WEEK 6

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Adaptation
SCIENCE 9 Living Things and Their Environment
Lesson: Species Extinction and adaptation
MELC 4: Relate species extinction to the failure of populations of organisms to adapt to abrupt
changes in the environment.

Lesson Objectives:
At the end of the discussion, learners will be able to:

 identify and describe the different types pf biodiversity

QQ  explain the importance of biodiversity
 point out and explain the main causes of biodiversity loss
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WEEK 6
SCIENCE 9 Living Things and Their Environment
Lesson: Species Extinction and adaptation
MELC 4: Relate species extinction to the failure of populations of organisms to adapt to abrupt
changes in the environment.

Overview
This lesson will relate species extinction to the failure of populations or organisms to adapt to abrupt
changes in the environment.
Extinction happens when the last member of the species dies. A species becomes extinct if it can no
longer adapt to changes in the environment and consistently compete with other organisms in its environment.

QQ Dinosaurs were dominant

species during the Cretaceous period
UU millions of years ago.
AA
RR THINK THIS OVER:
1. Cite at least 3 things that you know
TT about the extinction of the dinosaurs.
EE 2. What do you think will happen if
dinosaurs still exist today?
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Velociraptor meaning "swift seizer“, believed to exists approximately 75 to 71 million years ago during
the latter part of the Cretaceous Period; roughly the size of a turkey.
WEEK 6
SCIENCE 9 Living Things and Their Environment
Lesson: Species Extinction and adaptation
MELC 4: Relate species extinction to the failure of populations of organisms to adapt to abrupt
changes in the environment.

Types of Biodiversity
Biodiversity pertains to the number and variety of living organisms in an area.
 Species diversity pertains to the variety as well as
relative abundance of species within a region.
(Example: species of fish)

QQ  Genetic diversity pertains to the variations of genes

UU within a species, the difference in the genetic makeup
(genotype) between distinct species or the variability in
AA the genetic makeup of a given species. (Example:
RR varieties of hibiscus flower)
TT  Ecosystem diversity is the variation of groups among
EE organisms in different physical settings. Different
RR settings favor different communities of species.
Ecosystems vary in terms of species composition,
physical conditions and physical structures and
11 activities.

WEEK 6
SCIENCE 9 Living Things and Their Environment
Lesson: Species Extinction and adaptation
MELC 4: Relate species extinction to the failure of populations of organisms to adapt to abrupt
changes in the environment.

Biodiversity Loss
Biodiversity loss is one of the pressing issues of our time and a worldwide concern. Scientist can determine
that biodiversity is being lost if there is a continuous extinction of species, loss of specific habitats and a
decrease or loss in the genetic variations within a species.

 Extinction of Species
QQ Extinction means that the last organism belonging to a particular species is gone and there is no one left to
reproduce.
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AA  Loss of Specific Habitats
Habitat is the place where an organisms live. It provides the necessary elements of life- food, shelter, etc. To
RR have a better estimate of species diversity, scientists take into account the size of the area and the number of
TT species a habitat can accommodate.
EE  Loss of Genetic Variations within a Species
RR Genetic variation plays an important role in the survival and the ability of the species to adapt to changing
environments. The higher the genetic variation is among the species, the greater the chance of the species to
11 survive. Species with less genetic variations are at a greater risk of being eliminated because of their
inability to cope with the changing environment.

WEEK 6
SCIENCE 9 Living Things and Their Environment
Lesson: Species Extinction and adaptation
MELC 4: Relate species extinction to the failure of populations of organisms to adapt to abrupt
changes in the environment.

Natural Causes of Extinction

1. Climatic Heating and Cooling

Climate Change is caused by a

number of things. The effect that climate has on
extinction is very big. The biodiverse Earth can't
QQ keep up with the rapid changes in temperature
and climate.
UU
AA The species are not used to severe
RR weather conditions and long seasons, or a
changing chemical make-up of their
TT surroundings. As more species die, it is only
EE making it more difficult for the survivors to find
food. The warmer climates we are used to in the
RR present time are perfect for diseases and
epidemics to thrive.
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WEEK 6
SCIENCE 9 Living Things and Their Environment
Lesson: Species Extinction and adaptation
MELC 4: Relate species extinction to the failure of populations of organisms to adapt to abrupt
changes in the environment.

Natural Causes of Extinction

2. Changes in Sea Levels or Currents

The changes in sea levels and

currents is a result, in part, of the melting
freshwater. The denser, saltier water sinks and
QQ forms the currents that marine life depends
on. Ocean floor spreading and rising also
UU affects sea level.
AA
RR can displaceAa small rise in the ocean floor
lot of water onto land that is
TT already occupied. The gases from the
EE volcanic activity can also be absorbed by the
water, thus changing the chemical
RR composition, making it unsuitable for some
life.
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WEEK 6
SCIENCE 9 Living Things and Their Environment
Lesson: Species Extinction and adaptation
MELC 4: Relate species extinction to the failure of populations of organisms to adapt to abrupt
changes in the environment.

Natural Causes of Extinction

3. Asteroids/Cosmic Radiation

Asteroids hit the earth with

extreme force. The reverberations can be
felt around the world. The impact site is
QQ completely destroyed.
Cosmic Radiation is radiation
UU being emitted from outer space and the Sun.
AA It is hypothesized that being exposed to too
much cosmic radiation can mutate genes,
RR which can potentially weaken a species'
TT genepool in the future. Since the radiation
comes from space and the Sun, it is
EE extremely difficult to avoid the radiation.
RR Supernova remnants is one source of cosmic
radiation.
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WEEK 6
SCIENCE 9 Living Things and Their Environment
Lesson: Species Extinction and adaptation
MELC 4: Relate species extinction to the failure of populations of organisms to adapt to abrupt
changes in the environment.

Natural Causes of Extinction

4. Acid Rain

Acid rain forms when sulfur

dioxide and/or nitrogen oxides are put out
into the atmosphere. The chemicals get
QQ absorbed by water droplets in the clouds,
and eventually fall to the earth as acid
UU precipitation.
AA
Acid rain increases the acidity
RR of the soil which affects plant life. It can
TT also disturb rivers and lakes to a possibly
EE lethal level.
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WEEK 6
SCIENCE 9 Living Things and Their Environment
Lesson: Species Extinction and adaptation
MELC 4: Relate species extinction to the failure of populations of organisms to adapt to abrupt
changes in the environment.

Natural Causes of Extinction

5. Disease/Epidemic

Each species has defense mechanisms like immunities and the ability to fight disease. With the changing climate
and landscape certain species are losing their ability to fend off disease. They are becoming more susceptible to
disease and epidemics, which can lead to their eventual extinction.
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WEEK 6
SCIENCE 9 Living Things and Their Environment
Lesson: Species Extinction and adaptation
MELC 4: Relate species extinction to the failure of populations of organisms to adapt to abrupt
changes in the environment.

Natural Causes of Extinction

6. Climate Change and Global Warming

John W. Williams from UW-Madison suggests that changes in regions such as the Peruvian Andes,
portions of the Himalayas and southern Australia could have a profound impact on indigenous plants and animals.
Williams and his research partners used computer models to estimate how various parts of the world
QQ would be affected by regional changes consistent with the IPCC's climate models.
Their findings indicated that “By the end of the 21st century, large portions of the Earth’s surface may experience
UU climates not found at present and some 2th century climates may disappear.”
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WEEK 6
SCIENCE 9 Living Things and Their Environment
Lesson: Species Extinction and adaptation
MELC 4: Relate species extinction to the failure of populations of organisms to adapt to abrupt
changes in the environment.

Natural Causes of Extinction

7. Spread of Invasive Species

Invasive species invade foreign territory. They use

resources that the other species depend on. Once
competition gets too great, the survival of the fittest
QQ plan will begin, and one of the species, usually the
natural one, will die off.
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WEEK 6
SCIENCE 9 Living Things and Their Environment
Lesson: Species Extinction and adaptation
MELC 4: Relate species extinction to the failure of populations of organisms to adapt to abrupt
changes in the environment.

Natural Causes of Extinction

8. Habitat Degradation
Habitat loss and degradation affect 86% of all threatened birds, 86% of mammals and 88% of threatened amphibians.

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WEEK 6
SCIENCE 9 Living Things and Their Environment
Lesson: Species Extinction and adaptation
MELC 4: Relate species extinction to the failure of populations of organisms to adapt to abrupt
changes in the environment.

Human Causes of Extinction

9. Top Human Causes of Extinction

 Increased human population

 Destruction/Fragmentation of Habitat
 Pollution
QQ  Climate Change/Global Warming

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WEEK 6
SCIENCE 9 Living Things and Their Environment