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Trait Variations for Survival. By: Gregory Hunt. Fifth Grade Science Standard 5 – Students will understand that traits are passed from the parent to the offspring, and that the offspring may possess variations of these traits that may help or hinder survival in a given environment
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Trait Variations for Survival By: Gregory Hunt
Fifth Grade Science • Standard 5 – Students will understand that traits are passed from the parent to the offspring, and that the offspring may possess variations of these traits that may help or hinder survival in a given environment • Objective 2 – Describe how some characteristics could give a species a survival advantage in a particular environment • Indicator C - Describe how a particular physical attribute may provide an advantage for survival in one environment but not in another
Trait Variations • Antelope • Bear • Lion • Frog • Lizard • Monkey • Deer • Seal • Assignment References Video
Assignment • Go to animals.nationalgeographic.com, look in the box on the top right of the page (titled animals), and choose two animals. Compare them, and write a paper about how they are similar and how they are different. Include how their differences help them survive in their habitat.
Mountain Goat • Not a true goat – an antelope • Mostly found in the Rocky Mountains • Coarse white fur • Hooves made for rocks and ice • Lives in herds (up to 10 goats) • Eats grasses
Klipspringer • A breed of Antelope • Lives in eastern and south-western Africa • Short gray-brown fur coat • Hooves are rubbery to grip rocky ledges • Lives in pairs • Eats flowers and fruit
African Lion • Lives on plains and in woodlands • World’s second largest cat • Hunt in groups • Live in groups called “prides” • Kill prey by biting it’s neck • Rest for up to 20 hours a day
Mountain Lion • Lives in mountains, mainly in North America • Can range anywhere from 3 to 5 feet long • Hunt alone • Lives in groups called “prides” • Kill prey by biting it’s neck • Active in early mornings and evenings
Black Bear • Live in North America • Can be 5 – 6 feet long • Eat berries, roots, and small animals • Hibernate in the winter • Live alone • Keen sense of smell
Polar Bear • Live in the Arctic regions • Grow up to 8 feet long • Eat berries, seals, caribou, and arctic hares • Remain active year round • Live alone most of the year • Are excellent swimmers
Northern Leopard Frog • Found in North America • Live in marshes, swamps, and meadows • 2 – 5 inches long • Green with spots • Eats flies and spiders • Nocturnal
Poison Dart Frog • Found in Central and South America • Live in the rain forest • Grow to be 1 ½ inches long • Brightly colored • Eat ants, termites, and small insects • Eggs hatch in a tree
Northern Elephant Seal • Found along the Pacific Coast of America • Eat fish and squid • Can make long, deep dives • Males have a large nose • Mothers live off their fat until the pup is weaned
Harp Seal • Found in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans • Eat fish and crustaceans • Can make long, deep dives • Adults have distinctive black marks on their head and flanks • Mother feeds the pups for 2 – 4 weeks, then goes off to eat
Reindeer (Caribou) • Found in Northern Hemisphere • Live in the Tundra • Both males and females have antlers • Their hooves prevent them from sinking in the snow • Eat grass, leaves, twigs, and moss • The babies can run about an hour after birth
Whitetail Deer • Found all over the world (mostly) • Live in forests, swamps, and brush lands • Only males have antlers • The white part of the tail warns the rest of the herd of danger • Eat grass, leaves, weeds, bark, nuts, moss, and fruit • Babies can walk immediately after birth
Komodo Dragon • Found in Indonesian Islands • Live in grasslands near water • Largest lizard in the world • Has talon-like claws for hunting • Eats deer, boars, and pigs • Female lays 15 eggs a year
Gila Monster • Found in southwestern U.S. and Mexico • Live in the desert • One of only two poisonous lizards in the world • It’s short tale stores fat for when food is scarce • Eats small mammals, bird eggs, and lizards • Female lays 3 – 5 eggs a year
Black Spider Monkey • Found in South America • Live in the rain forest • Grows from 15 – 23 inches long • Can use it’s tail like another arm • Stay in the trees • Eat fruit and nuts
Japanese Macaque • Found in Japan • Live in high-altitude forests • Grows from 19 – 29 inches long • Can survive near-freezing temperatures • Active on the ground and in trees • Eats berries, buds, leaves, nuts, and bark
Macaque Video • http://youtu.be/69-ag4Hx1Cs • Japanese Macaque often spend time in hot springs to stay warm • They have a thick coat of fur under their normal fur, which doesn’t get wet from the springs
References • Mountain Goat Picture – Photograph courtesy Dave Grickson/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/mountain-goat/?source=A-to-Z • African Lion - Photograph by Chris Johns http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/african-lion/?source=A-to-Z • Klipspringer - Photo and by Sanjay Nayarhttp://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/photo-contest/2011/entries/90173/view/
References • Mountain Lion - Photograph by Jim & Jamie Dutcherhttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/mountain-lion/ • Black Bear - Photograph by Norbert Rosinghttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/black-bear/?source=A-to-Z • Polar Bear - Photograph by Norbert Rosinghttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/polar-bear/?source=A-to-Z
References • Northern Leopard Frog - Photograph by Bates Littlehaleshttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/northern-leopard-frog/?source=A-to-Z • Poison Dart Frog - Photograph by George Grallhttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/poison-frog/?source=A-to-Z • Northern Elephant Seal - Photograph by Marc Moritschhttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/elephant-seal/
References • Harp Seal - Photograph by Norbert Rosinghttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/harp-seal/?source=A-to-Z • Reinderr - Photograph by Todd Buchanan http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/caribou/?source=A-to-Z • Whitetail Deer - Photograph by Jim Richardson http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/white-tailed-deer/?source=A-to-Z
References • Komodo Dragon - Photograph by Kenneth Garrett http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/komodo-dragon/?source=A-to-Z • Gila Monster - Photograph by James P. Blair http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/gila-monster/?source=A-to-Z • Spider Monkey - Photograph by Joel Sartorehttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/spider-monkey/?source=A-to-Z
References • Japanese Macaque - Photo by Evan McBride http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/traveler-magazine/photo-contest/entries/49639/view/ • Lesson Idea – Trait Variations for Survival by Utah LessonPlans. Created June 2006. http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview?LPid=16258 • Snow Monkey – Photograph by Richard Kelley http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-japan-photos/#/snow-monkey-nagano_30046_600x450.jpg