Transcript Adaptations - Effingham County Schools

Dry
Adaptations
An adaptation is a body part or
behavior that helps a living thing
survive in its environment.
A behavior is the way a plant or
animal acts.
Nutrient Poor Soil
•Plants such as the Venus Fly trap live in
nutrient poor soil.
•They get their nutrients from eating
insects.
Wet
•Bald Cypress trees have parts called
knees that grow up from the roots near
the trunk to keep the tree from falling
over in wet soil.
Salty
•Cordgrass can grow in salt water
because it has parts that filter the salt
out of the plant through its leaves.
•The cactus has adapted to dry and windy
conditions.
• The cactus has a thick stem that stores
water.
•A cactus also has a waxy coating, and needle
like spines that help s the plant from losing
water.
Low Light
Plants that grow on the forest floor adapt to
their environment by either growing up other
trees, or having wide leaves.
Fire
•The bark of the Turkey Oak resists fire.
•The longleaf pine tree depends on fire. The
seeds of the pine grow in the bare soil left
behind from a fire.
Plant Defenses
Some plants can defend
themselves by having spines like a
cactus.
Other plants contain poisons that
can cause illness or death.
Ex.) Poison Ivy
Aquatic Animals
An aquatic animal is an animal that
lives in water habitats.
Alligator
•Has webbed feet to help him swim.
•Has eyes, ears, and nose on the top of
its head, so it can see, hear, and breath
when it swims.
Mussels
• Has a body part called a foot that
attaches to rocks
Wood Duck and River Otter
•Both have water proof feathers and
fur that keep the animal from being to
heavy and sinking in the water.
Defense and Protection
•Camouflage is the coloring or makings, or
other physical features that help and
animal blend with its surroundings.
•Mimicry is an adaptation that allows an
animal to protect itself by looking like
another living thing that is poisonous or
harmful.
EX) A nonpoisonous king snake looks like a
poisonous coral snake.
Getting Food
Migrate
•Some animals migrate, or move to warmer
regions during the cold months when food
becomes scarce.
Hibernate
Animals that do not migrate may hibernate,
or go to sleep during the cold months.
Ex) Little Brown Bats hibernate in Georgia
Caves.
Prey
•Some animals catch and eat prey. Prey is
any animal that is hunted for food by
another animal.
Ex) The rabbit is prey for the fox
Talons
•Hawks have talons that help them hunt
their prey. Talons are curved claws that help
grab and hold prey.