Adaptation of organisms to their environments

Special features which allow organisms to survive

Arctic Fox what features allow it to survive in the arctic?

Polar bears

Cold environments

• Why are so many arctic animals large?

• List 3 ways arctic animals keep warm in winter

Desert rat- how is it adapted to live in a desert?

Surviving in dry climates

• Deserts are hot and dry

• What are the challenges for animals in deserts?

• Why is it important that desert animals keep cool without sweating?

How are cactus adapted to survive in deserts?

What adaptations do plants have to stop them being eaten?

Competition• What do animals compete for?

• What do plants compete for?

What makes a successful animal competitor

• An animal which avoids competition as much as possible- they eat food that no other animals do

• Animals which set up their own territory an area where they can feed and live

Competition for light

• Small plants in woodlands grow and flower before the leaves on a tree grow so they get as much light as possible

How do plants cope with competition?

• Root systems vary and some plants have shallow roots and some have deep roots to get water and nutrients from different parts of the soil

Plants continued

• Plants may spread their seeds to avoid competition with seedlings

• Some seeds are so small that they are carried by air currents

• Mini explosions may spread seeds• Juicy berries may be eaten by animals and

tough seeds pass through the gut and are deposited with the waste

Origin of life on earth

• We think the earth began 3-4 billion years ago

• What evidence is there to support this view?