Biology Chapter: Adaptation and Migration

Adaptation

• Adaptation is a characteristic that helps living organisms survive and reproduce in their ecosystem
• Camouflage is a type of adaptation that hides animals from predators or prey by blending in with the environment
• The starred agama lizard is a desert reptile that finds shaded areas to stay cool
• Penguins live in Antarctica, an extremely cold place
• Structural adaptation is a change in the structure of an animal's body to adapt to its environment
• Behavioral adaptation is a change in an animal's behavior to adapt to its environment

Migration

• Migration is the travelling of some animals long distances at a certain time of the year

Structural Adaptations in Plants

• Mangrove trees have long, strong roots to resist water waves
• Barbary figs have sharp spines to prevent animals from eating their leaves and fruits
• Acacia trees produce a poison that makes leaves taste bad

Digestive System

• The digestive system breaks down food into smaller parts to provide the body with energy
• Digestion is the process of changing food into chemical substances to provide energy for the body
• The large intestine absorbs water from undigested food and expels waste through the rectum

Respiration

• Respiration is the process of taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide
• Inhalation is the process of taking oxygen into the lungs
• Exhalation is the process of releasing carbon dioxide from the lungs
• Gills are organs in fish that allow them to breathe underwater

Sensory Receptors

• Sensory receptors are nerves in different parts of the body that receive information from the environment.

Communication

• Monkeys use their five senses to distinguish between things
• Nocturnal animals use their senses to locate food at night
• Animals such as whales can use sounds to communicate, while fireflies use light patterns
• Ants send smells to communicate, and humans use language.

Nervous system

• The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that transmit information from the environment.

Reflexes

• Reflexes are messages sent by the nervous system, which are often so fast that a person doesn't realize them.
• The brain is the main control center of the body
• The spinal cord carries messages between the brain and other parts of the body
• Nerves carry messages between the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the body

Light

• Light is a form of energy that travels as waves
• Transparent objects allow light to pass through
• Opaque objects block light from passing through

Other

• Ants communicate using smells
• Fireflies communicate using light patterns
• Animals such as polar bears, dark bears, and panther chameleons can camouflage to blend in with their environment.
• Scientists classify energy into potential and kinetic energy

Explore the fascinating world of adaptations that help animals and plants survive in their environments. This quiz covers structural and behavioral adaptations, as well as the process of migration across different species. Test your understanding of how living organisms interact with their ecosystems.