JAMB Biology Note-Variety of Organisms

Topic

Variety of Organisms

Sub-Topics

1. Structural, Functional, and Behavioral Adaptations of Organisms
2. Adaptive Coloration and Its Functions
3. Behavioral Adaptations in Social Animals
4. Structural Adaptations in Organisms

Table of Contents

• Topic
• Sub-Topics
• LESSON CONTENT
  • • A. Adaptive Colouration and Its Functions
    • B. Behavioral Adaptations in Social Animals
    • C. Structural Adaptations in Organisms
  • Objectives and Adaptation Analysis

LESSON CONTENT

A. Adaptive Colouration and Its Functions

1. Countershading:
   • Found in fish, toads, and snakes.
   • Function:
     • Provides camouflage by creating an illusion of flatness, making the organism less visible to predators or prey.
     • Darker top blends with the environment when viewed from above, while lighter underside matches the brightness of the sky when viewed from below.
2. Warning Colouration:
   • Seen in organisms like mushrooms, certain frogs, and insects.
   • Function:
     • Bright colors (red, orange, yellow) signal toxicity or unpalatability, deterring predators.
     • Example: Poison dart frogs, Amanita mushroom species.

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B. Behavioral Adaptations in Social Animals

1. Castes in Social Insects:
   • Example: Termites, bees, ants.
   • Differentiation:
     • Queens: Reproduction.
     • Workers: Foraging, nest-building, caring for the young.
     • Soldiers: Colony defense.
   • Function: Ensures division of labor, promoting colony efficiency and survival.
2. Thermoregulatory Behavior:
   • Basking in lizards:
     • Absorbs heat to regulate body temperature in cold environments.
   • Hibernation:
     • Reduced metabolic activity to survive cold seasons.
   • Aestivation:
     • Dormancy during hot, dry periods to conserve water and energy.
3. Territorial Behavior:
   • Seen in animals like birds, lions, and wolves.
   • Function:
     • Protect resources (food, mates, nesting sites) by marking or defending a territory.

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C. Structural Adaptations in Organisms

1. Obtaining Food:
   • Birds:
     • Beak shapes adapted to diet (e.g., curved beaks in hawks for tearing flesh, long beaks in hummingbirds for nectar).
     • Leg structure supports foraging methods (e.g., wading legs in herons, grasping legs in birds of prey).
   • Insects:
     • Mosquito: Piercing and sucking mouthparts.
     • Butterfly/Moth: Proboscis for sucking nectar.
2. Protection and Defence:
   • Stick insects: Mimicry to resemble twigs, blending with their surroundings.
   • Praying mantis: Camouflage and powerful forelegs for defense and predation.
   • Toad: Toxic secretions and bumpy skin for predator deterrence.
3. Securing Mates:
   • Agama lizards:
     • Males display bright red heads during mating to attract females.
   • Birds:
     • Feather displays and elaborate courtship dances to impress potential mates.
4. Regulating Body Temperature:
   • Skin: Sweat glands in mammals for cooling.
   • Feathers: Insulation in birds to trap heat.
   • Hairs: In mammals for insulation, piloerection helps conserve heat in cold conditions.
5. Conserving Water:
   • Plants:
     • Spines in cacti reduce water loss and provide shade.
   • Mammals:
     • Scales in reptiles and certain mammals (e.g., pangolins) minimize water loss by reducing skin permeability.

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Objectives and Adaptation Analysis

1. Describing Structures, Functions, and Behaviors:
   • Organisms adapt by evolving specific physical structures (e.g., specialized beaks, scales, spines) and behaviors (e.g., basking, territoriality) to thrive in their environments.
2. Countershading and Warning Colouration:
   • Countershading: Helps organisms avoid predation by blending with the environment.
   • Warning colouration: Deters predators by signaling danger or toxicity.
3. Social Behaviors:
   • Division of labor in social insects enhances colony survival.
   • Thermoregulatory and territorial behaviors enable survival in fluctuating environmental conditions.
4. Adaptation Categories:
   • Obtaining Food: Structures like beaks, legs, and mouthparts are adapted for specific diets.
   • Protection and Defense: Camouflage and toxic secretions provide safety.
   • Mating: Physical displays and behaviors secure reproduction.
   • Temperature Regulation: Feathers, hairs, and behavioral adaptations maintain body heat.
   • Water Conservation: Structural features like spines and scales help in arid environments.