Ecological(Adapta-ons

Major(limi-ng(factor

Varia-on(in(availability

What(is(an(adapta-on?

Any$form$of$a$trait$that$helps$an$individual$survive$and$reproduce$under$prevailing$environmental$condi6ons.

Natural(Selec-on.

Animal(Advantage Recurrent(Themes

Water(balance

Body(size

Climate

Unique(combina-on

The(water(balance(of(organisms(is(determined(by(exchanges(of(water(and(solutes(with(the(external(

environment.

Biochemical(need

Universal(solvent

Moves(down([((((](gradient

Micro(climates

Resistance((Mechanisms+enabling+

plants+to+survive)

Morphological

Morphological

Adapta-ons

Biochemical

Physiological

Avoidance((Mechanisms+that+

reduce+the+probability+of+damage)

Tolerance((Mechanisms+that+increase+growth+

following+damage)

EvadersPlants or NMLS

Hibernation & aestivation

modified physiology!seeds

Migration

Resistors Plants

deep roots

succulents store H2O

modified physiology

Resistors NML

Behavioural

Physiological

Sources(of(water

Free(liquid

Performed(water

Metabolic(water

Rivers/lakes

Food(content

Nutrient(

Water(Balance

! Inputs$

! Drinking$

! Uptake$through$roots$

! Uptake$through$body$wall$(amphibians)$

! Water$in$food$

! Metabolic$water$

!Where$does$this$come$from?

Water(Balance

! Outputs$! Cutaneous$

! leaking$through$outer$surface$(skin,$exoskeleton)$

! Respiratory$! pan6ng,$breathing,$transpira6on$

! Excretory$! Feces$! Urine$! Other$secre6ons:$sweat,$tears,$milk

Reducing(Water(Loss(Q((cutaneous

Stay(in(cool/moist

Reduce(surface(temperatures

Don't(sweat(

Decrease(surface(area

Reducing(Water(Loss(Q((respiring

cool/moist(microclimate

Nasal(condensa-on

Diurnal?

Cool(exhale

Reducing(Water(Loss(Q((excre-onConcentrate(–(super(

kidneys

Dry(feces

Uric(Acid

10xless(H2O(than(urea

Reducing(Water(Loss(Q((excre-on

Birds(and(rep-les((Quric(acid

Mammals(and(Amphibs((Qurea

Energy(uric(acid(>(urea

Nauru

7000(people

21(km2

90%(UI

Abbotsford 375.55 km2

Adapta-ons(for(Desert(Life

Behaviour

Touareg

(Burrowing

shade

Lessens(water(use

Pant(outside

Increases(humidity

Microclimate

(Behavioural

Gular/tongue(fluaering

(Behavioural

Nocturnal

Crepuscular

Dawn(or(dusk

(Behavioural

Acroba-cs

�28

Onymacris unguicularis

"fog-basking" beetle.

�29

Adapta-ons(for(Desert(Life

Morphological$Adapta6ons

Thick$warm,$white$fur$coat$Keeps$the$bear$warm$in$below$$

freezing$temperatures$and$allows$$him$to$camouflage$in$the$snow.

LiTle$eyes$

Keeps$cold$$

and$icy$snow$

blizzards$$

out$of$their$eyes.

Large$Paws$Produce$an$oil$that$stops$his$feet$freezing$$

on$the$snow.

Big, flat feet Enable camels to walk on the

sand without

sinking into it.

Long Legs Help to move

across the dessert quicker and keeps the sand

off the camels stomach.

Humps Camel can store a supply of fat so it doesn’t have to stop to drink

Long eyelashes Keeps sand from storms

and glaring sun from camels eyes.

point into the sun

Pacific Northwest merlin (wet climate)

(Gloger’s(rule

Lighter(in(dry

Prairie merlin (Dry climate)

Darker(in(dry

nasal(passages

Marine(adapta-on

salt(tubes

salt(tubes