3rd Grade Science › Argue that in a habitat some organisms cannot survive
Panda: This bear is huge and can weigh up to 300 pounds. It has very thick black and white fur that keeps it warm when it is cold or chilly outside. It primarily eats bamboo but will also eat rodents, grass, and meat if needed. They drink their water from streams and rivers. They take shelter in hollow trees and the holes between rocks.
Sahara Desert: The Sahara Desert is made entirely of sand. It rarely rains and is very dry. There are only a few plants, and they have small leaves. The sand is scorching and moves every time it is touched; when the wind blows, the sand shifts in all directions.
Based on the information provided, how well would the panda survive in this habitat, and why?
The panda would survive very well because it is adapted and has the traits to live in the Sahara Desert.
The panda would not survive because it is not adapted and does not have the traits to live in the Sahara Desert.
The panda would survive less well in the desert than other places because it is not adapted and does not have the traits to live in the Sahara.
There is not enough information to decide if the panda could survive in the desert.
In this habitat, the panda would not survive. The panda has thick fur to protect it against cold weather, and the desert is sweltering, so it would overheat quickly. It's black and white coat would offer no camouflage in the sand, and there is no water source for the panda to drink from. The food sources that pandas rely on are not available in the Sahara. The panda would not survive in this habitat because it is not adapted to live there.
Amazon Rainforest: In the Amazon Rainforest is rains almost every day. There are very tall trees that create a canopy, and the ground of the forest is covered in plants. The plants on the ground try to grow wide or tall to reach sunlight. The very tall trees can block much of the sunlight.
Which animal would most likely NOT survive in this habitat, and why?
A spider would not survive because it would be at risk of getting squished.
A rabbit would not survive because it would have nowhere to hide.
A hawk would not survive because there is nothing in a grassy area for it to hunt.
A parrot would not survive because it would be too loud and pretty.
In this type of environment, it would be tough for a hawk to survive. Hawks hunt small mammals that they spot with their keen eyesight on the ground in grassy fields and open areas. They fly high above, looking for prey and swoop down on them. In a rainforest, it can be dark, and there is limited open space to hunt. It would be difficult for hawks to adapt and find food.
The Sahara Desert: The Sahara Desert is made entirely of sand. It rarely rains and is very dry. There are only a few plants, and they have small leaves. The sand is scorching and moves every time it is touched; when the wind blows, the sand shifts in all directions.
Which organism would NOT survive in this habitat, and why?
A saguaro cactus would not survive in this environment because it is from deserts in Arizona.
A rattlesnake would not survive because there is no prey for the snake to hunt and eat.
A hawk would not survive because there are no open areas to hunt animals.
A deer would not survive because there is nowhere to camouflage itself.
In this habitat, the deer would not survive. Deer need woodlands or tall grass to blend in and camouflage from predators. They have hooves that are not suited to the shifting, scorching sands. The deer would not survive in this habitat because it is not adapted to live there.
Sahara Desert: The Sahara Desert is made entirely of sand. It rarely rains and is very dry. There are only a few plants, and they have small leaves. The sand is scorching and moves every time it is touched; when the wind blows, the sand shifts in all directions.
Bromeliads: Bromeliads grow on tree trunks and branches and wrap their roots around the trees. They need wet habitats to grow well. They have a center portion like a cup or bowl that collects water. Their leaves are waxy, and the water slides into the center. The leaves are long and curved to collect water.
How well would a bromeliad survive in the desert?
A bromeliad would survive very well in the desert. It has all of the characteristics needed to live in this habitat.
A bromeliad would survive less well in the desert. It has some of the characteristics needed to live in this habitat.
A bromeliad would not survive in the desert. It has none of the characteristics needed to live in this habitat.
There is not enough information to decide if the bromeliad can survive in the desert.
When reviewing the facts about a desert and the bromeliad plant, the bromeliad does not have the traits or attributes needed to survive. Bromeliads need trees, a wet environment, and lots of rain. The desert is the opposite type of habitat and not ideal for a bromeliad to live.
Which animal would NOT survive living in or around a freshwater lake and why?
A dolphin would not survive because they are not adapted to living in freshwater.
A trout would not survive because a lake would be too deep for it to swim in.
An alligator would not survive because there is nothing for it to eat in a lake.
A mosquito would not survive because there is no water source for it to lay its eggs on.
A dolphin would not survive living in or around a freshwater lake. A dolphin is an aquatic creature meaning it lives in water, but it lives in saltwater. Dolphins are found in the ocean, not ponds or lakes. A dolphin does not have the right traits to survive living in freshwater.
Which animal would NOT survive living in a saltwater ocean, and why?
A dolphin would not survive because they are not adapted to living in saltwater.
A sea turtle would not survive because they are not adapted to living in saltwater.
An orca would not survive because they are not adapted to living in saltwater.
An alligator would not survive because they are not adapted to living in saltwater.
An alligator would not survive living in the saltwater ocean. An alligator is an aquatic creature meaning it lives in water, but it lives in freshwater. Alligators are found in ponds, swamps, or lakes. An alligator does not have the right traits to survive living in saltwater.
Jackson wants to get a pet lizard for his bedroom. He has a tank with sand, a small water bowl, a heat lamp, and low humidity. He goes to the pet store with his brother to pick one out. The lizards come from many different habitats and have special needs that must be met. Which habitat should Jackson NOT get a lizard from for the type of tank he has?
A cold habitat
A humid habitat
A wet habitat
All of the answer choices are correct
None of the answer choices are correct
Jackson's tank is not humid, cold, or wet, so any lizards from those types of habitats would not survive. Jackson needs to find a lizard that requires the kind of tank he has. It must be able to live in low humidity, high temperatures, and on the sand with limited water.
Some organisms cannot survive in a habitat that has had members removed.
True
False
The statement is true. If the primary food source has been removed from an environment, some of the organisms will not survive. An example is if ants were to be removed from the forest, there would be an adverse chain reaction. Anything that eats ants would need to adapt or face starvation. If they could not adapt and died, this would start the next wave of changes to the habitat because another food source is gone. Some organisms will not survive a slight shift in the ecosystem.
A sunflower plant can survive in all types of environments and habitats.
True
False
The statement in the question is false. Sunflowers are adapted to live in specific areas based on their roots, pollination requirements, water intake, water storage, and sunlight requirements. If moved to an area that does not have the conditions necessary to meet the plant's needs, it will not survive.
Grasslands - The grasslands in the Northern hemisphere are vast, open terrains with flowers and grass. There is enough rain to support small amounts of trees and lots of grass. The soil is thin and dry, and there are often wildfires. The temperatures range from very cold (in the negatives) to comfortable (in the mid-70's).
Which animal would NOT survive in this habitat, and why?
A polar bear would not survive because the grassland has nothing it needs to live.
A rabbit would not survive because it would get eaten right away by a predator.
A hawk would not survive because there is nothing in a grassy area for it to hunt.
A spider would not survive because it would be at risk of getting squished.
A polar bear would not survive in this habitat because none of its basic survival needs would be met, and it does not have the inherited traits for the environment. Polar bears live on sea ice in freezing habitats and primarily eat seals. They have thick fur and a layer of fat to keep them warm. They are solitary creatures who hunt through openings in the ice. There would be no ice, seals, or constant freezing temperatures in a grassland habitat to support the bear.