Environmental Stress: Plant Adaptations with Jill Van Winkle
Name: _____________ _Period:__
1. What is an adaptation?
2. What is plasticity in plants? Why do they need it?
Instructions
1 – Observe and describe the plants at your lab bench. Decide which habitat the plant is best adapted.
2 – List at least 3 adaptations each plant has made to its habitat. Describe how they help the plant
succeed.
3 – Compare and contrast the plants based upon their habitats.
4 – Select a habitat and create a plant to succeed in this environment.
5 – Draw and describe adaptations you would give the plant to succeed. You have limited resources, so
you will have to choose wisely and defend your choices!
Describe and compare your plants by filling out the table below:
Plant 1:
Plant 2:
Habitat
Adaptation 1
Adaptation 2
Adaptation 3
Weaknesses?
3. If the plants traded habitats, would they succeed? Which would do better? Why?
4. Select a habitat from the attached sheet. Descriptions of some of the environmental conditions for each
habitat are listed on this sheet. My Habitat Is: __________________________________
5. Adapt a plant for your habitat!
You have 5 resource points. Some plant adaptations are more costly to the plant to produce. Within each
category (see Adaptation Table!), you can decide how your adaptation looks or functions (e.g. size and shape of
thorns, location on the plant). If you have an idea for a plant adaptation not within the categories, ask Ms.
Crowell or Jill to approve it and determine the resource cost.
*Remember, no more than 5 points total! So you could have as many as 5 or as few at 2 adaptations.
Plant Adaptations:
Points
1. __________________________________________________________
______
2. __________________________________________________________
______
3. __________________________________________________________
______
4. __________________________________________________________
______
5. __________________________________________________________
______
TOTAL
6. Draw your plant. Label the adaptations and describe how they would make the plant more successful in
its habitat.
HABITAT TABLE
Environmental Conditions
Habitat
Temperature
Moisture
Light
Competition
Predators
Soil
Nutrients
Soil pH
Desert
High
Low
High
Low
Small
mammals
Neutral
NW Forest
Moderate
Summer: low
Winter: high
Low-moderate
Moderate
Deer, insects
Acidic
Lowmoderate
NE Forest
Summer: high
Winter: low
Moderate-high
year-round
Low-moderate
Moderate
Deer, insects
Neutral
Moderate
Bog/ Swamp
Moderate
High
Low
Low
Insects
Acidic
Low
Tropical Rain
Forest
High
High
Variable
Very high
All kinds
Acidic
Low
Alpine
Low!
Low
High
Low
Small
mammals
Alkaline
High
High
ADAPTATION TABLE
Adaptation
Response to:
Leaf shape & size
Leaf coating
Leaf toxins
Leaf movement
Light, temperature,
moisture, competition
Light, temperature,
moisture
Moisture, predation
Predation
Light
Evergreen leaves
Nutrients or pH
1
Vines or tendrils
Light, competition
1
Spines or thorns
Carbohydrate storage
Predation
Temperature, moisture
2
2
Stem shape or color
Light, temperature,
moisture
Light, competition
Moisture, stability,
competition
Light, competition,
height, predation
Moisture
Leaf color
Rapid growth
Tap root
Woody stems
Water storage,
succulent
Digestive structures
(carnivorous)
Saprophytic or parasitic
Cost
(points)
1
Example
Surface area for light (energy!) and gas exchange
1
Dark green = increased chlorophyll
1
2
1
2
Waxy, tough, thick leaves
Bitter or poisonous compounds
Move to increase or decrease light as needed (e.g.
Mimosa trees)
New leaves require nutrients. Useful in low nutrient
environments to keep leaves.
Use other plants as “scaffolds” to seek light,
compete
Modified leaves – cactus spines, rose thorns
Energy storage, typically below ground: fleshy
roots, tubers, etc.
For photosynthesis, storage, etc.
2
2
Can climb above other plants to seek light
Access scarce water, stability.
2
Can grow taller than other plants – more light
3
thickened stems or leaves
Nutrients
4
Costly, only used in very nutrient poor conditions
Light, competition,
nutrients, decomposition
4
Limited light and/or nutrients. Allow growth without
light!