Name____________________________

Ecosystems and Adaptations

1. All animals and plants have adaptations. What are adaptations? ______________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

2. Describe two adaptations that humans have.

a. ___________________________________________________________________________

b. ___________________________________________________________________________

3. In 1974 a volcano erupted in the ocean and a brand new island called Surtsey was born. Now many things live on the island.

What kind of organism would have to settle on the island before any others? Explain why it would have to be first.

4. Hundreds of years ago the area that is now Missouri was in an Ice Age. Temperatures were extremely cold. The land was covered with heavy snow for months every year.

It is always possible that another Ice Age will happen again in Missouri. If it does, many animals that live here now would not be able to survive. On the other hand, some Missouri animals have adaptations that would make it easier for them to survive in the cold and heavy snow.

Here is a list of animals that now live in Missouri:

deer salamanders

mice crickets

coyotes mosquitoes

lizards cows

eagles horses

foxes snakes

squirrels rabbits

Choose one animal that now lives in Missouri that could survive an Ice Age. Fill in the chart below to show how its adaptations would help it be successful.

The animal I choose: _______________ Adaptation How the adaptation will help it in an Ice Age

5. Four friends visited an island. The island was far away from the mainland. No humans lived on the island. The friends talked about what would happen if all the plants disappeared on the island. This is what they said:

Harry: I think all the animals on the island would eventually die.

Jeff: I think the animals that eat plants would eventually die but the animals that eat both plants and animals would live.

Sally: I think only the predators on the island would live.

Misha: I think eventually all the animals on the island will become meat eaters and they will survive without plants.

Which friend do you agree with the most? _________________

Explain why you agree: