Lesson 2: Sensory Adaptations and Communication
Duration of Days: 3
Lesson Objective
Examine the ecological advantages of traits like bioluminescence for communication, luring prey, or defense in low-light environments
How do you see in total darkness? Can you feel a predator before you see it?
HS-LS4-5. Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.
LS4.C: Adaptation
Analyzing how specialized structures support a system’s function.
Sensory adaptations in ecology refer to the specialized, often dynamic, adjustments of an organism's sensory receptors (vision, hearing, smell, taste, touch, etc.) to environmental stimuli over time. These adaptations allow organisms to filter out constant, non-essential background stimuli and focus on novel, critical information, such as potential threats, food sources, or mates.
Explain how sensory adaptation helps a nocturnal animal navigate in the dark. (DOK 2)
Analyze how anthropogenic noise pollution affects the foraging efficiency of bats, citing evidence on their sensory adaptations (DOK 3)
See "Materials / Resources / Text / Speakers" field
Students create a mini-infographic for one sensory adaptation (e.g., Echolocation in Dolphins), explaining the physics of the signal and the biological organ that receives it.