Basic Science and Technology - Junior Secondary 2 - Adaptation of living things to their habitat

TERM: 1^ST TERM

WEEK: 2

CLASS: Junior Secondary School 2

AGE: 13 years

DURATION: 40 minutes each for 2 periods

DATE:

SUBJECT: Basic Science

TOPIC: Adaptation of living things to their Habitat

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, the learners should be able to

1.) List and explain the factors that affect living organisms

2.) Outline the features that help organisms to survive in a particular habitat

3.) State and explain the components of a habitat

4.) Discuss the adaptation of animals and plants in aquatic habitat

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions and answers, demonstration, story-telling, videos from source

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Recommended Basic Science textbooks for Junior Secondary School 2

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES: PERIOD 1-2:

NOTE

ADAPTATION OF LIVING THINGS TO THEIR HABITAT

Factors that Affect Living Organisms

Living organisms are affected by a variety of factors in their environment. These factors can be broadly categorized into abiotic and biotic factors:

Abiotic Factors: These are the non-living components of an environment that influence organisms. They include:

• Temperature: The degree of heat can influence metabolic rates and reproductive cycles of organisms.
• Water: Water availability and salinity impact the survival and growth of organisms, especially in aquatic environments.
• Light: Sunlight is essential for photosynthesis in plants and affects the behavior and development of organisms.
• Soil Composition: The type of soil (e.g., sandy, clay, loamy) affects plant growth and the organisms dependent on them.
• Air Quality: The presence of pollutants, oxygen, and carbon dioxide levels influence the health of organisms.
• Humidity: The amount of moisture in the air can affect organisms' physiological processes, such as transpiration in plants and respiration in animals.

Biotic Factors: These are the living components that affect organisms, including:

• Predation: The interaction between predators and prey can influence population sizes.
• Competition: Organisms compete for resources like food, space, and mates.
• Symbiosis: The interaction between different species, including mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism.
• Disease: Pathogens can reduce population sizes and impact biodiversity.

Features that Help Organisms to Survive in a Particular Habitat

Organisms have developed various features (adaptations) that help them survive in their respective habitats. These features are the result of evolutionary pressures that favor traits beneficial for survival. These adaptations can be:

Structural Adaptations: Physical features that help organisms survive. Examples include:

• Camouflage: Some animals have colors or patterns that help them blend into their environment (e.g., snowshoe hares in snow).
• Body Shape: Streamlined bodies in fish help them swim efficiently in water.
• Specialized Appendages: The long neck of a giraffe allows it to reach high foliage in trees.

Behavioral Adaptations: These are actions or behaviors that help survival:

• Migration: Birds migrate to find food or better climate conditions.
• Hibernation: Some animals, like bears, hibernate during cold seasons to conserve energy.

Physiological Adaptations: These are internal processes that help organisms survive:

• Thermoregulation: Some animals, like camels, are able to conserve water and regulate body temperature in extreme heat.
• Photosynthesis: Plants in shaded environments, such as rainforest plants, have adaptations to make the most of limited light.

Components of a Habitat

A habitat is the natural environment where an organism lives, and it consists of both abiotic and biotic components:

Abiotic Components:

• Climate: The overall weather patterns, including temperature and precipitation, that define the habitat.
• Water Availability: The presence and accessibility of water sources.
• Soil: The composition, structure, and fertility of the soil determine the types of plants and organisms that can thrive in the area.

Biotic Components:

• Plants: Primary producers in the food chain that provide oxygen and food.
• Animals: Various species that may act as consumers, predators, or prey within the food chain.
• Microorganisms: Bacteria and fungi play vital roles in decomposition and nutrient recycling.

Habitat Structures:

• Shelter: Locations where organisms can find protection or a safe environment, such as burrows or nests.
• Niches: The role of an organism in its habitat, including how it gets its food and how it interacts with other organisms.

Adaptation of Animals and Plants in Aquatic Habitats

Aquatic habitats (e.g., oceans, rivers, lakes) present unique challenges, including varying levels of salinity, temperature, oxygen availability, and water currents. Organisms in these habitats have developed various adaptations:

• Adaptations in Aquatic Animals:
• Gills: Fish and other aquatic animals have gills to extract oxygen from water.
• Streamlined Body: Many aquatic animals, such as fish and dolphins, have streamlined bodies that reduce drag and help them move efficiently through water.
• Buoyancy Control: Marine animals like whales and fish have specialized structures like blubber or swim bladders that help maintain buoyancy and stability.
• Salt Regulation: Organisms in salty environments (like fish in the ocean) have specialized organs to excrete excess salt and retain necessary water.
• Adaptations in Aquatic Plants:
• Aerenchyma Tissue: Many aquatic plants, such as water lilies, have specialized tissues that allow them to float and receive oxygen, even when submerged.
• Root Structures: Some aquatic plants have adapted floating or deep-rooting systems to anchor themselves or obtain nutrients from the water.
• Stomatal Regulation: Aquatic plants regulate stomata to prevent water loss or excessive absorption.
• Flexibility: Some aquatic plants, like seagrasses, have flexible stems to withstand water currents

EVALUATION:

1. How do abiotic factors such as temperature and water availability impact the survival of organisms in a given habitat?
2. What are the key structural, behavioral, and physiological adaptations that help animals survive in extreme environments, such as deserts or deep oceans?
3. How do the components of a habitat interact with each other to support the organisms living within it?
4. In what ways do aquatic plants and animals adapt to challenges such as oxygen scarcity and varying salinity in their habitats?
5. What role do microorganisms play in maintaining the balance and health of a habitat, and how do they interact with plants and animals?

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher marks their books and commends them positively