Characteristics Among Species - 3rd Grade Science

Trait variations are changes and adaptations to the characteristics for survival and mating. Male frogs need to attract mates, and they use their vocal calls to get their attention. The variation that would attract the most mates would be to have the loudest cry. This would allow more female frogs to hear the calls and react. Frogs with soft, weak calls would not receive as much attention, and those frogs would receive fewer opportunities to meet a mate.

The statement is true and accurate. Some animals and plants have trait variations that lead them to have advantages with attracting mates. If an animal has brighter feathers or a flower has more colorful petals, they are more likely to be selected for pollination or mating. These advantages put them in a better position than other organisms.

Female ducks usually choose the larger and more colorful male to be her mate because they are perceived to be the best choices. If they are large, it probably means they are good at finding food and can protect her and the ducklings. Ducks have a great sense of color so they can see which male has the most beautiful and healthy feathers. The female ducks want the best chance at their baby surviving, so they look for the most reliable genes to pass on. The biggest and most colorful ducks probably have these genes.

Three of the answer choices are characteristics of the animal that it currently has and aid in finding a mate. If a giraffe had a short neck, it would have a hard time finding a mate. Female giraffes know that their food source is leaves high in the trees, so a short-necked mate would mean their babies could have short necks. If the giraffe has a short neck, it cannot reach food as efficiently and may struggle. The female is less likely to pick a mate who could be seen as weak or give her weak offspring.

Trait variations are changes and adaptations to the characteristics for survival and mating. Male frogs need to attract mates, and they use their vocal calls to get their attention. The variation that would attract the most mates would be to have the loudest cry. This would allow more female frogs to hear the calls and react. A distant call would make the frog stand out against the other males. A muffled cry would NOT help him attract a mate. A muffled call would be hard to hear and not allow the frog to stand out.

Female ducks usually choose the larger and more colorful male to be her mate because they are perceived to be the best choices. If they are large, it probably means they are good at finding food and can protect her and the ducklings. Ducks have a great sense of color so they can see which male has the most beautiful and healthy feathers. The female ducks want the best chance at their baby surviving, so they look for the most reliable genes to pass on. The biggest and most colorful ducks probably have these genes. The duck that the female would be least likely to pick has gray and brown muted feathers and is not ornate or brightly colored in any way. He is least likely to stand out to her.

All of the answer choices are characteristics of the animal that would make it stand out as an exceptional mate. Each of the listed examples provides a trait that has become adapted in the gene pool that makes it an excellent choice for a mate. A large eagle is more likely to survive fights and find food making it ideal. A giraffe tat is skilled at locating leaves will help keep a family alive. A female chicken is charged with caring for young, so if she is a good mother, a male chicken may be more likely to select her as a mate. All of these are trait variations that give the animal an advantage.

The statement is false and inaccurate. Plants do have trait variations that lead them to have advantages with attracting "mates." If a flower has more colorful petals, they are more likely to be selected for pollination. These advantages put them in a better position than other organisms. Plants don't attract mates in a traditional sense, but they still must attract pollinators to reproduce and create new plants.

A trait is a quality, feature, or characteristic that stands out or makes something/someone distinguishable. In the example, the duck has brightly colored feathers. This allows him to stand out, and female ducks will be more likely to notice him. Traits can be physical, like the example or behavioral. They are passed down by parents to offspring.

The daisy does not have a trait variation that gives it a survival advantage. All of the other plants have a defense mechanism, thorns. The cactus, the rose, and the spurred bush all have spikey thorns on the stems to protect the plant from being eaten. This is a trait variation that gives it an advantage over other plants in the area that do not have a way to protect themselves.

All animals in a group are not the same. Animals inherit traits from their parents as well as learn them based on observation and teaching. Over time animals' characteristics will vary depending on their conditions and survival needs. An animal may develop camouflage or other defense tactics to protect itself and keep it from being eaten. As demands for survival change, so do animal traits.

The animal that is demonstrating a trait that gives it a survival advantage is an owl. It is so well camouflaged with the tree that a predator is less likely to see it. Over time animals and plants will have variations in their traits that help them to survive in their specific conditions. The animals or plants that can adapt will outlive those who cannot.

The term variation refers to something that changes or is different. When there is a variation in color or pattern, like in the example, that means there is a change in the shade or design. Animals and plants may also have a variation in traits, which means that over time their characteristics may change or adapt to the environment they are living in to help them survive.

The cheetah is just one of many predators in Africa, hunting for food daily. The cheetah has a variation in its traits that makes it unique and well suited for the environment it lives in and the prey it hunts. The cheetah has developed over many years the ability to run incredibly fast. When hunting gazelles and other fast land animals, the cheetah has to be able to outrun and catch the prey. These high speeds have helped the cheetah survive while other predators have not done so well.

Traits can be learned or inherited and aid animals and plants in survival. Variations are changes or differences. A variation in a trait is a change or difference in the trait. As plants or animals need to adapt to changes in their environment, their characteristics may need to adjust as well. An example would be if insects or animals are eating a plant over many years, it may develop thorns or spikes to keep it from being eaten. This change in structure and traits give the plant a survival advantage.

The saguaro cactus has several traits that give the plant a survival advantage in the desert. Widespread roots, thorns, and a barrel-shaped stem all help the cactus stay alive in the harsh environment. Deserts have very little water, and the saguaro cactus has adapted to survive these conditions.

The saguaro cactus can decrease its water loss, increase water intake, and can store water when needed. The barrel-shaped stem stores water that the widespread roots collect. The cactus has long thorns to keep animals away and prevent them from drinking the cactus' water. These trait variations or adaptations help the plant to survive in the desert.

The first trait variation that gives skunks a survival advantage is their dark fur with the bright, white stripe. This stripe serves as a first phase warning for predators who may be tempted to eat it. The second trait variation involves the odorous spray. If the predator is still not deterred, the skunk will raise its tail and threaten to spray the other animal. If the skunk needs to defend itself further, it will cover the predator in a stream of stinky spray. These defense mechanisms are traits the skunk can use to help it survive.

A skunks fur pattern, fur color, and spray will NOT enable it to catch more prey than other animals. These specific variations allow the skunk to defend itself against predators. These are survival traits that the skunk has adapted over many years.