Adaptations, Biomes, & EcologyObj. 3a, 3e, & 3h

Adaptations to an EnvironmentEvery organism has a variety of adaptations that are

suited to its specific living conditions An adaptation is a trait that an organism has

inherited that helps them survive and reproduce in their habitat Ex. Sharks sense of smell, shape of a bird’s beak, dogs can

hear well, flowers have bright colors

Physical adaptations do not develop during one lifetime, but over many generations Genes that help determine survival are passed from parent

to offspring

How many traits can you find that are

adaptations to this environment?

Adaptations Over TimeNatural selection is the process by which

individuals who are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce than other members of the same species.

Caused by variations among species

VariationsVariations are different ways that a trait can

express itselfSome variations make individuals better fit for

survival from predators allowing them to reproduce and pass the favorable trait to their offspring

Ex. Variations among turtles make some of them better able to survive. Turtles that survive to become adults will be able to reproduce.

Variations

Animal Defense Adaptations Some animals use

these methods of defense to protect themselves: Camouflage

Snake Mimicry

Mexican Milk Snake Bright colors

Skunk and Poison Arrow Frog

“Hair” projections Hedgehog quills Deer Antlers

Natural Selection by EnvironmentVariations can also allow organisms to

become better adapted to survive in a particular climate

Organisms expressing traits that allow them to survive & reproduce in a particular environment will become the dominant life within the environment

BiomesBiomes are Large geographic areas characterized by

a distinct climate and specific types of plant & animal life.

Climate is the weather a place has over a long period of time (50 years).

Taiga/Boreal (Coniferous) Forest BiomesWinters are cold and very snowySummers are warm and rainy enough to melt all the

snow Dominant plants adapt with needle-shaped leaves to

reduce water loss by having less surface area Ex. evergreens

Animal have adapted by camouflage, hibernating or migrating, & thick fur

Tundra BiomesPermanently frozen land (permafrost)

Dominant plants adapt by growing close to the ground, having shallow roots to absorb the limited water, trees grow less than 1 m high!

Animals have small ears, insulation, thick coat, migration, few predators, little competition

Deciduous Forest BiomesMuch of the human population lives in this biomeCharacterized by an abundance of deciduous (leaf

bearing) treesCharacterized by 4 seasons

Trees adapt to varied climate by becoming dormant in winter Ex. Magnolias, roses, Oak treesAnimals have adapted by hibernating, losing winter coat,

adapting to many seasons, eating from different layers of the forest

Rain Forest Biomes Wet, warm biomes that contain the greatest variety of life

on earth Plant & animal life adapts in a variety of ways

Camouflage Poisonous Mimicry

Desert Biomes Receive less than 25 cm of rain per year.

Hottest temperature on Earth The plants have many adaptations for getting and

conserving water. (deep roots, needles) Some animals have adapted by being nocturnal, burrowing

under ground, & being hairless

Aquatic Biomes Oceans, rivers, lakes, ponds, streams

Plants are micro and macroscopic; there are also floating plants (kelp)

Zooplankton—sea’s smallest herbivores, & deep ocean animals feed on floating debris in the water (detritus)

Aquatic Biomes Adaptations

Ecology

Ecosystemso An ecosystem is all the organisms that

live in an area together with the nonliving factors of the environmento Ex. Pond or pine forest

o Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with each other & the physical environment

PopulationsAll the organisms in an ecosystem

that belong to the same speciesEx. Mice living in a meadow or

pine trees in a forestSpecies are a group of organisms

that can mate to produce offspring that can produce more offspringEx. Brown pelican or human

CommunityAll the populations of different

species that live in an ecosystem & share resourcesEx. Pine tree forest forms a

community with populations of deer, mice, raccoons, bacteria, mushrooms, & ferns

PracticeFill in the circle & give an example as we go through

the next slideBiosphere

Levels of Organization

Habitat

The natural environment where an organism lives that provides food, shelter, moisture, & temperature

needed for survival the physical environment

Ex. The polar bears main habitat is

on offshore pack ice, and along costs and island of the Arctic region. 

Group Time!

What kinds of plants & animals do you think you would find living in this

habitat?

NicheThe unique ways an organism

survives, obtains food & shelter, reproduces, cares for its young, and avoids danger

(how it has adapted)

Ex. Polar Bear Niche

Large feet and short, sharp, stocky claws are adaptations to this environment.

Thick layer of fat under a thick fur to provide protection from extreme cold temperatures

Polar bears depend on sea ice as a platform for hunting seals.

Eat seals, walrus, & fishCare for young for 2 years

Interactions Within Communities

All organisms need ENERGY to survive.

The sun is the source of energy that fuels most life on Earth

Feeding RelationshipsTwo categories of organisms

Autotrophs are organisms that can make their own food for energy by capturing sunlight or other chemicals

Heterotrophs can not make their own food for energy & must obtain it by feeding on another organism

3 main types Producers (Autotrophs) Consumers (heterotrophs) Decomposers (heterotrophs)

ProducersOrganisms that make their own food

using energy from the sun & raw materials from the environmentMost producers are plants that use the

process of photosynthesis to make food

PhotosynthesisPlants use carbon dioxide and hydrogen with

light-energy in the presence of chlorophyll in the chloroplast of the cells to make glucose and oxygen

Directly or indirectly produces food for almost all organisms

Phytoplankton & algae also play a huge role as producers in the environment

carbon dioxide + water + sunlight oxygen + glucose (CO2) (H2O) (energy) (O2) (C6H1206)

ConsumersOrganisms that cannot make their own

food & Obtain energy by eating other organisms & cellular respiration

Three Types:Herbivores: eat only plants/producersCarnivores: eat only animalsOmnivores: eat both plant & animals

Cellular Respiration

The purpose of cellular respirations is to release energy that can be used by cells to perform their specialized function Cellular respiration occurs in the mitochondria of

cells. The mitochondria uses glucose & oxygen and

converts it in a chemical reaction to produce carbon dioxide, water, and energy

oxygen + sugar carbon dioxide + water + energy

(O2) (C6H1206) (CO2) (H2O)

Consumers

DecomposersOrganisms that feed on the dead

remains or waste products of other organisms to obtain energy Ex. Bacteria, earthworms, & fungi

Hands up, Stand up, Pair up

1. Compare & contrast Photosynthesis & Cellular Respiration & make a list of what you see?

2. How are these two processes related to each other?

Food Chains

A model that shows the flow of energy through feeding relationships

among organisms in a particular ecosystems

Food Webs

A model that links the organisms within an ecosystem by how they depend on each other for food.

The lines drawn represent the flow of energy through the ecosystem & show a variety of food chains

Energy Pyramid An energy pyramid shows the amount of energy

available at each level of a food chain. Only about 10% of energy is passed to next

level.Producers- bottom level- have the most energy

Primary consumers- eat producers

Secondary consumers- eat primary consumers

Tertiary consumers- eat secondary consumers

Energy Pyramid

Energy Pyramid

1. What are the secondary consumers?2. If there are 50,000 kcal available to the giraffes, how many are available to the lions?

Relationships Between PopulationsCompetition: Occurs when more that

one individual or population tries to make use of the same limited resources Ex. Food, water, or space

Predation: Type of feeding relationship in which one animal captures & eats another animal for food Animal being eaten is the prey Animal doing the eating is the predator Predator/prey relationships help keep an

ecosystem in balance by preventing any one population from growing too large

Predation