Water flea surviving in warmer water temperatures

32. Antibiotic Resistance
Staphylococcus aureus (bacteria) can reproduce every 30 minutes
Adaptation can occur very quickly
Treatment of Staph. Infections can be inhibited by the adaptive bacteria
Populations of bacteria with the new allele can create antibiotic resistance

33. “Superbugs”