KS4 Biology

Adaptation

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 Contents

Adaptation

What is an adaptation?

Adaptations for a cold climate

Adaptations for a dry climate

Other adaptations

Adaptation activities

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 Different types of habitat
In general, there are three major habitat types in the world.

land habitats freshwater habitats

marine habitats

How do organisms survive in such different habitats?

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 What is an adaptation?
A habitat is only populated by organisms that are
adapted to survive there.

Adaptations are special features or behaviours that

make an organism particularly suited to its environment.

Adaptations are a part of the evolutionary process.

Why is it important that living things are adapted to their

environment?

Adaptations increase an organism’s chance of survival

and so increase its chance of reproducing.

Why is reproduction so important for all living species?

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 Matching organisms to their habitat

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 Contents

Adaptation

What is an adaptation?

Adaptations for a cold climate

Adaptations for a dry climate

Other adaptations

Adaptation activities

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 How are polar bears adapted?
How are polar bears adapted to life in an extremely cold
climate?
Small ears help to reduce
heat loss.
Thick fur and a thick
layer of body fat insulate
from the cold.

White fur acts as

camouflage.
Large feet spread the
body’s weight. The wide
paws act as good paddles
and snow shoes.
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 How are polar bears adapted?
Other adaptations that polar bears have evolved to cope
with conditions in the harsh polar environment are:
Eyes have brown irises
to reduce the glare from
sunlight reflection.
Greasy fur repels water
and keeps the bear dry.
Skin is actually black
to absorb any heat
transmitted through
the hairs.
Body surface area is
small compared to volume
to reduce heat loss.
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 Contents

Adaptation

What is an adaptation?

Adaptations for a cold climate

Adaptations for a dry climate

Other adaptations

Adaptation activities

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 Curious camel facts
Camels are amazing creatures! Did you know that…
…camels have three
stomachs.
...some camels live to
over 40 years old.
…some Bactrian camels
can transport 450 kg.
…archaeological finds
show that they originated
in North America.
…Somalia is home to
over 6 million camels!

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 How is a camel adapted?
How is a camel adapted to life in a very hot, dry climate?
Brown coat for camouflage.
Fat is stored in the hump.
There is no other body fat
to prevent overheating.
Loses little water through
sweating or urine.
Long, thin legs mean the
body surface area is large
compared to volume
to increase heat loss.
Wide feet for spreading
body weight over soft
shifting sand.
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 How is a camel adapted?
Other adaptations that camels have evolved to cope
with conditions in the harsh desert environment are:
Nostrils can close Ears are lined with
when needed to fur to prevent sand
protect the camel and dust from
in sandstorms. getting in.

A very varied diet, Long eyelashes

ranging from grass protect the eyes
and bark to thorns from sand and
and bones, is eaten. dust.

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 How is a cactus adapted?
How is a cactus adapted to life in a very hot, dry climate?
Thick, waxy surface
to reduce water loss.
Leaves are narrow spines
that reduce water loss and
protect from predators.
Stores water in fleshy stem.
Plant surface area is
small compared to volume
to reduce water loss.
Some have shallow,
spreading roots for
surface water, others
have deep roots.
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 How is a kangaroo rat adapted?
A kangaroo rat is a mammal that lives in dry desert habitats.
How is this small animal adapted to this harsh environment?
Brown fur for camouflage
Nostrils can closed
and only goes out at night
when needed to
when it is much cooler.
protect the camel
in sandstorms. Most water comes from
its diet of seeds.
Does not sweat, or pant,
to reduce water loss.
A very varied diet Large back feet to escape
ranging from grass from predators allow it
and bark to thorns to hop 2 metres at a time!
and bones. Long tail for balance
when hopping.
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 Contents

Adaptation

What is an adaptation?

Adaptations for a cold climate

Adaptations for a dry climate

Other adaptations

Adaptation activities

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 Aquatic adaptations
How is this barracuda adapted to an aquatic environment?
Streamlined shape
to reduce friction
when moving
through water.
Silver colouring
allows the fish
to be camouflaged.
Gills have a large
surface area so that
oxygen can be
extracted from the
surrounding water.

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 Unusual plant adaptations
Plants can live in acid or waterlogged soils where there is
little nitrate. Some plants have evolved a rather cunning
adaptation to obtain the nutrients they need.
Pitcher plants have a large
hollow filled with fluid that
traps insects or other small
organisms that may fall in.
Hairs on the slippery inside
of the plant are angled down
to ensure that the victim
cannot escape!
The plant digests its victims
to absorb the nitrates it needs!

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 Contents

Adaptation

What is an adaptation?

Adaptations for a cold climate

Adaptations for a dry climate

Other adaptations

Adaptation activities

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 True or false?

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 Matching adaptations

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 Multiple-choice quiz

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