Adaptations for Movement

What is Adaptation?
...the way in which a species becomes better suited to living in its environment.

Movement
There are many different methods of movement Different habitats present different problems to movement that need to be overcome Specialists vs. Generalists
Leopard seal aquatic specialist

Good in water...

...cumbersome on land

Why move?

American pika collecting food

Common warthog fleeing from cheetah

Grass snake hatchlings dispersing

Radiated tortoises mating

Bornean orangutan

Snow leopard

River Polar

Rainforest

Desert Ocean

Which habitat?
Mountains Open grassland

Woodland
Red squirrel

Nile crocodile

Bornean orangutan

Snow leopard

How are they adapted to move in their habitat?

Red squirrel

Nile crocodile

Movement on Land
Adaptations to moving on land
Things to think about: Speed vs. agility
Move to catch prey or to escape predators Land may be open or have obstacles such as trees

Moving over different substrates e.g. sand, snow, mud

7

Cheetah
Open plains specialist Adapted for speed

Spanish ibex

Rocky habitat specialist

Adapted for agility
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Polar bear

Habitat generalist can move over land and in water Adapted to polar habitat 10

Legless movement
Movement without limbs
Adapted to overcome friction

Sidewinder

Leopard slug

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Arboreal Movement
Adaptations to arboreal movement
Things to think about: Forested areas may not be continuous Moving from one tree to another Balance and grip

 Fossa

Habitat generalist can move quickly through trees as well as on the ground Adapted to jump between branches
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White-handed gibbon

Master of agility Adapted to swing between branches 14

Sugar glider

Arboreal specialist
Adapted to glide between trees
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Aquatic Movement
Adaptations to aquatic movement
Things to think about: Friction causing drag Buoyancy saline vs. freshwater Currents and tides

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Great white shark

Aquatic specialist
Adapted for speed
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Spotted handfish

Aquatic specialist Two different methods of moving through water

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Aerial Movement
Adaptations to aerial movement
Things to think about:

Overcoming friction Use of air currents Hot air vs. cold air

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 Common swift

Peregrine falcon

Aerodynamic body shape Adapted for speed

20

California condor

Aerial movement using thermals Adapted for gliding

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Wild Journey
- You will be given an Adaptations for Movement worksheet.
- Write in the adaptations that each species has for moving through its natural habitat. Once you have finished the worksheet, you can begin your Wild Journey Get into groups of 5 or less Each group will need:

1x Wild Journey board game

5x Species characters - use as your playing pieces on the board 5x Species fact files - explains how your particular species is adapted to moving through its natural habitat

1x Rules sheet - read before beginning the game

 If you land on your natural habitat square: roll the dice again.

If you land on your least suitable habitat square: miss a go!

Habitat Species Natural Cheetah White-handed gibbon Polar bear Sidewinder Spanish ibex African savannah Rainforest Polar Desert Rocky cliffs Least suitable Polar African savannah Rainforest Rocky cliffs Desert