Transcript Adaptations - Two Rivers Wildlife

Wildlife Adaptations
Two Rivers Wildlife Park invites you to
learn about animal and plant growth
and changes…
What is Wildlife?

What do you think
of when you hear
the word wildlife?

Does the word
wildlife include only
furry animals?
Wildlife is…..

Wildlife includes wild
mammals, birds, reptiles,
and amphibians.

It also includes fishes,
plants, fungi, algae,
bacteria, and other wild
organisms.

In other words, wildlife
includes all living things
that are not domesticated,
including plants.
Habitat is Home!
Habitat is very simply
where an animal or
plant lives — its
home.
We generally think of habitat
as being made up of four main
things: food, water, shelter,
and space.
What is an adaptation?

Animals have special
behaviors and body
parts that help them get
food, keep safe, and live
in their habitat.
These special behaviors and body
parts are called adaptations
Physical Adaptations:
Adaptations can be physical or behavioral:
An example of a physical adaptation is when an animal changes
colour to blend in with its habitat or when a leaf changes colour.
Arctic fox are blue/grey in
the summer and turn white
in the winter!
Leaves turn colour in the
Fall to protect them from
the cold.
Behavioral Adaptation
One behavioral adaptation is hibernation. Some animals hibernate to
survive the winter. They slow their heart rate and breathing so much
it’s hard to tell that they are still alive!
Hibernates...
Aestivates…
Groundhogs and bats are the only true hibernators in Nova Scotia.
Bears aestivate (es-ti-vate), which is not as deep a ‘sleep’ as
hibernation.
Adaptations you ‘otter’ know about!
Are these physical or behavioral adaptations?
An otter is home in the water.
Their eyes are high on their head
to see while swimming just
under the water.
They have rough
patches on their
feet to get a better
grip on slippery
surfaces.
Their ears close
underwater.
They have fur that is insulated and
waterproof.
Some reasons why wildlife changes or
adapts:

They adapt to live in their habitat

They adapt to survive and thrive in their
habitat

They adapt to protect their babies
Hot Habitats
Some plants and animals
need to adapt to survive
in extreme habitats.
To survive in the desert
the cactus stores water
to use when it is hot and
dry for long periods of
time.
Adapt to the Habitat!
Some wildlife adapt to their
habitat by moving!
This change of habitat is called
migration.
Many birds migrate south for
the winter.
Migration is considered a behavioral adaptation.
Surviving and Thriving in a Habitat
The bracken fern has many
adaptations to help it survive and
thrive in its habitat. Below are two:
1. The plant encourages fires which
burn away competing plants.
2.The plant can be poisonous to
animals and other plants.
How do you think these two adaptations help
the fern survive and thrive?
Protect their young in a habitat
Penguins have adapted
to protect their young
in very cold weather.
They can cover the egg with their
bodies and move it with their beak and
feet!
How do you Adapt to your Habitat?

Do you dress differently from season to
season? How do you get ready for winter?

How do you get around? Do you take a
bus? Walk? Have your legs become
stronger from walking?

What adaptations can you think of?
To Learn More about Adaptations:
We hope you enjoyed this presentation about animal
and plant growth and changes. Complete the activity
sheets and then visit Two Rivers Wildlife Park to learn
more!
Hope to see you soon!