GCC Science Anthropology Ecological Niche Task

Your job is to imagine three animals and describe the ecological niche each one occupies, and identify some traits (e.g., features of its body or behavior) of each that are adapted to the particular aspects of its niche.

Make sure you are applying the ideas and terminology from the

Niches and Adaptations mini-lecture

. I have provided the video of this lecture below.

Follow all of the specific instructions below.

STEP 1: FOR ANIMAL #1 WRITE THE FOLLOWING:

NAME OF ANIMAL: Make up and name animaginaryanimal. It can be any kind of animal (mammal, fish, bird, insect, etc.), but make it at least reasonably realistic – no supernatural traits, please. DO NOTresearch real animals for this assignment!

Physical Space:Describe the physical space of the animal’s niche. (Remember, it’s not just a location — it’s the kind of space they occupy in that location.)

Trait: Describe one trait of the animal’s body or behavior and explain how that particular trait is an adaptation to that particular physical space.

Diet:Describe the dietary niche of the animal. (Remember, this means you’re describing what it eats).

Trait: Describe one trait of the animal’s body or behavior and explain how that particular trait is an adaptation to that particular diet.

Active Time of Day: Describe the time of day in which that animal is typically most active. (Please choose — do not say it’s equally active at all times, as that doesn’t work well for this assignment.)

Trait: Describe one trait of the animal’s body or behavior and explain how that particular trait is an adaptation to being most active at that particular time of day.

STEP 2 AND 3: REPEAT THE ABOVE FOR ANIMAL #2 AND THEN FOR ANIMAL #3.

Please vary the descriptions of the niches and do not repeat any of the same traits.