Adaptations (3)

• How do plants and animals survive?• How do they adapt to survive in their habitats?

Adaptations (3)

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Adaptations : The Prickly Pear Cactus

• Conserves water by not having leaves

• Fleshy stems store water and swell during rain.

• Has spikes to deter grazers

• Toxic calcium oxalate under the skin. Only woodrats and javalinas can metabolise this chemical without harm to kidneys..

Engelmann’s Prickly Pear

Adaptations : Creosote Bush

• Contains toxic chemicals makes most animals ill if they eat the leaves.

• Resins on the leaves reduces water loss by evaporation

• Bright yellow flowers attract large variety of pollinating insects.

Adaptations : Organ Pipe Cactus

• Large number of branches increase the surface area: to maximise food production

• Grows near rocks and cliff edges to receive their heat radiation at night.

• Flowers only bloom at night: they use bats to pollinate the blossoms.

Adaptations : Mesquite Tree

• Mature trees can produce up to 11kg of fruit , containing over 140,000 seeds !

• The flowers attract many different pollinators, including sixty species of bees.

• Many birds, insects and mammals eat the beans

Adaptations : Hummingbird

• Its food is nectar from flowers, tiny insects, and sugar water.

• Hummingbirds burn food so fast they often eat 1.5 to 3 times their body weight in food per day

• To conserve energy, it can go into a sleep-like state known as "torpor."

Adaptations : Hummingbird

• Hummingbirds migrate in response to hormonal changes that are triggered by the changing length of a day.

• They prepare for migration by putting on a lot of fat. They may double their body weight.

Adaptations : Gila Woodpecker

• Sharp and strong beak to get at insects and to make out nest holes

• Beak is also used to to hammer out its ‘territory’ signals.

• Strong claws and short legs enable it to climb trees

• Lives in nest cavities of trees.

Adaptations : Cardinal

• Male cardinals vigorously defend their territory. They have even been known to attack their own reflections in mirrors and windows!

• Females dull colours help to camouflage them from predators

• Males bright colours help to attract a mate. Female Cardinal

Adaptations : The Saguaro Cactus

• Can absorb up to 95% of its total weight in water when it rains.

• Pleats between the ribs allow the stem to swell when water is absorbed.

• Shallow root system covers a large area for maximum absorption of water.

• Can live up to over 175 years

Adaptations : Agave (Century Plant)

• A waxy coating with a powdery surface seals the leaf against evaporation and also reflects up to 75% of the incoming heat

• Absorbs carbon dioxide at night, to be stored for photosynthesis during the day.

• Flowers smell like rotting meat : this attracts bats (pollinators)Blooms only once then dies

Its life is between 5-25 years