Nature Detectives
A friend sees a black squirrel gathering nuts and says, "Look at the black squirrel collecting food for hibernation!"
What TWO mistakes did they make?
The squirrel is actually a gray squirrel with black fur, and squirrels do not hibernate.
What is the difference between an endotherm and an ectotherm?
Endotherms produce their own body heat, while ectotherms rely on outside heat sources.
Why do deciduous leaves change colour in autumn?
Less daylight and cooler temperatures cause chlorophyll to break down.
What is bounding flight?
Birds alternate between flapping and gliding to save energy
What does aestivation mean?
- Short term dormancy
- Help conserve energy and water
Why is Orange Jewelweed called "Touch-Me-Not"?
Its seed pods burst when touched.
What type of winter dormancy do most insects perform?
Supercooling
What does "deciduous" mean?
Trees and shrubs that seasonally lose their leaves
What is Gloger's Rule about colour?
Animals in colder northern climates are lighter in colour compared to animals in warmer southern climates
What does migration mean? Name one animal that migrates
Animals that move to another region as seasons change
Animals that migrate
- Canada Geese
- Arctic Terns
- Monarch butterflies
- Caribou
- Gray whales & Humpback whales
What skin irritation can Jewelweed help soothe?
Poison Ivy
Which frogs can survive freezing through freeze tolerance?
Chorus frogs, Spring Peepers, Gray Tree Frogs, and Wood Frogs
What does "coniferous" mean?
Trees that produce cones and usually have needles or scale-like leaves.
What is Allen's Rule about body shape?
Animals in colder northern climates have smaller extremities compared to animals in warmer southern climates
Explain what desiccation means
When plants are at risk of dying due to hot or cold temperatures
What happens if Wild Parsnip sap gets on your skin and is exposed to sunlight?
It can cause painful skin burns or blisters.
Name an animal that is a true hibernator?
Groundhogs, chipmunks, hedgehogs
What is the process called when a plant becomes cold hardy?
Acclimation
What does Bergmann's Rule about Body Shape state?
Animals in colder northern climates are larger/rounder than related animals in warmer southern climates
What does abiotic mean? Give one example
Non-living things that affect the chances of survival.
Examples: temperature, shelter, weather, water, sunlight
Name three polar bear adaptations
Blubber, thick fur, black skin
Name a physiological adaptation that helps polar bears survive Arctic winter
- Thick blubber
- Thick insulating fur
- Black skin that absorbs heat
Explain what cold hardiness is
Cold hardiness is when plants allow ice to form between but not within cells and survive.
(This term is the same as freeze tolerance in animals)
If you were a bird or mammal that decided to stay and be winter-active, how might you behaviourally or physiologically adapt for the cold?
- Fur and feathers
- Fat
- Colour
- Body Shape
- Body Design
- Behaviour
What does biotic mean?
Living organisms (anything alive - plants, animals, humans)