ADAPTATIONSADAPTATIONS

Year 8 Ecology TopicYear 8 Ecology Topic

WHAT IS AN ADAPTATION ?WHAT IS AN ADAPTATION ?

An adaptation is a characteristic An adaptation is a characteristic that allows an organism to that allows an organism to survive in an environment.survive in an environment.

Types of adaptationsTypes of adaptations Structural adaptations refer to the shape and size of

the organism and how the various parts of its body are put together; for example, a flattened body, colour, and the shape and size of its legs.

Physiological adaptations refer to the working of an organism’s body; for example how an organisms digestive system works or how an organ works.

Behavioural adaptations are to do with how the organism behaves; for example, burrowing or being nocturnal.

Tawny FrogmouthTawny FrogmouthWhat adaptations can you see ?What adaptations can you see ?

Tawny frogmouths look a bit like owls but they’re not. Their Tawny frogmouths look a bit like owls but they’re not. Their eyes are further on the side of their head and their feet are eyes are further on the side of their head and their feet are not as strong.not as strong.

Beak – Broad, flat bill and large gape for Beak – Broad, flat bill and large gape for catching, crushing and swallowing catching, crushing and swallowing prey like mice and lizards. prey like mice and lizards.

AdaptationsAdaptations

AdaptationsAdaptations

Feet – Delicate toes and claws for Feet – Delicate toes and claws for

perching rather than catching prey.perching rather than catching prey.

AdaptationsAdaptations Feathers - Camouflaged feathers for Feathers - Camouflaged feathers for

matching trees, matching trees,

- Feathers on the top of the beak - Feathers on the top of the beak

look like leaves but are used to look like leaves but are used to

sense prey flying by.sense prey flying by.

- body position to look like part of the tree.- body position to look like part of the tree.

Ringtail PossumRingtail Possum What adaptations can you see ?What adaptations can you see ? Ringtail possums are small marsupials Ringtail possums are small marsupials

(animals that have a pouch) that live in (animals that have a pouch) that live in trees. They are nocturnal i.e. most active at trees. They are nocturnal i.e. most active at night.night.

AdaptationsAdaptations Nocturnal – to avoid predators like foxes and owls.Nocturnal – to avoid predators like foxes and owls.

Eyes – Big, round eyes for good night vision to find food.Eyes – Big, round eyes for good night vision to find food.

Whiskers – Lots of long whiskers. To help to allow them to Whiskers – Lots of long whiskers. To help to allow them to move around at night. move around at night.

Gripping tail (prehensile) with no hair on Gripping tail (prehensile) with no hair on the underside to allow for a better grip. the underside to allow for a better grip. Tails are used as a fifth limb and not to Tails are used as a fifth limb and not to hang from.hang from. bald strip on bald strip on

underside.underside.

AdaptationsAdaptations

Claws – they have sharp claws for climbing Claws – they have sharp claws for climbing trees. Their fore paw has two thumbs to trees. Their fore paw has two thumbs to improve grip and the hind foot has a large improve grip and the hind foot has a large thumb and the first two claws joined to thumb and the first two claws joined to make a grooming claw.make a grooming claw.

AdaptationsAdaptations

Two thumbs

Grooming claw

Large hind thumb

Possums build a spherical nest called a Possums build a spherical nest called a drey out of sticks and bark. If you want to drey out of sticks and bark. If you want to attract a ringtail possum to your garden, attract a ringtail possum to your garden, you can make an artificial drey like the you can make an artificial drey like the ones shown below.ones shown below.

AdaptationsAdaptations

EchidnaEchidna What adaptations can you see ?What adaptations can you see ? Echidnas are egg laying mammals who eat Echidnas are egg laying mammals who eat

ants and termites with a long sticky tongue.ants and termites with a long sticky tongue.

Protection – The spines on an echidna’s Protection – The spines on an echidna’s back are modified hairs. They can move back are modified hairs. They can move each one separately, but they can not ‘throw’ each one separately, but they can not ‘throw’ them nor are they barbed at the end (like them nor are they barbed at the end (like porcupines). The under side of their body is porcupines). The under side of their body is covered by fur.covered by fur.

AdaptationsAdaptations

AdaptationsAdaptations Claws – They have really strong claws on their Claws – They have really strong claws on their

front feet to dig to get ants. These claws can front feet to dig to get ants. These claws can also be used to dig quickly into the ground also be used to dig quickly into the ground when threatened by another animal. The back when threatened by another animal. The back foot has an extra long toe, that helps them foot has an extra long toe, that helps them scratch between their spines.scratch between their spines.

Long claw on hind foot

Leafy Stick Insect or Leafy Stick Insect or PhasmidPhasmid

What adaptations can you see ?What adaptations can you see ? Leafy stick insects live in tropical Northern Leafy stick insects live in tropical Northern

Australia. This is a female. The males have much Australia. This is a female. The males have much larger wings and can fly.larger wings and can fly.

AdaptationsAdaptations Leafy stick insects are camouflaged to Leafy stick insects are camouflaged to

look like dead leaves. They sway to look like dead leaves. They sway to mimic leaves moving in the breeze.mimic leaves moving in the breeze.

AdaptationsAdaptations Female stick insects lay about 400 eggs Female stick insects lay about 400 eggs

during their life time. They come from her during their life time. They come from her ovipositor and she flicks them away. They ovipositor and she flicks them away. They are small and well camouflaged and have a are small and well camouflaged and have a small piece that ants like to eat. The ants small piece that ants like to eat. The ants carry the eggs into their nest and protect carry the eggs into their nest and protect them. them. Ovipositor

ant food

BanksiaBanksiaWhat adaptations What adaptations can you see ?can you see ?

AdaptationsAdaptations Need fire to open the seed pods. After a fire Need fire to open the seed pods. After a fire

there is little competition for the new plants there is little competition for the new plants and the soil has lots of nutrients in it.and the soil has lots of nutrients in it.

Some have lignotubers (like a swollen root) Some have lignotubers (like a swollen root) from which they can resprout after a fire.from which they can resprout after a fire.

AdaptationsAdaptations

They have showy flowers with lots of They have showy flowers with lots of nectar that attracts birds like lorikeets to nectar that attracts birds like lorikeets to spread the pollen from one plant to spread the pollen from one plant to another.another.

Casuarina –Casuarina – Black She Oak Black She Oak

What adaptations can you see ?What adaptations can you see ?

AdaptationsAdaptations Leaves are reduced to little spikes and Leaves are reduced to little spikes and

stems have become photosynthetic to stems have become photosynthetic to reduce water loss.reduce water loss.

leaves

stem

AdaptationsAdaptations Like the Banksia, casuarina cones release Like the Banksia, casuarina cones release

seeds after an intense fire.seeds after an intense fire.

AdaptationsAdaptations Casuarinas also release chemicals to stop Casuarinas also release chemicals to stop

other plants growing around them and other plants growing around them and taking the nutrients from the soil. Their taking the nutrients from the soil. Their leaves also fall and prevent other seedling leaves also fall and prevent other seedling from reaching the ground. This is called from reaching the ground. This is called allelopathy.allelopathy.