UNIT 10 ADAPTATIONS OF LIVING THINGS TO THE ENVIRONMENT

UNIT 10 ADAPTATIONS OF LIVING THINGS TO THE ENVIRONMENT

1.1      LIVING THING AND THEIR HABITAT

Adaptation is living things special characteristics that help them to survive in their natural habitats. Living thing adaptation can be structural or behavioral.

Structural adaptations are parts of living thing’s body that help them to survive in its’ natural habitat. Example animal’s shape, colors, and body covering.

Behavioral adaptations are special ways in which living things act and behave to survive in its natural habitat. Example birds call, migration, and hibernation.

Habitats include places such as forests, lakes, rivers, seas, desserts, and even extremely cold regions like arctic and Antarctic.

Adapted living things are able to:

·         Get air, water, and food.

·         Cope with the physical conditions.

·         Protect themselves from enemies

·         Reproduce.

1.2      ADAPTATION OF LIVING THINGS

·       

           Adaptation for movement

ü  Moving on land: extended claw, tail, hind legs,scales.

ü  Moving in water:

Streamlined body shape: narrow end, broad middle.

Modified limbs: webbed feet, fins, flippers.

Swim bladder:

ü  Moving in air: wings, feathers, body shape, bones.

·      

           Adaptation for breathing in water

Skin: frog, flat worm.

Gills: fish, shark.

Gill chamber: mudskipper, crab.

Air tubes: mosquito, larva.

Air bubbles: water beetles, water spider.

Special nostrils: seals, manatees

Blow holes: whale, dolphin.

·         Adaptation for obtaining sunlight

Adaptation of land plants: climbers, creepers.

Adaptation of aquatic plants: floating, keep upright.

·         Adaptation to cope with the temperatures of the environment.

In hot environment: camel hump, needle-like spine. Large ears

In cold environment: migration, hibernate, thick fur, needle-like leaves.

·       

           Adaptation for protection.

Body coverings: scales, shells, spines, poisonous skin, appearing bigger

Camouflage

Mimicry.

·         Adaptation for reproduction.

In animals: colorful body covering, lighting up, fighting, distinct sound

In plants: pollination, disperse.

1.3      EXTINC AND ENDANGERED LIVING THINGS

Extinction is condition where there are no more individuals of the particular plant or animal left on earth. Dinosaurs and Dodo are example of extinct animals.  

Some extinction factors are:

•         Cutting down of forest
•         Change in climate
•         The growth of cities
•         Excessive hunting.

Endangered species are plant or animal that in danger of extinction. Some endangered species are the tiger, rhino, and Rafflesia.