Amazing AIS Adaptations - FLBS · All aquatic organisms have physical, chemical, and behavioral...

©2019AISUnitcreatedbytheFlatheadLakeBiologicalStationandtheFlatheadLakers.FundedbytheMontanaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandConservationandFLBS.

BeAISAwareUnit

Amazing AIS Adaptations

Doyoueverwonderwhichadaptationsmakeanaquaticinvasivespeciesmoresuccessfulthanothers?

¿ GradeLevelMiddleSchool

¿ SubjectAreasLifeScience,EnvironmentalScience,Ecology,andHumanImpacts

¿ KeyTopicsAquaticinvasivespecies,naturalselection,adaptations

¿ DurationPreparationTime:20minActivityTime:2x50min

¿ SettingClassroom(Individual)

¿ SkillsApplyinginformation;Designing;Composing

OverviewStudentswilldesignanimaginaryaquaticinvasivespecies(AIS),andexplainhowAIShavephysical,chemical,and/orbehavioraladaptationsthathelpthemoutcompeteotherspecies.

ObjectivesStudentswillbeableto:• designanimaginaryaquaticinvasivespecies.• explainhowtheirorganism’sadaptationsmakeitinvasive.• writeanadventurestoryaboutanencounterwiththeirimaginaryaquaticinvasivespecies,fromtheperspectiveofanotherspecies.

MaterialsWarmUp/Activity• Computerandprojector• Studentworksheet#1-8• Adaptationcards(22animaland14plant/algaecards)• Coloredpencils

AdvancedPreparation• Copythefollowingworksheets:o Studentwksts#1-4(double-sided;1perstudent)o Studentwksts#5-6(double-sided;coloredpaper;1copyfor

eachstudentcreatingandAISanimal)o Studentwksts#7-8(double-sided;coloredpaper;1copyfor

eachstudentcreatingandAISplant/algae)• Adaptationcardsareorganizedbyhabitat(colordots),byanimals(blacktext),andbyplants/algae(greentext).Pre-selectthehabitatsandorganismsyouplantogivetothestudents.

• Priortoclass,pre-loadtheAmazingAISAdaptationspresentationfoundontheassociatedthumbdriveoronourwebsite:https://flbs.umt.edu/newflbs/k12teachingmaterial

² StandardsNGSS&MTScienceStd.:MS-LS2-2:Constructanexplanationthatpredictspatternsofinteractionsamongorganismsacrossmultipleecosystems.LS4.B:NaturalSelectionLS4.C:AdaptationCROSSCUTTINGCONCEPT(S):PatternsCommonCore:WHST.6-8.4:Produceclearandcoherentwritinginwhichthedevelopment,organization,andstyleareappropriatetotask,purpose,andaudience.

Photocredit:CarlD.Howe(CCBY-SA2.5)

TIP:See“Modifications”foradditionalphotocopyandadaptationcardselectionsuggestions!

AmazingAISAdaptations


BackgroundMontanahasavarietyofaquatichabitatsthatarehometodiversepopulationsofanimalsandplants.Wetlands,rivers,streams,oxbowlakes,spring-fedponds,andlakesrepresentafewofthecommonaquatichabitatsthatsupportournativewildlife.Lakescontainavarietyofhabitatsondifferentscales,andindifferentzoneswithinthelake.Forexample,lakescanbeclassifiedintotwobasichabitats:openwaterandbottomareas.Thesetwogeneralregionsofalakecanbefurthersubdividedbaseduponthedistancefromtheshorelineandthelightintensity/depth.Lightgreatlyimpactswherethealgae,plants,andphytoplanktoncangrowinlakes.Phytoplankton,themicroscopicalgaethatdriftsinthelake,muststayintheilluminatedphoticzoneinordertoreceiveenoughlighttophotosynthesize.Ifthesecellsenterthedarkaphoticzonebysinkinglowerthanthe0.1%lightintensity,theywillnotbeabletosurvive.Similarly,algaeandplantsalongtheshorelinetypicallycannotgrowpasttheilluminatedshallows,orlittoralzone,duetolightlimitation.Incontrast,organismsthatliveonthebottominthebenthiczonedonotalwaysneedlighttosurvive.Forexample,thesnails,crayfish,andwormsthatdwellonthebottomofourlakesareconsumersthathelptorecyclethedetritus(decayingorganicmatter)thatfallstothebottomofthelake.Invasivequaggamusselshavebeendocumentedtogrowalongthebenthiczoneinwaterdeeperthan300feet.Therearealsomanyorganismsthatmovethroughouttheopenwater,orlimneticzone,tohuntforprey(ex.troutandzooplankton).

Eachaquatichabitatalsohasavarietyofphysicalorabioticfactorsthatimpactwheretheorganismscanlive.Watercurrents,surfacewaves,dissolvedoxygen,temperature,chemicalcomposition,waterpressure,waterclarity,andnutrientconcentrationsareafewofthe

manyabioticfactorsthatcanimpactthepopulationsoforganismsinalake.

Allaquaticorganismshavephysical,chemical,andbehavioraladaptationsthathelpthemsurviveinthesediversehabitats.Aquaticinvasivespecies’adaptationsoftenmaketheminvasiveanddifficulttocontrol.Forexample,theAmericanbullfrog’scamouflage,largeeyes,countershading,dorsoventrallyflattenedbodyshape,stronglegs,slimyexterior,voraciousappetite,andhighreproductiveratehelpthemtooutcompeteournativefrogsforfood,andarecausingalargeimpacttothenon-nativehabitatstheyinvadeinMontana.

Littoral zone (shoreline)

Limnetic zone (open water)

Photic zone (light)

Aphotic zone (no light)

Benthic zone

(bottom)



LessonVocabularyAbioticfactor–Anon-livingfactorthataffectswhereorganismsarefoundwithinanecosystem(ex.temperature,light,climate,etc.).Behavioraladaptation–Abehaviorthatcanhelpanorganismsurvive(ex.migration,hibernation,etc.).Chemicaladaptation–Achemicalmadebyanorganismthathelpsitsurvive(ex.apoisonorhormone).Naturalselection–Aprocesswherebyorganismsbestfitfortheirenvironmenttendtosurviveandreproduce.Physicaladaptation–Aphysicaltraitofanorganismthathelpsitsurvive(ex.thechangingfurofanarcticfoxorhare).

Procedure¿ WarmUp(10minutes)

• DisplaytheAmazingAISAdaptationsslideshowontheprojectorandpassoutstudentworksheets(#1-4).• Slide#1:Startoffbyaskingthefollowingtwoquestions:

o Whyaresomespeciesmoresuccessfulthanothers?o Whattraitsdoesthisospreyhavetohelpittosurvive?(ex.hollowbones;sharpbeakandtalons;wing

designtodive,liftbackup,andsoar;countershading;longlegstoreachforfish;greateyesight;etc.)o Leadthediscussiontointroducetothestudentstheconceptthatorganismswithtraitsthathelpthem

survivewillbenaturallyselectedtosurviveandreproduce.AISaregreatexamplesoforganismsthatarenaturallyselectedtosurvivebasedupontheiradaptations.

• Slide#2:Studentsrecordthedefinitionofanadaptation,andtheadaptationsforthezebramusselandNorthAmericanbullfrogontheirworksheet(#1).Reviewtheseadaptationsandremindthestudentsthatthesetraitshelptheseinvasiveorganismssurviveandoutcompetethenativespecies.

• Slide#3:HereinMontana,wehaveadiversecommunityofnativemammals,birds,fish,amphibians,andinvertebratesthatneedfreshwaterhabitats?(orfreshwater?)tosurvive.Eachoftheseanimalshasuniqueadaptationsortraitsthathelpthemsurviveharshwinters,sunnysummers,andtheseasonsinbetween.Studentspickoneanimalandthenlistonephysical,chemical,andbehavioraladaptationthathelpsitsurvive.

¿ TheActivity(80minutes)• Slide#4:Montanahasavarietyofcomplexaquatichabitatswhereanimalsandplantslive.Explainthat

eachstudentwillbecreatinganewaquaticinvasivespecies(AIS)thatdoesnotalreadyexist,andthatmustbeabletosurviveinonespecificaquatichabitat.Explainthatanorganismlivingonthebottomofalakewouldneeddifferenttraitsthanonethatswimsfreelythroughoutallhabitats.So,thecharacteristicsthatthestudentsgivetheirAISshouldmaketheminvasiveintheirparticularhabitat.

• Slide#5:Reviewthedifferentlakezonesandhabitatsasthestudentsrecordthemontheirworksheet.• AskthestudentstoreadtheProjectSummary(#2),StoryOutline(#3),andPortrait(#4)worksheetswith

youasyoureaditaloud.Reviewthetworequiredtasksandansweranyquestions.Besuretoexplainthattheirstoryiswrittenfromtheperspectiveofanotheranimalthatencounterstheirnewinvasivespecies.

• Passoutoneadaptationcardtoeachstudent,askthemtorecordthesixitemslistedonthecardinthespaceprovidedontheworksheet,andthencollecttheadaptationcards.o Asthestudentsrecordtheirtraits,passoutoneStoryPlanningworksheet(animal(#5-6)orplant/algae

(#7-8))toeachstudentaccordingtothecardthattheyhavebeengiven.o ReviewtheStoryPlanningworksheetandexplainthatitisaguidetohelpthemcreatetheirorganism.

Thismustbecompletedbeforetheybegintowritetheirstory.• Slide#6:Givethestudentstimetowork!

v OptionalWrapUp(10minutes)• Askvolunteerstoreadtheirstoriesaloudtotheclass.

TIP:Studentswithsimilarhabitatscanworktogethertoincludeeachother’sorganismsintheirstories.



TeacherResourcesAssessmentOptionsHavestudents:• completetheAmazingAISAdaptationsstoryandportrait

asdescribed.• readtheiradventurestorytotheclass.

Modifications• Thereare22animalcards(easytomoderatedifficulty)and

14plant/algaecards(highdifficulty).Werecommendgivingthemorechallengingplant/algaecardstothehigher-levelstudentsinyourclassroom.

• Eightdifferentaquatichabitatsarerepresentedintheadaptationcards.Thecolordotsoncardsreflectthehabitat.Particularhabitatsmaybeselectedtoprovidesomefocusfortheclassorallofthehabitatsmaybeincluded.

• Theportraitworksheetmaybecopiedseparatelyfromtheoutline,especiallyiftheteacherwouldliketodisplaythemintheclassroomwithouttheoutlineontheback.

• Toeasilydistinguishthemfromeachotherwhilepassingthemoutinclass,itishelpfultocopytheStoryPlanningworksheets(#5-6)inonecolorandtheotherStoryPlanningworksheets(#7-8)inanothercolor.

• Studentsmayworkindividuallyoringroupsforthisproject.• Worksheetscanbeenlargedforstudentsinneedoflarger

text.

ExtensionsStudentscan:• builda3-Dmodeloftheiraquaticinvasivespeciesusing

recyclablematerials.• createachildren’sstoryabouttheiraquaticinvasive

species.• animatetheirstoryabouttheiraquaticinvasivespecies.

AcknowledgementsThislessonwasadaptedfromananimaladaptationslessoncreatedbyKimberlyKoopmanatKalaheoHighSchoolinKailua,Hawaii.ManythankstoHilaryDevlinandMeganChaissonfortheircontributionstothislesson.

Commonaquaticanimaladaptations:

Physicaladaptations:- Gills

- Fusiform(streamlined)bodyshapeforopenwaterspecies

- Dorsoventrallyflattenedbodyshapeforbottomdwellingspecies

- Countershading- Webbedappendages

- Scales- Swimbladders- Fins,flippers

Chemicaladaptations:- Chemicaldigestion- Mucousorslime- Poisons/toxins

- Camouflage(proteinsinskin)- Oilyfur

Behavioraladaptations:- Huntingbehaviors- Matingbehaviors

- Evasivebehaviorstoavoidprey

Commonaquaticplant/algaeadaptations:

Physicaladaptations:- Submergentoremergent

- Showypetals- Emergentflowers- Easilyfragments- Floatingleaves- Carnivorous

Chemicaladaptations:

- Poisons/toxins- Planthormones

Behavioraladaptations:

- Phototrophic(growstowardlight)- Gravitrophic(growsdownwards)

- Movementwithflagella



Name WarmUp StudentWorksheet(1of8)

Whatisanadaptation?

Therearethreemajortypesofadaptations.Seetheexamplesbelow.

Physicaladaptations:hollowbonesinbirds,hollowfurinpolarbears,skinflapsonaflyingsquirrel Chemicaladaptations:proteins,poison,snakevenom,melatonin(protectsyourskinfromUVlight) Behavioraladaptation:whalemigration,lizardssittinginthesun,birdmatingdance,bearhibernation Fillintheadaptationsbelow:

Zebramussel NorthAmericanbullfrog

Physicaladaptation(s)

Chemicaladaptation(s)

Behavioraladaptation(s)

30secondbrainstorm…Thinkofaphysical,chemical,andbehavioraladaptationforanotheranimal.

Animal: Physical: Chemical: Behavioral:

Labelthediagrambelowwiththefollowingterms:Photiczone(light) Aphoticzone(nolight) Benthiczone(bottom) Littoralzone(shoreline) Limneticzone (openwater)



Name ProjectSummary StudentWorksheet(2of8)

Allorganismshaveamazingadaptationsthathelpthemtosurviveandreproduce.Typically,onlythoseorganismswithadvantageoustraitswillreproduceandcarrytheirgenestothenextgeneration.Inthisactivity,youwillbeprovidedwithspecificadaptationsforanaquaticinvasivespecies(AIS).Usingthesetraits,youwilldesignanAISthatDOESNOTalreadyexist,ratheracreatureofyourimagination.Lookoverthetworequiredtasksbelow.

TASK1:Writea1-pageadventurestoryfromtheperspectiveofanotherorganismthatencountersyouraquaticinvasivespecies(ex.moose,osprey,beaver,duck,fish,human,etc.).Thisshouldincludetheinvasiveorganism’sname,habitat,physicaltraits,food/energysourceandmeansofenergycollection,reproductionstrategies,dispersalmechanism(s),andanyotherinterestingfacts.Describehowyourorganism’sadaptationsallowittoliveinawiderangeofconditions,growfast,reproducequickly,outcompeteotherspecies,anddisperseeasily.

TASK2:Drawan8½”x11”colorportraitoftheanimalencounteringyourinvasiveorganisminitshabitat.Havefun,becreative,andsurpriseyourclassmateswithyourcreation!

Recordthe5traitsfromyouradaptationscardbelowandthenpickoneextratrait:Habitat:

Physicalfeature(s):

Energy/feeding:

Reproduction:

Dispersal: Pickoneextratraitorbehavior:

ProjectRubric

Exceeds Meets DoesnotmeetStorycontent

¨ Explainsindetailhowtheadaptationsallowittoliveinawiderangeofconditions,growfast,reproducequickly,outcompeteotherspecies,anddisperseeasily.

¨ Describesbrieflyhowtheadaptationsallowittotolerateawiderangeofconditions,growfast,reproducequickly,outcompeteotherspecies,anddisperseeasily.

¨ Doesnotclearlydescribehowtheorganism’sadaptationsmakeitinvasive.

Storyformat

¨ Entertainingadventurestory¨ Perspectiveoftheanimal

encounteringtheAIS.¨ Creative,descriptivetitle¨ Clearbeginning,middle,&end¨ >1pageinlength¨ Neatlytyped(1.5spaced)

¨ Adventurestory¨ Perspectiveoftheanimal

encounteringtheAIS¨ Titleincluded¨ Basicbeginning,middle,&end¨ 1pageinlength¨ Neatlyhandwritten

¨ Adventurestory¨ Titlenotincluded¨ Storyconfusing¨ <1pageinlength¨ Illegibleorpoorly

handwritten

Exceeds Meets DoesnotmeetPortraitdesign

¨ CreativecolorfuldesignshowingtheanimalandAISinitshabitat

¨ Alladaptationsdepicted;labeled¨ Organismnameincluded

¨ SimplecolorfuldesignshowingtheanimalandAISinitshabitat

¨ Alladaptationsdepicted¨ Organismnameincluded

¨ Black&whitedesign

¨ <6adaptations¨ Namemissing

COMMENTS:



Name

Attentiongrabber(Calltoadventure)

Introducemaincharacter

Setthestage(Time,place,mood,engagethe5senses)

Risingaction(Maincharacterfacesaseriesofconflicts)Climax(Maincharacterfacesmajorproblemandamainconflictarises)Fallingaction(Maincharacterfindsawayoutoftheadventure)Conclusion

StoryOutline StudentWorksheet(3of8)Title:



Createdby: StudentWorksheet(4of8)

APortraitof:

Organism’sname

*Includelabelsforthe5traitsfromyouradaptationcard!



Name StoryPlanningSheet–Animal StudentWorksheet(5of8)

Yourtaskissimple:designyourownaquaticinvasivespecies.Describeyourorganism’straitsandhowyourorganismlivesinitsenvironment.Bethoroughbecauseyouwillusethisoutlinetocompleteyourone-pagestory!Besuretoexplainhowyouraquaticinvasivespecies:

Ø GrowsfastandreproducesquicklyØ Spreadseasily

Ø OutcompetesotherorganismsØ Livesinawiderangeofconditions

A. TYPEOFORGANISM

Whattypeofanimal(ex.snail,mussel,crustacean(crayfish,zooplankton),fish,parasiticworm,amphibian,aquaticinsect,etc.)isyouraquaticinvasivespecies?

B. HABITATDescribe,indetail,youranimal’shabitat.Wherespecificallyinthehabitatdoesitlive(shallowwateralongtheshoreline,underrocks,alongthebottomofastream,attachedtosurfaces,withinthephoticzone,driftingwiththecurrents,inthesediment,etc.)?Whichabioticorphysical/non-livingconditions(temperature,currents,light,waveaction,etc.)impactwhereitlives?Whatdoesitdotoincreaseitsabilitytoliveinthoseconditions?

C. PHYSICALFEATURES

Whatdoesitlooklike?Howquicklydoesitgrowandhowbigdoesitget?Howdoesitsenseitsenvironment(eyes,chemoreceptorstosensechemicalsinthewater,electromagneticwaves,etc.)?Howdoesitblendintoitsenvironment(shellpattern,camouflage,warningcoloration,etc.)?Howdoesyouranimalmoveabout?Appendages(limbs/legs),ingroups,alone?Whendoesitneedtomove?Howdoesitusemovementtocatchpreyortoavoidpredators?Isitmoreactiveduringacertaintimeoftheyearorday?Howdoestheanimalprotectitself?Fromwhatdoesitneedtobeprotected?



StoryPlanningSheet–Animal(cont.) StudentWorksheet(6of8)D. ENERGY/FEEDING

Howdoesyouranimalgetenergy?Whatdoesiteat?Howdoesitgetfood?Howdoesitfeeditsoffspring?Whendoesiteat?Howoften?Arethereanyspecialorunusualfeedingbehaviors?Howdoesitcompetewithotherorganismintheenvironmentforlimitedfoodresources?

E. REPRODUCTIONDoesyouranimalreproducesexually,asexually,orboth?Doesithavematingseasonsorbehaviorsitusestoattractamate?Doesituseinternalorexternalfertilization?Doesitproduceeggsorhavelivebirth?Ifso,howmany?Howoftenorfastdoesitreproduce?Doesithavespawninggrounds?Isthereanyparentalcareofyoung?Ifso,howlongdoesitoccurandbywhom?

F. DISPERSAL

Howdoesyouranimalspreadthroughouttheenvironment?Canittravellongdistances?Ifso,how?Canitsurviveoutofwaterforaperiodoftime?Ifso,howlong?

G. OTHER

Pleasedescribeallotherimportantadaptations(traitsand/orbehaviors)theanimalusesforsurvival.Forexample,doesitmigrate,hibernate,orchangeitscolorationduringtheyear?Becreativeandenhanceitsinvasivecharacteristics!



Name StoryPlanningSheet–Plant/Algae StudentWorksheet(7of8)

Yourtaskissimple:designyourownaquaticinvasivespecies.Describeyourorganism’straitsandhowyourorganismlivesinitsenvironment.Bethoroughbecauseyouwillusethisoutlinetocompleteyourone-pagestory!Besuretoexplainhowyouraquaticinvasivespecies:

Ø GrowsfastandreproducesquicklyØ Spreadseasily

Ø OutcompetesotherorganismsØ Livesinawiderangeofconditions

A. TYPEOFORGANISM

Whattypeofplant,algae,orphytoplanktonisyouraquaticinvasivespecies?

B. HABITATDescribe,indetail,yourorganism’shabitat.Wherespecificallyinthehabitatdoesitlive(shallowwateralongtheshoreline,alongthebottomofastream,attachedtosurfaces,withinthephoticzone,driftingwiththecurrents,etc.)?Whichabioticorphysical/non-livingconditions(temperature,currents,light,waveaction,etc.)impactwhereitlives?Whatdoesitdotoincreaseitsabilitytoliveinthoseconditions?

C. PHYSICALFEATURES

General:Whatdoesitlooklike?Howquicklydoesitgrowandhowbigdoesitget?Doesanythingeatit?Doesitproducedefensivespines,chemicals,ortoxins?Plant:Doesitgrowclosetogetherorspreadout?Doesithaverootsthatanchorittothebottomordoesitfloatonthesurface?Isitafullysubmergedplantordoesitpartiallyemergefromthesurface?Whatdoitsleaveslooklike?

Algae:Doesitgrowonthebottom,infloatingmats,orisitplanktonthatdriftswiththecurrents?



StoryPlanningSheet–Plant/Algae(cont.) StudentWorksheet(8of8)D. ENERGY/FEEDING

Howdoesitcompetewithotherorganismsintheenvironmentforlimitedsunlight?Howdoitsleafand/orgrowthpatternhelpittogetasmuchsunlightaspossible?Whatisitsseasonalgrowthpattern?Doesitgrowearlierintheseasonand/oratafasterratethantheorganisms?Doesitshadeotherorganisms?

E. REPRODUCTIONGeneral:Doesyourorganismreproducesexually(withflowers)orasexually(viamitosis,suchasfragmentation),orboth?Whendoesitreproduce(allyear,seasonally)?Howfastdoesitreproduce?Plant:Doesitproduceflowers?Ifso,whatdotheylooklike,howmanyareproduced,andwhendotheybloom?Doesithavetraitsthatattractpollinators?Doesitproduceseeds?Ifso,howmany?

F. DISPERSAL

Howdoestheorganismspreadthroughouttheenvironment?Ifitproducesseeds,howdotheyspread(ex.watercurrents,attachedtobirdfeathers,eatenandthendroppedinfeceselsewhere,etc.)?Doesitfragment?Doesitproducebulbilsorvegetativetissuethatcanpopoffandgrow?Canittravellongdistances?Ifso,how?Canitsurviveoutofwaterforaperiodoftime?Ifso,howlong?

G. OTHER

Pleasedescribeallotherimportantadaptationsortraitstheorganismusesforsurvival.Forexample,doesitformasymbiosiswithotherorganisms,growonthesurfaceofotherorganisms,orchangeit’sgrowpatternduringtheyear?Becreativeandenhanceitsinvasivecharacteristics!

Amazing AIS Adaptations - FLBS · All aquatic organisms have physical, chemical, and behavioral...

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