To survive and reproduce, all living organisms must adjust to conditions imposed on them by their environments. An organism's environment includes everything impinging upon it, as well as everything that is affected by that organism. Conformity between an organism and its environment constitutes what biologists call adaptation.
TASK 1
You have been asked to investigate the unusual reproductive habits of Emperor penguins. Find out about the difficult conditions in which they reproduce. Include the following:
• Describe their habitat conditions.
• Is this external, or internal fertilization? Why do you thing they carry out this type of fertilization?
• When do Emperor penguins reproduce?
• Do they make nests? Why?
• Who has the easier job, the male or the female?
TASK 2
Imagine you are a fish. One of your best friends is a male anglerfish. He has just met the female anglerfish of his dreams. Tell him what to expect on his honeymoon. Explain what is so unusual about reproduction in anglerfish.
• Describe their habitat conditions.
• Is this sexual, or asexual reproduction?
• Why do you thing they carry out this type of reproduction?
The term “biodiversity” refers to the variety of life forms in a habitat, whether it’s a local environment or an entire planet. Most of the species making up our planetary biodiversity are still poorly studied or completely unknown.
Check the presentation about biodiversity on Earth. Do you think it has been always the same?
Why is biodiversity son important? Why should we care about a single species? We have many more left... Well, this video explains causes and consequences of bees extinction.
All organisms on Earth: biodiversity.
Think about a bacterium and a frog. They don't resemble each other, but both are living things. Remember: all organisms share three characteristics:
1. We carry out 3 vital functions.
2. We are made up of the same chemical substances.
3. We are made up of cells.
But, as we said, there are other many differences between them too.
As we are many species on Earth, humans have classify all organisms in groups, from the "biggest" one (the biggest one you are studying) KINGDOM, to the smallest one SPECIES.
Today we are learning some characteristics of living things, and how we classify them.
TAXONOMIC SYSTEM
What are the main taxonomic groups?
Use Wikipedia to find out what taxonomy is.
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--> SPECIES
Write an example from Animal kingdom to Homo sapiens species.
What do we use to include organisms in one group or other?
Complete the sentences.
a. The Earth is made up of four interrelated parts or _____________.
b. The spheres in this complex system are called: _______________, _______________, _______________, and _________________.
2. True or false? Say why if false.
a. The geosphere is divided in three main layers.
b. Inner core is liquid.
c. Crust moving plates are in the astenosphere.
LITHOSPHERIC PLATES
The lithosphere is not a continuous layer, it is fragmented into pieces called lithospheric plates, or tectonic plates. They move over the mantle, occuring various deformations as they interact.
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