5.1/2 Specific adaptations,
including predator-prey
relationships
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Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Different types of environment
There are three major types of environment. What are they?
land
freshwater
marine
How do organisms survive in such different environments?
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Learning objectives
KQ: How do specific animals and plants
adapt to their environment?
Know that
• Animals and plants must be adapted to live
in a variety of climates, including extreme
environments.
• There are general adaptations and specific
adaptations.
• Know the differences between predator
and prey relationships.
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Task 1: A shark’s general adaptations
What are a shark’s general adaptations to life in an aquatic
environment?
streamlined shape
to reduce friction
when moving
through water
fins provide
stability, power
and control
GCSE
gills have a large
surface area so
that oxygen can be
extracted from the
surrounding water
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Task 2: A shark’s specific adaptations
What are a shark’s specific adaptations to life as an aquatic
predator?
specialized sense organs can
detect the sound, movement and
electrical fields of other organisms
highly sensitive
sense of smell that
can detect drops of
blood from miles
away
lots of very sharp
teeth that are
constantly replaced
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silver colouring
underneath acts as
camouflage
CORE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
Task 3: Mini Plenary
True or false?
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Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Animals that eat other animals
A predator is an animal
that hunts and kills other
animals for food.
Predators can be either:
 carnivorous (eat meat
only) e.g. wolves
 omnivorous (eat meat and
vegetation) e.g. humans.
A prey animal is one that is
attacked and eaten by a
predator.
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Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
How are predators and prey adapted?
Predators are adapted
to hunt, catch and eat
prey.
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Prey are adapted to
avoid capture from
predators.
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Task 4: Adaptations of predators
What are common predator adaptations for hunting and
killing?
 Excellent vision – For spotting prey from far away. Many
predators have binocular vision to accurately judge the
distance of their prey.
 High speed – For chasing after prey. Predators often
stalk their prey using stealth and sometimes camouflage
to get as close as possible without being detected.
 Weapons – For killing prey. These are predominantly
sharp teeth, claws and beaks, which enable the predator
to hold their prey and tear their flesh.
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Task 5: Adaptations of prey
What are common prey adaptations for avoiding
capture by predators?
 Excellent vision – For spotting predators from far away.
Many prey have a wide field of view to see predators
approaching from all different directions.
 High speed – For escaping from predators. Prey animals
such as deer and antelopes often have a high stamina to
keep running for longer than their predators.
 Camouflage – For hiding from predators. For example,
the stripes on a zebra break up their outline, stick insects
look like twigs, some insects look like leaves.
 Defence – For protection against attack. Examples include
armour plating, horns and tusks.
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Task 6: Adaptations of the snowshoe hare
The snowshoe hare lives in northern parts of North America.
How is it adapted to avoid predators such as lynxes?
greyish-brown fur turns white in
winter for camouflage
large ears
help in
detecting
predators
monocular
vision with a
wide field of
view to see
predators
approaching
large furry feet act as snow shoes and
protect the soles from cold
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Task 7: Adaptations of the lynx
How are lynxes adapted for catching snowshoe hares?
excellent
binocular
vision for
judging
distances
warm thick furry coat protects from the cold
sharp teeth
and claws
for puncturing
flesh
very strong hind leg muscles
capable of pouncing 6.5 metres!
GCSE
extra large paws
act as snow shoes
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Task 8: Using poison
Poison has evolved as an adaptation of predators and prey.
Organisms such as snakes, spiders and insects use poison to
paralyze or kill prey.
Other organisms use poison
as a defence. Certain tropical
frogs have poisonous skin
that can make predators very
ill or even die.
They are often brightly
coloured to deter predators
from even trying to attack
them.
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Task 9: Let’s pretend
Some harmless organisms have become adapted to look like
dangerous species. This is called mimicry.
For example, stingless hoverflies have black and yellow
bands on their bodies that resemble those on wasps or bees.
This warns predators to stay away, even though the hoverfly
is incapable of stinging.
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Task: Mini plenary
Predator
Both
Prey
Predator
Sharp
teeth/claws
Binocular
vision
Both
High speed
Poison
Prey
Wide field of
view
Mimicry
camouflage
camouflage
Mimicry
High speed
Sharp
teeth/claws
Binocular
vision
Wide field of
view
Poison
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Task 10: How is a polar bear adapted?
How is a polar bear adapted to its extremely cold climate?
white greasy fur repels water and acts as camouflage
thick fur and
body fat insulate
from the cold
large, wide feet
spread the body’s
weight and act as
good paddles and
snow shoes
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
More specific polar bears adaptations
Other adaptations that polar bears have evolved to cope
with conditions in the harsh polar environment include:
small ears and small body
surface area to volume
ratio reduces heat loss
eyes have brown irises to
reduce the glare from the
Sun’s reflection
black skin is a good
absorber of heat
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Task 11: How is a camel adapted?
How is a camel adapted to life in a very hot, dry climate?
fat is stored in the hump to reduce overheating
little water is lost
through sweating
or urination
long, thin legs help
to increase body
surface area and
increase heat loss
wide feet spread
out body weight
on shifting sand
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
More camel adaptations
What other adaptations have camels evolved to cope with
the harsh desert environment?
long eyelashes and
furry ears prevent sand
and dust from getting in
nostrils can be closed
for protection during
sandstorms
very varied diet, ranging
from grass and bark to
thorns and bones.
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Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Task: Mini plenary
Which adaptation?
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Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
There are a few desert plants with
broad leaves and hence a large SA.
These leaves curl to catch any dew
in the cold evenings, which is then
funnelled to their shallow roots.
Other plants in dry environments
have curled leaves which reduces
the surface area and traps a layer
of moist air around the leaf which
reduces the amount of water they
lose by evaporation.
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Most plants that live in dry
environments have a reduced
surface area. Why?
What other leaf characteristics are
good for desert living?
Why do plants need water?
How do plants lose water from their
leaves?
Why do plants often reduce the SA
of their leaves to help them prevent
water loss?
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Plant adaptations in the Desert
• Plants like cacti have
adaptations such as very
deep or wide root systems
to collect as much water as
possible.
•
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On your diagram illustrate
with words how plants are
adapted to different
environments
• Plants that live in dry areas
also need adaptations to
reduce the amount of
water they lose
• They lose water through
tiny holes (stomata) in
their leaves when they
make food by
photosynthesis.
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Task 12: How is a cactus adapted?
How is a cactus adapted to life in a very hot, dry climate?
water stored in a fleshy
stem, and a thick, waxy
surface reduces water loss
leaves are narrow spines
to reduce water loss and
protect from predators
roots are either very deep,
or shallow and
widespread to catch
surface water
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
What do flowers do?
Flowers enable plants
to reproduce sexually.
For this to happen,
pollen from one flower
must be carried to
another flower – either
on the same plant or on
a different plant. This is
called pollination.
In what ways can pollination take place?
 Pollen is carried by insects from one flower to another.
 Pollen is blown by wind from one flower to another.
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
I know that plants must be adapted to allow for their seeds to disperse and germinate away
from the parent plant
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Task 13: Adaptations for insect pollination
How are flowers adapted for pollination by insects such as
bees and butterflies?
nectar, a
source of food
for insects, is
deep within
the flower
stiff anthers
and stigmas
are positioned
where insects
must brush
past them
GCSE
colourful,
scented petals
attract insects
large, sticky
pollen grains
become
attached to the
insect’s body
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Task 14: Adaptations for wind pollination
How are flowers adapted for pollination by the wind?
small, dullcoloured petals
anthers hang
loosely
outside flower
so wind can
blow pollen
GCSE
huge
numbers of
light, tiny
pollen grains
long, feathery
stigma hanging
outside flower
so pollen can be
trapped
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Unusual plant adaptations
Plants can live in acid or waterlogged soils where there is
little nitrate. Some plants have evolved a rather cunning
adaptation to obtain the nutrients they need.
Pitcher plants have a large
hollow filled with fluid that
traps insects or other small
organisms that may fall in.
Hairs on the slippery inside
of the plant are angled down
to ensure that the victim
cannot escape!
The plant digests its victims
to absorb the nitrates it needs!
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Task: Mini Plenary
Which organism?
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Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
Task: Mini Plenary
Multiple-choice quiz
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE
1.Where might small plants find it
difficult to receive enough light?
2.State 3 ways a plant might
conserve water.
3.How do animals know not to eat
certain plants?
GCSE
Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
CORE