TEKS 7.11B explain variation within a population or species by comparing external features, behaviors or physiology of organisms that
enhance their survival such as migration, hibernation, or storage of food in a bulb
Create an Organism:
Fashion a Fish or Design a Plant?
Objectives: Students will be able to:
 Describe adaptations of organisms to their environments.
 Describe how adaptations can help organisms survive in their
habitat.
 Interpret the importance of adaptations in organisms.
Set Up:
 Students can choose fashion a fish or they can design a plant.
They must choose only one.
 You can have them work as individuals or in groups.
 Instructions for both activities are included.
Materials:
 coloring utensils
 poster board
TEKS 7.11B explain variation within a population or species by comparing external features, behaviors or physiology of organisms
that enhance their survival such as migration, hibernation, or storage of food in a bulb
Fashion a Fish
Background:
Aquatic animals are the product of countless adaptations over long periods of time.
These adaptations, for the most part, are features that increase the animals’ likelihood of
surviving in their habitat.
When a habitat changes, either slowly or catastrophically, the species of animals with
adaptations that allow them many options are the ones most likely to survive. Some species
have adapted to such a narrow range of habitat conditions that they are extremely vulnerable
to change. They are over-specialized and are usually more susceptible than other animals to
death or extinction.
In this activity, you will design a kind of fish. By randomly picking a number between 1
and 5, you will choose the adaptations that your fish will have. Each choice you make would
actually take countless years to develop. As these adaptations become part of the fish’s
design, the fish becomes better suited to the habitat in which it lives. Because of the variety of
conditions within each habitat, many different fish can live together and flourish.
Choose a number between 1 and 5 for each adaptation:
Adaptations
Mouth Type and Feeding Behavior
1
2
3
4
5
Body Shape and Form
1
2
3
4
5
Protective Coloration and
Camouflage
1
2
3
4
5
Reproduction and Behavior
1
2
3
4
5
Procedures: Create a new species of fish based upon what you circled.
1.
Based upon the descriptions and the pictures, draw your fish.
2.
Give your fish a name.
3.
Explain the following about your fish:
 Where or what type of water your fish lives in. Think about what we have been
talking about with the different biomes.
 What it eats.
 Where it fits in the food chain.
 How the males of the species are different from the females.
 Explain the reproduction of these fish and whether it is an advantage or
disadvantage.
 What special adaptation your fish has that enables it to survive in its environment.
Additional information you may want to include:

Camouflage

Importance of Color

Importance of Shape

Behavior and Special Body Features

Helpful Appendages

Helpful Partnerships
Adaptation
Advantage
Mouth
1
Sucker shaped
mouth
Feeds on very
small plants
and animals
2
Extremely large
jaws
Surrounds
prey
3
Elongate lower jaw
Feeds on prey
it sees above
4
Duckbill jaws
Grasps prey
5
Elongate upper jaw
Feeds on prey
it looks down
on
1
Flat bellied
Bottom
feeder
2
Torpedo shape
Fast moving
3
Horizontal disk
Bottom
dweller
4
Vertical disk
Feeds above
or below
5
Hump backed
Stable in fast
moving water
Body Shape
Examples
Adaptation
Coloration
Advantage
Light colored
belly
Predators have
difficulty seeing
it from below
2
Dark upper side
Predators have
difficulty seeing
it from above
3
Mottled
coloration
4
Vertical stripes
Can hide in
vegetation
5
Horizontal stripes
Can hide in
vegetation
1
Can hide in rocks
and on bottom
Reproduction
1
Eggs deposited
in nests
Protected by
adults
2
Eggs attached to
vegetation
Stable until
hatching
3
Eggs deposited
in bottom
Hidden from
predators
4
Floating eggs
Dispersed in high
numbers
5
Live bearers
High survival
rate
Examples
TEKS 7.11B explain variation within a population or species by comparing external features, behaviors or physiology of organisms
that enhance their survival such as migration, hibernation, or storage of food in a bulb
Designer Plant
Background:
Plants, like animals, possess special adaptations that enable them to
survive in their environment. For example, many shrubs have sharp, pointed
branches adapted to protect them from being consumed by herbivores. Many
animals will avoid these special features because of previous experiences of
being punctured or scratched by them. Cacti have leaves that are sharp and
pointed called spines. Animals will be discouraged by these spines, thus
protecting the fluid-filled stems.
Some plants such as nettles have specialized tips on the stems and
leaves that break off when touched. These nettles release a small amount of
fluid that causes stinging and swelling. Poison ivy is another example of a
plant that wards off predators by producing an irritating sensation when
touched. Milkweed gives off a terrible taste when being eaten by animals. All
of these adaptations work on offending the senses of predators.
Trees that have thick, woody bark protect the plant against injuries.
Thick leaves on succulent plants store food for later use if conditions become
unfavorable for survival for a period to time. Plants that consume insects
obtain the needed nitrogen in their diet, even though they can also
photosynthesize.
Plants like the pine tree have adapted to cold temperatures by having
needles rather than leaves. The needles have a small surface area and are
covered with a thick, water-resistant covering that is not able to freeze
easily. Succulents would not be found in the same cold environment because
they are very susceptible to freezing. They are most often found in warm
climates.
Plants called epiphytes (such as orchids) usually are found in the
tropical rain forests where they can obtain moisture and nutrients from the
air. They usually have aerial roots and can live in the upper trees. In areas
that have poor soil, some plants are able to host bacteria to absorb nitrogen
that the bacteria living in the plant's roots have fixed from the air. These are
called nodules.
There are many adaptations found in the plant kingdom. Perhaps some
of this information will help you design your plant.
Procedure:
1. Work in small groups or as individuals as directed by your teacher.
2. Each group/ student will be assigned a number between 1and 10.
3. Find your number on chart A and record the information provided about
your plant on Chart B. Your challenge is to design a plant that is able to
survive under the given environmental conditions.
4. Draw, color, and name your unique plant on a piece of poster board.
5. Give an explanation of how each adaptation helps the organism survive.
Chart A:
Amt. of
Sunlight
open
field
Soil
Nutrients
fungi
full
epiphyte
3
deer
moderate
poor
4
locust
extreme
poor
abundant
poor
poor
very little
oxygen
Plant #
Predators
1
insects
2
5
6
grazing
animals
root
parasites
good
7
rabbits
extreme
good
8
birds
abundant
fair
9
strangling
vines
moderate
fair
10
caterpillar
full
good
*Example
mountain
goats
full
poor,
rocky
Temp.
Range
70 100
70 –
95
Rainfall
(inches)
Other
Info.
25
fires
300
pollution
0 – 90
60
erosion
10
quarry
3
drought
50
boggy
area
N/A
drought
15
wind
erosion
10
freezing
60
pesticide
run-off
12
wind
40 –
70
110 - 30
50 –
85
20 –
120
40 –
95
20 – 30
30 –
80
80 - 15
*See next page for sample drawing.
Chart B:
Information given about your plant:
Plant #__________
Predators:_________________________________
Sunlight exposure___________________ Soil nutrients: ______________
Temperature range _______________ Amt. of rainfall: _____________
Other special conditions listed:
________________________________________________________
The name you gave your plant and the reason:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Describe how each of the following adaptations would help the plant
you designed to survive given the special environmental conditions:
Special features of the stem: ______________________________________
Special features of the leaves: ____________________________________
Special features of the roots: _____________________________________
Average height of the plant: ______________________________________
Describe what will be the most difficult problem your plant will encounter for
survival:
_____________________________________________________________
Example: “Texas Torture Plant”
Succulent leaves to conserve water
Sharp spines to keep goats from
eating the leaves
Sharp thorns on stem to keep
goats from eating
Short, thick stem to help withstand the
windy conditions
Nitrogen nodules to
supply nitrogen for poor,
rocky soil
Shallow roots to quickly absorb
rainfall