The Science of Survival

The Science of Survival — page 1

The Science of Survival — page 2 — FINELY TUNED ANIMALS the sun blazes over northern Africa’s Sahara Desert The temperature has soared to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit 38 C It seems as though nothing could survive in this harsh sandy landscape Then a camel comes into view It walks slowly down a sand dune The camel’s thick coat insulates its body to keep out heat from the sun A gust of Camels eyes ears and nostrils have all adapted to keep sand out 5 CHAPTER ONE

The Science of Survival — page 3 — wind blows sand toward the camel’s face It blinks its long eyelashes and closes its nostrils to keep sand out The camel has not had water in almost a week but it is still healthy This desert wanderer can drink up to 20 gallons 76 L of water in one session It uses the water slowly and efficiently It has been several days since the camel has eaten but the hump on its back stores fat The camel’s body turns this fat into energy Changing to Survive Camels are one of many species that survive in extreme environments Tardigrades are creatures 6 Tardigrades Tardigrades are tiny animals They are approximately 0 01 to 0 02 inches 0 25 0 5 mm long But these creatures are excellent survivors In 2007 scientists put thousands of tardigrades on a satellite and launched it into low-Earth orbit When the satellite landed many of the tardigrades had survived the trip to space Tardigrades survive by going into a resting state Their bodily processes nearly stop The animal becomes a tun or dry husk It can stay like this for decades and become active when it comes into contact with water

The Science of Survival — page 4 — Tardigrades can survive the heat of hot springs the pressure of the deep sea and the vacuum of space that can live in sea ice Bar headed geese migrate over the towering Himalayas of southern Asia Giant squid survive in the depths of the sea How do creatures live in these places Like all living species they have adapted Adaptations are changes in a species over a long time Traits that help the species survive are passed down from generation to generation Adaptations can be structural or behavioral A structural adaptation involves changes in something physical such as the feathers on a bird or the fur on a bear A behavioral adaptation is a change in an activity of a population of animals such as birds migrating to winter survive

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