Plant and animal adaptations

Science 6Mrs. Marlene Torres

An adaptation is… a change in an organism that help it survive and reproduce in its environment.

This changes are produce as a response to changes in the environment and occur at cellular level.

Adaptations

Tropism… is the response of an organism toward or away from a stimulus.

Remember:◦Stimulus is something that produce a response of an organism.

Adaptations

Phototropism – response toward light

Hydrotropism – response toward water

Gravitropism – response to gravity

Tropisms in plants

Plants react to sunlight

as a response to carry out photosynthesis.

Phototropism

This are chemicals that can stimulate parts of a plant, to make it grow quickly or slowly.

Auxins

Phototropism

Plants response to moisture and look for the availability of water.

Hydrotropism

Plants response to gravity.

This response can be either positive or negative.

Positive Gravitropism -Roots grow down

Negative Gravitropism – Stems grow upward

against gravity.

Gravitropism

Dessert plants can store water from one rainfall to survive years of drought.

Carnivorous plants are meat eating plants that have adaptive structures to capture and digest insects.

Other adaptations in plants

Some plants can produce secretions or oils, like the poison-ivy plant. If you pull it out from the ground may cause a severe rash.

Thorns are another kind of adaptation of plants.

Other adaptations in plants

Camouflage◦An appearance that makes something look like its surrounding; could be its shape or color.

◦Example:Color Camouflage

-ChameleonShape Camouflage

-Stick bug

An adaptation in which the animal is protected against predators by its resemblance to another animal.

It looks like, but it’s not!!

Mimicry

Mimicry

To its color

To its shape

Insulation – refers to a material that does not conduct heat well.

◦Examples: Birds – feathers Whales – blubber Some mammals - fur

Adaptations to colder climates

Animals must be able to get rid of excess heat.

In desserts we can found:◦Fennec – have huge ears that provide a large

surface area from which heat can escape.◦Camels – Their humps are made of fat, so they

can live off this stored fat when food is scarce.

*Other animals dig themselves to escape the heat of summer or the cold winter in the dessert.

Adaptations to Hot Climates

The Fennec

Animals can respond by instinct or with the help of a learned behavior.

An instinct… is an inherited behavior that is done automatically.◦An instinct can not be learned.◦Examples: Feed, built nests, attract mates, defend themselves.

Behaviors and Migration

Everything that we done because we learned it, observing or assisted by someone else.

Examples :◦In humans In other animals: Share Hunting Be organize Cooperate

Learned behavior

Means to move from one place to another.

Reasons:◦Availability of food◦Changes in climate◦Mating ◦Give birth

Migration

Most birds and some insects migrate to warm climates during the fall season.

At this time of the year the temperature drops and the food available is reduced.

Migration