Adaptations: Nature's Secret to Preserving Beneficial Traits by jomae sica

Adaptations: Nature's Secret to Preserving Beneficial Traits by jomae sica https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs INSTRUCTIONS: Take your learning outside! Take a walk and look around for living things. Post a picture of a living thing you see, highlighting a specific trait it has which gives an advantage over its competitors within the environment or within its population. Then, describe the advantage in words. NOTE: You must be logged in with Google to post! I will not approve posts that are listed with an "Anonymous" author. en-us 2020-05-14 15:12:56 UTC 2026-01-15 05:41:23 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f9ec.png Example: Rufous Humming Bird Beak jomae_sica https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/572965124 We have been noticing many humming birds around our house while sitting on our front porch. Humming birds have long narrow beaks so they can drink nectar easily from flowers. Also, the size and shape of the beak has evolved to best match the type of flowers in their habitat (Project BEAK, 2020). Humming birds that have long beaks are more likely to get enough food and live long enough to reproduce. If they didn't have this adaptation, they would die of starvation.]]> 2020-05-14 15:21:41 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/572965124 Vine Maple 382964 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/577137324 These trees sprinkled through neighborhoods have special seeds (seen on the ground) that give them a reproductive advantage, they glide and twirl through the air when wind is blowing to spread to further distances allowing trees to grow away from other trees that might be competitors.]]> 2020-05-16 21:39:14 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/577137324 Atlas Cedar (I think) 382964 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/577139342 These trees have a reproductive advantage when it comes to seeds. These trees have seeds that are encased in a hard, spiky-looking cocoon of wood that protects it from insects and other animals that might try and eat the seed. This allows the seeds to have a better chance at surviving and being planted than those without cones.]]> 2020-05-16 21:43:05 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/577139342 Himalayan Blackberry 382964 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/577140678 These blackberry bushes have become an invasive species in Oregon and it's really hard to remove them. Large costly projects have taken place before to get rid of the blackberry bushes, an example being the power-line trails near my house. The reason they are so difficult to remove is because a small piece of them acts like a seed, if you remove most of the bush but not all it'll regrow. If you take the bush away but leave the roots, it'll grow back. Secondly, they're even harder to remove because of the spikes all along the plant. These defenses make it a plant designed to be able to survive almost anything.]]> 2020-05-16 21:45:25 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/577140678 Pill Bug 389433 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/577189312 This bug has adapted to have segmented, armored plates along it’s back to protect from predators (Durr, 2018). It has also adapted to have a darker hue to those plates, to camouflage against a dark environment. In addition to this, pill bugs are known to move very fast. This helps them evade being caught by predators (Millburn, n.d.).

]]> 2020-05-16 23:21:23 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/577189312 Pine Sawyer Beetle 389433 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/577190798 These bugs camouflage well in darker environments, usually building nests in decaying wood. They have adapted to have armor-like bodies and wings to protect from predators and their coat is textured to blend into it’s surroundings (Pine Sawyer Beetle, 2019).

]]> 2020-05-16 23:24:40 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/577190798 Gavin LaMonica https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/577357899 The thimbleberry has adapted to Oregon weather and has a soft texture on the leaf. It is known as nature's toilet paper do to how soft it is.]]> 2020-05-17 06:48:33 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/577357899 Western Grey Squirrel 3735571 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/578333148 Western gray squirrels are highly adapted for climbing trees. Tails are used for balance when running and leaping between trees. The Western gray squirrel lives between 7 and 8 years old in the wild. A squirrels teeth grow continuously.

]]> 2020-05-17 19:28:07 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/578333148 Black-Capped Chickadee 405623 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/578552624 I have seen a lot of chickadees in my backyard recently. One advantageous trait that this bird has is that they have feathers that blend into their environment. Often, they are hard to spot because they blend in with trees, rocks, and dirt. Another type of chickadee is the Carolina Chickadee, which has "grayish-white feathers, and less contrast with the back" compared to the Black-Capped Chickadees (Sibley Guides, 2017). By the Black-Capped Chickadees having a different plumage, they are more fit to thrive in the Oregonian environment than the Carolina Chickadees.]]> 2020-05-17 22:14:22 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/578552624 Dark Green Hosta https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/578667131 This is a hosta plant. It has big and thick leaves that protect it from the elements and living organisms. It seems as though we did not take good enough care of them because some of the leaves have holes in them :( But if the leaves weren't so thick they would probably be completely destroyed. So thanks to adaptations for keeping my back yard beautiful.]]> 2020-05-18 00:16:48 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/578667131 fern 3442121 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/578675858 each leaf on the fern has a lot of tinier leaves that extend outwards. As a result there are a lot of cells that can make energy and the plant can grow.

]]> 2020-05-18 00:26:23 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/578675858 Chipmunks https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/578803895 Chipmunks have developed larger and more elastic cheeks, over generations, and have undergone cranial structure changed to accommodate more food ( nuts and seeds)
This gives an advantage by giving the organism more space to store food when scavenging, to bring back to their Burroughs or to prepare for the winter.
(jon tyson)]]> 2020-05-18 02:39:37 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/578803895 3452722 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/578919189 This is a photo of a lake and this is a big adaptation for ducks.Tho it is hard to see the ducks but ducks love the water so much because that is a place where they take care of themselves and also where there parents are.]]> 2020-05-18 05:02:03 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/578919189 3452722 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/578922068 This is a photo of a bush full of flowers and this is a big adaptation for bees because it is something they can feed their nectar and pollen on. Especially nectar because that is big for bees food and energy.]]> 2020-05-18 05:04:56 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/578922068 3452722 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/578926444 This is a photo of a rose of bushes. The biggest adaptation for this is soil and water because the more soil and water they get produced the more they grow and that is very important for them to feed off of those two things.]]> 2020-05-18 05:09:54 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/578926444 3575531 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/580342943

Pill bugs' main defense mechanism against predators is to run away or roll up into a hard ball. They also can release an odor that intimidates some predators.If they are not eaten or killed in some other manner, roly poly bugs can live for up to three years. Pill bugs natural predators include frogs, toads, newts, lizards, spiders and small mammals.

]]> 2020-05-18 16:03:31 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/580342943 Western Grey Squirrel 3594024 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/580401136 These grey squirrels have fur color that matches the trees in the forest behind our house. This adaptation allows them to better camouflage themselves with their environment so that predators cannot see and hunt them easily. Without this adaptation, the squirrels would be eaten by predators before they could reproduce.]]> 2020-05-18 16:24:45 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/580401136 Gadwall Feather Pattern 374079 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/580508901 The Gadwall Goose's feathers are patterned in such a way that it camouflages with the surrounding leaves and shrubs. This is to protect itself and it's eggs from visual predators. ]]> 2020-05-18 17:04:40 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/580508901 Western Grey Squirrel 374079 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/580555507 The pelt on the Western Grey Squirrel is used to camouflage itself into the patterns of the trees it is on to protect itself from predators. ]]> 2020-05-18 17:22:46 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/580555507 Barred Owl (Strix Varia) 374079 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/580596871 Owls have their round faces to be able to hear sound more acutely by concentrating the sound waves with their feathers and faces (kinda like cupping your hands to your ears). (Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife)]]> 2020-05-18 17:39:52 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/580596871 European Domestic Honey Bee Worker Effectiveness and Altruism 375357 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/580812532 Honey bees are among many hymenopteran species (ants, wasps, bees) that have developed an advanced level of social organization where a single female queen produces the offspring supported by a lower caste of sterile workers responsible for collecting food, building the hive, and caring for the young. Because worker bees are sterile, there is no way for direct natural selection to determine what traits are passed on. However, since worker bees are genetically close to the other members of the hive (75% with other workers, 50% with their queen mother), it is in the interest of a worker bee to support the continuation and well-being of her colony (Central College, 2018). An ineffective worker would make it more likely that her colony fails, which would make it less likely that her mother queen could pass on more of her genes. This is called kinship selection, a type of natural selection. Another way of looking at it is that queen bees who give birth to effective, selfless worker bees will have a higher chance of surviving as a colony and spreading her genes throughout the population (via her male drones) than queens who give birth to ineffective, individualistic workers. ]]> 2020-05-18 19:13:12 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/580812532 Blackberry Bush 470106 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581106507 This is a Blackberry Bush I found while walking. The vines of the Blackberry Bush have thorns to keep grazing wildlife from eating the vines. The Blackberry Bush adapts by having vines that wrap around themselves and everything they come into contact with. This creates a thicket that protects the plant. This helps them adapt and survive in their environment.]]> 2020-05-18 21:54:43 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581106507 Canadian Geese 470106 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581111792 This is a flock of Canadian Geese. These geese stay in flocks for their protection. Canadian Geese are found all over the country and have special features that allow them to survive in their environment. For example Canadian Geese have adapted to walking on land. Geese have adapted to swinging their legs forward, similar to how humans walk. This is why you see a lot of geese walking on land.]]> 2020-05-18 21:58:50 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581111792 Mallard 470106 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581114965 This is a common mallard. An adaptation that the mallard has is camouflage. The female mallard develops brownish feathers that mimic the marshes. The mala mallard adapts by losing the coloration after breeding. This allows the male mallard to have camouflage while he grows back his flight feathers after the ‘eclipse molt’.]]> 2020-05-18 22:01:31 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581114965 Western Grey Squirrel 3533354 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581236397 The colors of this squirrels fur have adapted to its environment. Their dark colored fur allows them to camouflage and hide from predators when necessary. Their back feet also allows them to rotate 180 degrees allowing them see completely behind them and maneuver in specific ways that are helpful for eating and climbing. Squirrels are also constantly chewing and gnawing on rough surfaces that wear down their teeth. This is why their teeth never stop growing allowing them to chew on anything they want.

]]> 2020-05-18 23:51:38 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581236397 Blue Jay 3533354 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581248383 Blue jays have wings that allow them to fly away from predators and swoop down to retrieve food. Their sharp claws also allow them to stand on branches without falling off, these claws also allow them to snatch their prey. Blue jays have hollow bones making them very light and able to fly effortlessly. Blue jays also have thermal insulation and feathers to keep them at a comfortable temperature at all times. ]]> 2020-05-19 00:02:29 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581248383 Black-Chinned Hummingbird 3533354 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581252970 Their long beak allows them to retrieve nectar from flowers. The tip of the beak also has little hairs allowing them to get more nectar. Hummingbirds also have eyes close to the sides of their head to get a full view of whats in front of them and both sides next to them. This helps get a wider view for dangers, predators and prey simultaneously. Their wings allow them to move 200 times per second. Their shoulder joint also allows them to rotate 180 degrees. This helps with quick movements in all directions. ]]> 2020-05-19 00:06:57 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581252970 Baby Bird 3550341 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581276753 Scientists think birds evolved from dinosaurs. Evolution is what causes adaption. Birds can change their colors at different seasons of the year by molting their feathers. Every bird is different in different ways which means different birds adapt to different climates in a variety of ways.]]> 2020-05-19 00:29:06 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581276753 Bird 383100 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581282065 Bird adapt to their surroundings behaviorally and structurally to help overcome environmental This adaption can happen quickly as it comes with basic life skills. ]]> 2020-05-19 00:34:28 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581282065 Ringtail Racoon 3817481 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581321411 The black fur surrounding the eyes of the raccoon or commonly know as the "mask," is there to help reduce glare, and enhance the nocturnal vision of the raccoon when it is dark out. Raccoons are adaptable in many regions. Rural, urban and suburbs, raccoons will adapt to their surroundings. Because they do not have huge preference of what food they eat, it is easy for them to stick with the low variety of food. In the picture below you can see that this raccoon has been feeding off the bird feeder and clearly knows how to get up to it and take the food. ]]> 2020-05-19 01:13:11 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581321411 Douglas Fir Tree 375290 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581396425 Douglas Fir trees are native to the Pacific Northwest and can commonly be found in Oregon. They have thick bark which help them endure forest and brush fires without internal damage (Sharon,2015). This trait is useful as it allows them to survive longer and spread their seeds, which will have more space to grow after an event like a forest fire. This trait will also be useful in today's day and age where we are seeing increasing numbers of forest fires in our area due to climate change. In addition, Douglas Fir trees produce cones which they drop their seeds out of, however, unlike other trees, they release them from the branch to scare off insects which might eat the seeds of the tree(University of Puget Sound, n.d.). This trait helps it survive in environments like Oregon which have insects like Douglas Fir Twig Weevils and Engraver Beetles (Goheen,2018). ]]> 2020-05-19 02:25:35 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581396425 Oak Tree 383124 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581416747 Many species of trees, including variations of oak trees have deep grooved bark, giving them a reproductive advantage of being flame-resistant, so if there were a fire, these trees would be more likely to survive.]]> 2020-05-19 02:45:06 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581416747 Roses https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581424284 Roses have thorns to protect them from predators and from being trampled when they are growing. This is an example of natural selection because it is growing the roses’ lifespan. -Simran]]> 2020-05-19 02:52:26 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581424284 Crab Spiders 345792 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581527806 Something that I have noticed is crab spiders are one of the very few spiders that have the ability to change it's color to not be seen while waiting for it's prey. This is a very useful trait that as allowed them to survive better in specific areas with many flowers. I have even once seen a Crab Spider that has changed it's color to match the color of my fence.]]> 2020-05-19 04:59:17 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581527806 Woodpecker 345792 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581532263 There are many different types of woodpeckers but they all have a common trait and it's there beak. They have increasing strong and sharp beaks that allows them to break into wood and to stop it from getting brain damage it has spongy like skull which absorbs the impact. Lastly, that also have long tongues which allows them to be able to get insects once they break into a tree.]]> 2020-05-19 05:04:14 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581532263 Armadillidiidae 345792 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581536620 They are often called Rollie Pollies but that's due to there real name being very long. The defining feature of a rollie pollie is it's prominent plates which protects it from predators as it can curl into a ball and roll away or just defend.]]> 2020-05-19 05:09:18 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581536620 Callobius Severus/Spider 484584 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581587618 Most spiders make webs to easily catch prey. Webs allow spiders to catch prey much more efficiently and use less energy. Hunting, on the other hand, uses a lot of energy and isn't always successful.]]> 2020-05-19 06:01:56 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/581587618 Woodpecker 451416 https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/582977252 Woodpeckers have had several adaptions that work together so they can get food. First is their beak, their beaks are strong and sturdy with almost a chisel-like tip, allowing for woodpeckers to drill holes into wood. The woodpeckers skull, thick and spongy, prevents them from taking serious damage while drilling holes into trees. The woodpeckers eyes are protected by special membrane that prevent them from popping out of their sockets. And finally, their tongues have a barbed tip, covered in sticky saliva, this helps the birds extract insects from bird holes.]]> 2020-05-19 16:39:30 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/582977252 Wings of winged ant. https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/583420404 Ants and termites swarm to mate, then the males die, having fulfilled their life's purpose. The queens drop their wings to seek a nesting site. So if you see something like looks like an ant with wings, it's likely that it is getting ready to add to its population!]]> 2020-05-19 20:02:10 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/583420404 Bigleaf maple leaves. https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/583926835 The leaf should be open enough to catch sunlight for the photosynthesis process. Also, the sheet should be shaped so that the stomata - the pores - can absorb enough carbon dioxide, which will feed the process.]]> 2020-05-20 03:26:38 UTC https://padlet.com/jomae_sica/fmsba4zfub3mqrrs/wish/583926835