#ngscience #groups #adaptations
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Advantages of animals forming and living in groups.
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Animals can be found in all regions of the Earth – from the icy Antarctic to the open plains of the Serengeti. To help them survive in their environment, many animals form groups.
What are some animals that form groups? How does forming a group help them survive?
Some animals that live in cold habitats form groups to stay warm. Emperor penguins live in one of the coldest habitats on Earth – the Antarctic. Temperatures get as low as –50°C (–58°F) and there are very strong winds.
The penguins huddle together in large groups to keep warm. The penguins rotate between being on the inside of the group, where it is the warmest to the outside of the group, where it is the coldest.
When animals form groups, they can increase their chances of finding food. It may also allow them to gather more food than they would as individuals.
Groups of insects such as ants and bees are able to search for food over a large area. When members of the group find a rich source of food, they signal to other members of the group, directing them to the food source.
When a lion pack catches and kills its prey, the food is shared with all the members of the group.
In the African savanna, lions often prey on elephants. In the photograph above, two lions watch on as a group of elephants walk by. While the lions may be able to catch an elephant on its own, they cannot take on the whole group. There is a greater risk of getting injured or killed by other elephants in the group. Staying in a group keeps the elephants safe.
Forming groups also gives animals a greater chance of survival during fights with other animals of the same kind.
Another way that forming groups helps animals stay safe is by keeping a lookout for predators. As a group, the animals are able to spot predators faster and warn other group members of danger. This gives the animals in the group more time to flee or defend themselves as a group.
Imagine a young zebra being chased by a lion. The lion is much stronger and faster than the young zebra and it would not take much time before it’s caught. Most zebras however, move in large groups. Evading predators as a group increases each individual animal’s chance of survival. Large groups also confuse the predator and make it harder to focus on just one animal.
Many types of fish move about in large schools. They swim and change direction in coordinated movements. This makes it difficult for predators like sharks and dolphins to catch them.
Living in large groups often makes it easier for animals to find a mate and reproduce. Older members of the group can also help in raising each other’s young. This allows time for different members of the group to go off in search of food, knowing their young are kept safe.
Living in groups also helps the young animals learn from other members of the group. They may learn to hide from predators or hunt for food. Young animals in groups often play with each other. In doing so they develop the skills they will need to survive as adults.
Many animals hunt for prey in groups. When hunting in groups, different members of the group can take on different roles. The animals in the group may also communicate with each other to increase the chances of catching their prey.
Hunting in groups also allows animals to use the combined strength of the group to prey on animals that are much bigger or stronger.
A cheetah risks being injured if it tries to take down a wildebeest alone. Hunting in a group increases the chance of catching and killing the wildebeest. The catch is then shared among the members of the group.
Usually, an individual ant would not be able to prey upon a large beetle. As a group, ants are able to overpower the beetle and share the meal with the rest of the colony.
Environments around the Earth are constantly changing. They may change from season to season. They may change due to a flood, drought or fire. Human activities can change environments too.
When an environment changes, the types of organisms that live there may change. Some organisms may adapt to the change and continue to survive. Some may move to new places. Organisms that are unable to adapt to the change or move on, may die.
Floods and droughts are extreme weather events that can change an environment rapidly. During a flood, rivers may overflow, blocking the sunlight and air plants need to survive. During a drought there may not be enough water for plants to make food. Some plants may be able to survive in these changed conditions. Other plants may die and regrow if the environment returns to normal.
During floods and droughts animals need to adapt to the changes in water and food. Some may survive and continue to reproduce. Others may flee to new areas. Some animals may not survive.
