adapting to australia student sheets

7/25/2019 Adapting to Australia Student Sheets

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Adapting to Australia

Student Notes: Adaptations of a Scaly KindPlease complete this section during your session with a Zoo Education Officer

1. Explain what is meant by the term adaptation.

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2. List some of the abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) factors of a semi-aridenvironment that animals would need to adapt to:

3. Many reptiles inhabit the semi-arid environments of Australia. Complete the table belowto describe some of the types of adaptations that snakes and lizards have to help themsurvive in this climatic zone.

Abiotic (non-living) factors Biotic (living) factors

Survival challenge

Keeping cool

Staying warm

Conserving water

Locating andcapturing food

BehaviouralAdaptation

StructuralAdaptation

PhysiologicalAdaptation




Student Notes: Reproducing in a Harsh ClimatePlease complete this section during your session with a Zoo Education Officer

1. The Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus) has a unique reproductive strategy. They are ableto delay the implantation and development of an embryo (blastocyst) inside the uterus.This is called embryonic diapause. In good conditions, a female Red Kangaroo mayhave a joey at heel, one in the pouch and a dormant embryo ready to replace thepouched young as soon as it leaves.

The following are the key reproductive events for a Red Kangaroo. Number themaccording to the order in which they would happen.

2. What is the advantage of embryonic diapause in terms of a survival adaptation?

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Back at School

When conditions deteriorate, the joey at the heel (still suckling) perishes first, then young inpouch, and then lastly the diapausing embryo. Explain why the mother selects to withdrawnourishment from the young in this particular order when times are hard.

The embryo in diapause resumesdevelopment

The young joey has left the pouch butcontinues to suckle from mother.

Female ovulates (comes into oestrus) 1

Unfavourable environmental condition,e.g. drought

Favourable environmental conditions

Embryo enters embryonic diapause.

When development in the uterus iscomplete the young enters the pouch




Macropods (Red and Western Grey Kangaroos)

1. Record your observations about the environmental conditions for the day of your visit:

Sunny Raining Overcast (please circle)

Still Windy Gentle breeze (please circle)

Temp (oC) ___________

Time of day ___________

2. Describe the behaviour of the kangaroos today.

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3. Explain their behaviour in terms of temperature regulation.

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4. Kangaroos are crepuscular. This means that they are mainly active at dawn and dusk.

How can this behaviour assist survival in term of temperature regulation?

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5. Kangaroos live in groups called mobs. List the advantages and disadvantages in living

in a mob.

Advantages: ___________________________________________________________

Disadvantages: _________________________________________________________

Activity Sheet A - Going Walkabout




Short-beaked Echidna

6. Like many Australian animals, Short-beaked Echidnas create burrows. Draw and label adiagram of one of our Perth Zoo echidna burrows.

7. How does this assist them in thermoregulation?

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8. Describe some of the features that this unique animal has for finding and obtaining its

food.

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Activity Sheet A - Going Walkabout Cont...




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L o n g t h i n s t i c k y t o n g u e

S m a l l c

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B l a c k a n d w h i t e b a n d s

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( d i u r n a l )

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t y S h e e t A - G o

i n g W a l k a b o u t

C o n t . . .

* P i c t u r e a b o v e

i l l u s t r a t e s t h e a v e r a g e s i z e o f a N u m b a t ( M y r m e c o b i u s f a s c i a t u s )

H o w

d o e a c h o f

t h e s e f e a t u r e s

h e l p a N u m b a t t o

s u r v i v e ?




Activity Sheet B - I Like the Night Life

Visit the animals in the Nocturnal House. Please arrange to meet your teacher at a

specified time at the Nocturnal House asteacher supervision is required in this area.

You will need to locate nocturnal animals whichdisplay the following survival adaptations.

An animal whose coat blends in with themoonlight shining down between the trees.

Draw a section of this animal’s fur.

Common Name:

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Scientific Name:

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A tail that looks like part can blend in with theleaves on a tree.

Draw this animal’s tail.

Common Name:

_________________________

Scientific Name:

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An ability to locate food using soundwaves. Draw one of this animal’s ears.

Common Name:

______________________________________

Scientific Name:

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An animal able to carry nesting material with itstail to build a refuge from predators.

Common Name:

______________________________________

Scientific Name:

______________________________________

Draw this animal’s tail carrying nesting materials.




Activity Sheet C - Land vs. WaterThere are vast differences between life on land and a water-based lifestyle. In the tablebelow, list two environmental pressures for each that relate to the nature of each habitat.

Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor ) spend time both on land and at sea and are thereforefaced with challenges relating to living in both marine and terrestrial environments.

Use your observations and the signage at the ‘Penguin Plunge’ exhibit to identify some of theLittle Penguin’s adaptations to deal with these survival challenges. You will also need todecide if each adaptation is structural, behavioural, or physiological.

Survival Challenge Description of Adaptation Type of Adaptation(please circle)

Decrease risk of overheatingon land

S/B/P

Decrease risk of heat loss at

sea

S/B/P

Avoid predators at sea S/B/P

Avoid predators on land S/B/P

Care for young S/B/P

Environmental pressures specific to land Environmental pressures specific to water

1. 1.

2. 2.




Learn the Lingo

Several terms and phrases are commonly used when discussing animal adaptations. Find out

the meaning of the following terms and phrases to expand on your biological vocabulary.

• abiotic factors

• adaptation

• behavioural adaptation

• biotic factors

•

camouflage• carnivore

• crepuscular

• dentition

• diurnal

• ectothermic

• endothermic

• environment

• environmental pressure

• herbivore

• homeostasis

• marine

• mob

• nocturnal

• omnivore

• physiological adaptation• structural adaptation

• terrestrial

• thermoregulation

Appendix 1

adapting to australia student sheets

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