polar bear adaptations

Where do they live?

AlaskaCanada

Greenland

Serbia

Northway

Polar Bears spent their time on..Polar Bears spent their time in land, water

and ice. They love being on the crack of the ice.

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Food supliedPolar Bears eat bearberries in summer.

The bearberries have small leaves, white or pink flowers and berries like fruits.

Food suplied Bearberries can be found North America, Asia and Europe. When the seasons begin to change, the polar bears need to look for different sources of food.

Polar Bears also hunt from water fishes, seals, beluga whales, walruses and narwhals to eat them.

Adaptations are characteristics that help an organism to survive in

its environment and/or reproduce.

Adaptations can be physical or behavioral, but all are involved with survival in an environment.

Physical Adaptations•Fur

•Body shape

•Color

•Protection

Fur

One of the ways that animals are protected from weather conditions is through fur or fat. Many mammals from this area, tundra, also have thick layers of blubber to keep them warm when temperatures are cold.

Body Shape Many tundra birds and mammals are larger and have smaller appendages than similar species in warmer climates.

This body plan allows more heat to remain within the animal where it belongs, and less heat to escape into the environment.

Color

Color is a benefit for many animals because they camouflaged in the snow.

Protection •Many animals have unique adaptations to protect them from predators.

•Deer, elk and caribou have antlers that can be used for defense from enemies. Others may have hard outer coverings that serve as protection.

Behavioral Adaptations•Hibernation

•Protection

•Migration

•Shelter

HibernationTo avoid adverse weather conditions, some animals hibernate, or become dormant during the periods of worst weather

The black bear can withstand up to 100 days without eating, drinking, defacating, urinating or exercising

Protection.

Most animals can protect themselves on a physical and behavioral level.

MigrationMany animals and birds migrate to more moderate climates during the winter.

Shelter

Artic hare and fox take advantage of the snow and build dens for protection against the harsh arctic winters.

Many animals rely on living under the snow for protection. Amazingly, temperatures are less -7 degrees under snow.

In summary…

•Adaptations are characteristics that enable an organism to survive in it’s environment and reproduce.

•Adaptations can be physical or behavioral.

In summary…•All adaptations are related to the environment that an organism lives in. Physical adaptations can include…

Fur

Body Shape

Color

In summary…Behavioral adaptations can include…

Hibernation

Migration

Shelter

Protection can be both a physical and a behavioral adaptation.