Explain how trait variations give survival advantages - 3rd Grade Science

All animals in a group are not the same. Animals inherit traits from their parents as well as learn them based on observation and teaching. Over time animals' characteristics will vary depending on their conditions and survival needs. An animal may develop camouflage or other defense tactics to protect itself and keep it from being eaten. As demands for survival change, so do animal traits.

The animal that is demonstrating a trait that gives it a survival advantage is an owl. It is so well camouflaged with the tree that a predator is less likely to see it. Over time animals and plants will have variations in their traits that help them to survive in their specific conditions. The animals or plants that can adapt will outlive those who cannot.

The term variation refers to something that changes or is different. When there is a variation in color or pattern, like in the example, that means there is a change in the shade or design. Animals and plants may also have a variation in traits, which means that over time their characteristics may change or adapt to the environment they are living in to help them survive.

The cheetah is just one of many predators in Africa, hunting for food daily. The cheetah has a variation in its traits that makes it unique and well suited for the environment it lives in and the prey it hunts. The cheetah has developed over many years the ability to run incredibly fast. When hunting gazelles and other fast land animals, the cheetah has to be able to outrun and catch the prey. These high speeds have helped the cheetah survive while other predators have not done so well.

Traits can be learned or inherited and aid animals and plants in survival. Variations are changes or differences. A variation in a trait is a change or difference in the trait. As plants or animals need to adapt to changes in their environment, their characteristics may need to adjust as well. An example would be if insects or animals are eating a plant over many years, it may develop thorns or spikes to keep it from being eaten. This change in structure and traits give the plant a survival advantage.

The saguaro cactus has several traits that give the plant a survival advantage in the desert. Widespread roots, thorns, and a barrel-shaped stem all help the cactus stay alive in the harsh environment. Deserts have very little water, and the saguaro cactus has adapted to survive these conditions.

The saguaro cactus can decrease its water loss, increase water intake, and can store water when needed. The barrel-shaped stem stores water that the widespread roots collect. The cactus has long thorns to keep animals away and prevent them from drinking the cactus' water. These trait variations or adaptations help the plant to survive in the desert.

The first trait variation that gives skunks a survival advantage is their dark fur with the bright, white stripe. This stripe serves as a first phase warning for predators who may be tempted to eat it. The second trait variation involves the odorous spray. If the predator is still not deterred, the skunk will raise its tail and threaten to spray the other animal. If the skunk needs to defend itself further, it will cover the predator in a stream of stinky spray. These defense mechanisms are traits the skunk can use to help it survive.

A skunks fur pattern, fur color, and spray will NOT enable it to catch more prey than other animals. These specific variations allow the skunk to defend itself against predators. These are survival traits that the skunk has adapted over many years.

The daisy does not have a trait variation that gives it a survival advantage. All of the other plants have a defense mechanism, thorns. The cactus, the rose, and the spurred bush all have spikey thorns on the stems to protect the plant from being eaten. This is a trait variation that gives it an advantage over other plants in the area that do not have a way to protect themselves.

All animals in a group are not the same. Animals inherit traits from their parents as well as learn them based on observation and teaching. Over time animals' characteristics will vary depending on their conditions and survival needs. An animal may develop camouflage or other defense tactics to protect itself and keep it from being eaten. As demands for survival change, so do animal traits.

The animal that is demonstrating a trait that gives it a survival advantage is an owl. It is so well camouflaged with the tree that a predator is less likely to see it. Over time animals and plants will have variations in their traits that help them to survive in their specific conditions. The animals or plants that can adapt will outlive those who cannot.

The term variation refers to something that changes or is different. When there is a variation in color or pattern, like in the example, that means there is a change in the shade or design. Animals and plants may also have a variation in traits, which means that over time their characteristics may change or adapt to the environment they are living in to help them survive.

The cheetah is just one of many predators in Africa, hunting for food daily. The cheetah has a variation in its traits that makes it unique and well suited for the environment it lives in and the prey it hunts. The cheetah has developed over many years the ability to run incredibly fast. When hunting gazelles and other fast land animals, the cheetah has to be able to outrun and catch the prey. These high speeds have helped the cheetah survive while other predators have not done so well.

Traits can be learned or inherited and aid animals and plants in survival. Variations are changes or differences. A variation in a trait is a change or difference in the trait. As plants or animals need to adapt to changes in their environment, their characteristics may need to adjust as well. An example would be if insects or animals are eating a plant over many years, it may develop thorns or spikes to keep it from being eaten. This change in structure and traits give the plant a survival advantage.

The saguaro cactus has several traits that give the plant a survival advantage in the desert. Widespread roots, thorns, and a barrel-shaped stem all help the cactus stay alive in the harsh environment. Deserts have very little water, and the saguaro cactus has adapted to survive these conditions.

The saguaro cactus can decrease its water loss, increase water intake, and can store water when needed. The barrel-shaped stem stores water that the widespread roots collect. The cactus has long thorns to keep animals away and prevent them from drinking the cactus' water. These trait variations or adaptations help the plant to survive in the desert.

The first trait variation that gives skunks a survival advantage is their dark fur with the bright, white stripe. This stripe serves as a first phase warning for predators who may be tempted to eat it. The second trait variation involves the odorous spray. If the predator is still not deterred, the skunk will raise its tail and threaten to spray the other animal. If the skunk needs to defend itself further, it will cover the predator in a stream of stinky spray. These defense mechanisms are traits the skunk can use to help it survive.

A skunks fur pattern, fur color, and spray will NOT enable it to catch more prey than other animals. These specific variations allow the skunk to defend itself against predators. These are survival traits that the skunk has adapted over many years.