Have you seen the previous blog post regarding plant adaptations in I/GCSE Biology?

If yes, let's move on seeing animal adaptations! 😎

In I/GCSE Biology, it's crucial that you understand why and how animals stay warm!

Reasons why animals stay warm:

• To survive and grow need to adapt to environment (temp/water)

• COLD ➡️ animals need to reduce head loss. Thick fur insulates from cold air
• Extra fat gives increase insulation and gives animal energy when food is scarce
• Summer ➡️ animals moult/shed fur – easier to lose heat
• Seals – thick layer of fat – heat loss in water

It's commonly asked in I/GCSE Biology too!

• Little water + hot at day, cold at night
• Small animals – live in burrows (temperature more constant) don’t need to drink water (get from food)
• Kidneys excrete urine – very little water
• Large animals e.g. camels tolerate high levels of dehydration

In I/GCSE Biology, body size and shape of animals also make adaptation to the living environment! For example:

• Birds 🐦 + mammals 🐋 of similar species ➡️ larger + heavier in colder climates

There’s a correlation between body mass and average annual temperature

• Temperature of larger animal will drop less rapidly
• Limbs, tails and ears are longer in warmer climates – act as heat-radiating organs

• Large animal ➡️ large surface area BUT small surface area to volume ratio

References:

1. "GCSE Adaptations", https://www.educationquizzes.com/library/GCSE-Biology/Unit-1---Adaptations-for-Survival.jpg
2. "Boardworks GCSE Science", https://slideplayer.com/slide/6885717/23/images/9/Boardworks+GCSE+Science%3A+Biology+Adaptation.jpg
3. "Surface to Volume Ratios Big animal Small animal", https://s2.studylib.net/store/data/010312407_1-97b1083dbefdef3e6980c69d36bdd5c1.png

And we're done with this topic! Well Done!

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Drafted by Alyssa (Biology)