Designing a Species
The world is made up of many different biomes. Biomes are large regions of the world with similar plants, animals, and
other living things that are adapted to the climate and other conditions.1 There are many different classifications of
biomes, but we will focus on six major terrestrial (land) ones:
1) Tundra
2) Taiga
3) Rain Forest - tropical and temperate
4) Desert
5) Grasslands - tropical and temperate
6) Temperate Deciduous Forest
A biome is made of many similar ecosystems. Ecosystems are the interactions between the living things and the
nonliving things in a place. In an ecosystem, the plants, animals, and other organisms rely on each other and on the
physical environment – the soil, water, and nutrients, for example. An ecosystem is often much smaller than a biome,
although the size varies.2 At any given time, ecosystems may get out of balance and will adapt/change.
Within each biome, the living organisms have adaptations to help them survive in these sometimes extreme
environments. For example, a rabbit in the tundra may have larger feet to hop on the snow and white fur to hide from
its enemies.
The unique climate and living conditions of each biome create wide variety on our wonderful planet. You are an
ecologist who is researching the biomes of the world and the adaptations of the plants and animals that inhabit the
different biomes. What does each biome look like? How does the climate in a particular biome affect the lives of the
living things that live there? How have plants and animals adapted to survive in each unique biome? It is your
challenge to find out!
Task #1:
You are an ecologist who discovered a new animal in the taiga biome (see description below). It is not surviving there.
Based on the adaptations of that newly discovered animal, you need to persuade members of BEANS (Biome Ecologists
for the Advancement of New Species) of the suitability of this new animal to survive in one of the other biomes of the
world. Your team will research the six major biomes and determine the biome best suited for the survival of your new
animal. You may use the information found on the following website:
https://sites.google.com/a/pennridge.us/mr-j/teacher/biomes-webquest
as well as the biome graphic on your table.
Your team must create a short persuasive argument (that is at least one paragraph long) explaining why the animal
is best suited for life in a particular biome. This argument must include physical and behavioral adaptations necessary
for living in the climate, avoiding predators, and accessing food sources in your chosen biome.
Mystery Species:
The three-toed sloth's long claws are well suited to an arboreal life but hamper its mobility on the ground, leaving it vulnerable to
predators.
Photograph by Lucy Cooke, AIUNAU
Fast Facts
Type: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore
Size: 23 in (58 cm)
Weight: 8.75 lbs (4 kg)
Protection status: Endangered
Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man:
Celebrate International Sloth Day on October 20.
The sloth is the world's slowest mammal, so sedentary that algae grows on its furry coat. The plant gives it a greenish tint that is
useful camouflage in the trees. Sloths are identified by the number of long, prominent claws that they have on each front foot.
There are both two-toed and three-toed sloths.
All sloths are built for life in the treetops. They spend nearly all of their time aloft, hanging from branches with a powerful grip aided
by their long claws. (Dead sloths have been known to retain their grip and remain suspended from a branch.) Sloths even sleep in
trees, and they sleep a lot—some 15 to 20 hours every day. Even when awake they often remain motionless. At night they eat
leaves, shoots, and fruit from the trees and get almost all of their water from juicy plants.
On land, sloths' weak hind legs provide no power and their long claws are a hindrance. They must dig into the earth with their front
claws and use their strong front legs to pull themselves along, dragging their bellies across the ground. If caught on land, these
animals have no chance to evade predators, such as big cats, and must try to defend themselves by clawing and biting.
Though they couldn't be clumsier on land, sloths are surprisingly good swimmers. They sometimes fall directly from rain forest trees
into rivers and stroke efficiently with their long arms.
The three-toed sloth emits a long, high-pitched call that echoes through the forests as "ahh-eeee." Because of this cry these sloths
are sometimes called ais (pronounced "eyes").
Three-toed sloths also have an advantage that few other mammals possess: They have extra neck vertebrae that allows them to turn
their heads some 270 degrees.
This information was accessed at http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/three-toed-sloth/
Task B:
1. Once task A is complete, raise your hand to draw a biome from the basket.
2. Each person in your group will create the "perfect" animal suited to live in that biome. On a piece of paper
or on a poster board you will detail what your animal looks like, how it behaves, and why it is suited to your
particular biome. As in the previous task, think about the physical and behavioral adaptations necessary for
living in the climate, avoiding predators, and accessing food sources.
Your poster must include:
- The biome that your organism lives in.
- The name of the new animal
- At least one sentence that describes how it looks.
- an explanation of 4 specific physical adaptations (one adaptation for each body part listed below) the new
animal has that will help it survive in the biome
teeth/mouth
ears
eyes
feet/claws
- an explanation of at least 2 body covering adaptations that the new animal has to help it survive in the biome
warmth
protection
camouflage
mimicry (when an animal tries to look like another animal)
- A description of the animal's social life: Is the animal social (lives in a group) or does it live on its own? How
will this behavior help the animal survive in its new biome?
- A description of the how the animal protects itself. What behaviors does it have to protect itself from
predators? How will these behaviors help the animal survive in its new biome?
- A description of the animal's instincts: What instincts does it have (inborn knowledge like bees making
honey, birds migrating, and bears hibernating)? How do your animal’s instincts help it survive in the selected
biome?
- A description of the new animal's predators: What predator(s) exist in the new biome that will attack your
animal?
- A description of the animal's food sources: What does your animal eat that can be found in the new biome?
- A description of the animal's shelter: Where does your animal find shelter from predators and the elements
in the new biome?
YOUR COMPLETED POSTER IS DUE TUESDAY 15th APRIL
WHEN YOU WALK INTO CLASS
Adapted from webquest created by Jennifer Cooper and Kelby Moul, Park Hills Elementary,
South Western School District, Hanover, PA.
Updated by Robert James on December 31, 2010
(https://sites.google.com/a/pennridge.us/mr-j/teacher/biomes-webquest)