S T U D E N T G U I D E

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1 How does an adaptation give a survival advantage? Part IA: Match Game To answer the question, How does an adaptation give a survival advantage?, do the following: 1. Review the Traits and the Survival Advantages listed below. 2. On page 1 of your Student Journal, you will see an identical copy of the Survival Advantage list in the table. Complete the table by writing in the matching answer from the Trait list. As you match each pair, check off the item below. Pair up with another student to compare your answers. Discuss any differences to conclude the best answer. Trait Gills Survival Advantage Insulates against cold Tightly-packed feathers Seed production Blubber Large ears Body colors match habitat Seasonal migration Hollow bones Flowers Living in groups Hover in air Gives ability to breathe underwater Move where food is most available Camouflage protects against predators Lighter body weight for flying Attracts pollinators More individuals to watch for and defend against predators Ability to look for prey or obtain food from a stable vantage point Ability to better listen to surroundings, such as approaching predators, and to dissipate heat Spreads offspring Waterproofs body 1

2 How does an adaptation give a survival advantage? Part IB: Identify An Example On page 2 of your Student Journal, complete the following: 1. Choose one of those traits from the Match Game and write in the trait s description, copied from the Match Game page. 2. Identify a specific organism that has that trait and write down the species name. 3. Write out a detailed description of how that organism relies on the trait to survive. Consider where and how the organism lives. You may also use the blank space at the bottom of the box to draw an illustration to support your written description. 2

3 How do environmental changes affect populations? Part II: Survey Your Seasonal Shifts Reflect on how your local environment changes between the summer and winter seasons. For each season, describe the following in this part of your Student Journal: 1. The average climate conditions, including average low and high temperatures. 2. How your own behavior may change, including what you wear and what you eat. 3. The life cycles and available resources provided by the dominant plant types in your area during each season. 4. The presence, absence or behavior of animals. 3

4 How are organisms adapted to an environment? Part IIIA: Survey Your Backyard Species Consider what you wrote for seasonal shifts in the last exercise. Brainstorm a list of specific animals that live in your area locally, at least part of the year. Based on your list, pick one or more that you can observe directly. When surveying backyard species using direct observation, remember to do so safely and unobtrusively. Take notes as you watch one or more individuals in their natural environment. Using your direct observations, along with the identification guides and other wildlife informational materials provided by your teacher, select one or more animal species for which to complete the survey chart. For each species: Write down its name (common and scientific) The habitat type(s) and shelter in which it typically lives What type(s) of food it eats What traits it has to be able to eat those types of foods What animals prey on it What traits your selected animal has that may help to defend it against those predators. Field Observation Notes may include: Time of day Climate conditions at time of observation General topography How and where the animal moves (for example, do they run along a worn trail or jump between trees?) Foraging activities (what kinds of food and how they get them) Interaction with individuals of the same species or other species Interaction with plant species 4

5 How are organisms adapted to an environment? Part IIIA: Survey Your Backyard Species, continued Be as specific as possible in your answers. For example, all animals use their mouths to eat, but what specific mouth characteristics do they have that distinguish them from other animals? Maybe two species eat insects as part of their diets, but do they get them from underground or a standing tree? Field Observation Notes may include: Time of day Climate conditions at time of observation General topography How and where the animal moves (for example, do they run along a worn trail or jump between trees?) Foraging activities (what kinds of food and how they get them) Interaction with individuals of the same species or other species Interaction with plant species 5

6 How are organisms adapted to an environment? Part IIIB: Compare and Contrast Analyze your backyard species survey chart to answer the question, What traits are common? For example, do two or more species eat the same types of food? Are several attacked by the same predator? 1. Use colored markers to highlight traits that are common among two or more species. Use one color per trait. 2. Share your analysis with a partner for their review. 3. Pick the three most common traits to examine further. 4. Use the three boxes to write a description of each of the three traits. 5. Circle the chart column title to which the trait relates, such as Food Type or Defense. 6. Lastly, write the names of up to three animals to which that trait applies. Share one of your featured traits with classmates for discussion. 6

7 Reflections and Conclusions Write the answers to the questions for this section in your Student Journal. Use a separate, blank sheet of paper, if you need more room to write out your answers or draw illustrations to support your answers 1. Choose another of the three featured, common traits (not the one you already shared with classmates) for your answer. Review your backyard species survey chart, your field notes, and identification guides, as needed to include details in your answer. 2. Cite at least three traits for one of your species to explain how this animal is adapted to survive in this habitat. Be specific in describing the details of each trait and connecting it to an aspect of its survival. 3. To help make your prediction, apply these suggested temperature and precipitation changes to the average summer and winter climates recorded in your journal earlier. Consider how this colder, wetter climate would impact the resources your backyard species uses for shelter, food, and/or protection. Sketch out a possible new landscape for these conditions. Would some plants fail to reproduce under these conditions? Would other plants thrive? In what specific ways might the animal species adapt in behavior or physical characteristics to these changes? 7