Unit 4 Unit 4 AdaptationAdaptationss

Grasses, Shrubs and low Grasses, Shrubs and low plantsplants

Shallow rootsShallow roots

Fast Fast reproduction / reproduction / flowering cycleflowering cycle

1-3 meters below 1-3 meters below the surface the the surface the ground is ground is completely frozencompletely frozen

growing season is growing season is very short, 1-2 very short, 1-2 monthsmonths

Animals

Hibernation Hibernation (Bears)(Bears)

Migration Migration (Birds)(Birds)

Insulating Insulating featuresfeatures

They can sleep right They can sleep right though the cold months though the cold months under a thick blanket of under a thick blanket of snow and not freeze.snow and not freeze.

They can move further They can move further south to warmer climates south to warmer climates to avoid the cold.to avoid the cold.

Some animals have extra Some animals have extra fur or fat to help hold in fur or fat to help hold in heat so they don’t freeze.heat so they don’t freeze.

Animals

Camouflage Camouflage (snowshoe hare, (snowshoe hare, ptarmigan, bear)ptarmigan, bear)

Feet (ptarmigan)Feet (ptarmigan)

Feet (snowshoe Feet (snowshoe hare / polar bear)hare / polar bear)

Hides or protects Hides or protects them from their them from their predators.predators.

Feet enlarge in the fall Feet enlarge in the fall for walking on snowfor walking on snow

Snow shoe hare Snow shoe hare develop a covering of develop a covering of hair. Polar bear – hair. Polar bear – bristles.bristles.

Trees – Conifers (Evergreens)

Needle-like leavesNeedle-like leaves

Thick barkThick bark

Conical shapeConical shape

Less surface area on Less surface area on the leaves means less the leaves means less transpiration (Winter transpiration (Winter all water is frozen). all water is frozen).

The thicker the bark The thicker the bark the less water that will the less water that will escape.escape.

Heavy snow during the Heavy snow during the winter will fall off winter will fall off reliving the pressure reliving the pressure on the branches.on the branches.

Trees – Deciduous

Shed their leaves Shed their leaves when winter when winter comes. (Birch, comes. (Birch, maple, aspen maple, aspen

Since the water is Since the water is frozen during winter frozen during winter they shed their they shed their leaves so no water leaves so no water is lost via is lost via transpiration.transpiration.

Grasseses

Shallow rootsShallow roots

Small water Small water requirementrequirement

Little rain falls, Little rain falls, doesn’t seep far in the doesn’t seep far in the ground, roots near the ground, roots near the surface will catch all surface will catch all the water.the water.

Little water, they have Little water, they have little need for water, little need for water, only once in a while. only once in a while. Also small in size, so Also small in size, so they don’t need a lot they don’t need a lot of water. of water. ..

the introduction of chinch bugs when it arrived through sods imported from mainland Canada?

the introduction of snowshoe hare or even the moose to the island of Newfoundland?

Introduction of a new species?

the recent arrival of coyotes on the island of Newfoundland may have on the local ecosystem?

What could be the probable impact that:

Possible Effects ???Possible Effects ??? Elimination/disruption of their food

sources/species. Competition for food sources may cause

decline or endanger other native species that eat same food source.

Diseases may be introduced causing decline or disruption.

May cause interruption of decline in economic activity related to lost/declining species.

Financial cost to subsequently control new species.