U8D2—Biome Adaptations NOTES

How do organisms fit their environments?

What are 4 main environments (biomes) of the Earth?Desert— very dry, little precipitation, often hot!

Tundra—cold, snowy, few trees

Rain forest —very wet, lots of trees, animals

Great plains —many types of grasses, windy, some rain

Make some hypotheses!What are some

adaptations you would need in a desert?

What are some adaptations you would need in the arctic?

What are some adaptations you would need in a jungle?

What are some adaptations you would need in a great plain?

What is an adaptation?Adaptation - any structure or behavior that increases an organism’s chance of survival in an certain environment

Avoid predatorsGet more food/save energyMake more babies/attract mates

There are three types:1. Structural: related to its physical form2. Behavioral: related to what an organism does3. Functional: related to the way it does a task

Organisms have different adaptations because they live in different environments!

Adaptations of Organisms in the DesertPLANT ADAPTATIONS

Structural:Shallow roots to soak up

water over a large areaDeep roots to get to water

stored undergroundNo leaves to reduce water loss

Functional:Photosynthesis in stems

because no leavesFlowers open at night when

cooler

ANIMAL ADAPTATIONSStructural:

large ears to give off heatFunctional:

little urine to save waterBehavioral:

active only at night to avoid the sun and heat of the day

Adaptations of Organisms in the TundraPLANT ADAPTATIONS

Functional:Small shrubs and mosses that

grow low to the ground to keep from freezing

Grow in clumps to protect one another from the wind and cold

Structural:Dark in color to absorb solar heatShallow roots to not have to

penetrate ice

ANIMAL ADAPTATIONSStructural:

Layer of fat— blubberTwo layers of furBigger body

Behavioral:Migration to warmer areas

in the winterHibernations—deep sleep

to save energy

Adaptations of Organisms in the Rain Forest

PLANT ADAPTATIONSStructural

Shallow roots because of shallow & moist soil

Waxy coating to protect leaves from fungus and bacteria that thrive in wet areas

Broad leaves to absorb the little sun that gets through the canopy of trees

ANIMAL ADAPTATIONSStructural

Camouflage in thick greenery or shadows

Webbed limbs to glide across trees

Behavioral Climbing and living in treesNocturnal lifestyle to avoid heat

Adaptations of Organisms in the Great PlainsPLANT ADAPTATIONS

Structural Soft stems allow prairie

grasses to bend in the wind Thick tree bark to resist fire Extensive root systems

prevent grazing animals from pulling roots out of the ground or fires from destroying

Functional Prairie grasses have narrow

leaves which lose less water Wind pollinated seeds

ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS Structural

Limbs to move very quickly across open spaces

Behavioral Grazing animals that eat grasses Burrowing in the ground to

avoid wind Functional

Hunting in groups to catch prey

GO BUFFS!