Activities

1. Define behavior.
   
   
2. Define response.

3. Explain how internal stimuli (such as sleep, hunger, and thirst) affect a species survival.
   
   
4. Identify and explain two behavioral responses that help animals adapt to change in temperature.

5. Choose an animal. Assess how its physical characteristics have affected the species’ survival.
   
   
6. Draw conclusions on how certain behavioral responses (such as migration, hibernation, defense) can affect the survival of a species. Give specific examples.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Behavior describes an organism’s response to stimuli in its environment.
   
   
2. A response is an organism’s reaction to stimuli.

3. Most animals need to meet their needs of sleep, hunger, and thirst to survive.  Animals need energy from food to survive. If food is scarce, or absent, animals may die of hunger. Since animal’s bodies are composed of water, they need to consume water to allow their cells to carry out their life functions. Dehydration could also affect survival.  Sleep is required to keep bodies functioning properly. Inappropriate amount of sleep could also affect an organisms ability to survive.
   
   
4. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:

• Shivering- an involuntary response in response to cold. Shivering transforms energy into heat.
• Shedding- removal of fur or feathers to provide a cooling affect for animals in warmer weather.
• Sweating- eliminates excess body heat. Animals feel cooled off when sweat evaporates.

5. Acceptable responses must include:

• Identification of an animal.
• Description of how its physical characteristics affect its survival.

Sample Response: A giraffe has several physical features which impacts the survival of its species. Giraffes have a long neck, which allow them to see predators at far distances. Their long necks also allow giraffes to feed from high up tree branches, and their long strong tongues also contribute to their feeding practices. Their tall height makes it more difficult for predators to take them down. Their long, strong legs help them run from prey and walk long distances. Giraffes have two eyelids which offer protection and keep their eyes clean in the dry Savannah.

6. Acceptable responses must include:

• Identification of a behavioral response.
• Description of how this can impact a species survival, including specific examples.

Sample response:  Defense mechanisms help animals adapt to their surroundings, oftentimes providing protection from predators. Some animals, such as chameleons, are able to change color to match their surroundings and hide from predators (or even their prey).  Animals, such as bees, are able to piece potential harm with a stinger. Other animals, such as some snakes, are able to inject poison into other organisms.  Many of the defense mechanisms help the survival of the species because they can cause harm to the predators that are attempting to attack them, and also provides that animal with advantages when approaching prey of their own. If they are able to protect themselves, the individual organisms are able to live and have the potential to reproduce. If they have benefits over their prey, they are supplied with the necessary nutrition they need to survive as well.