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Survival Adaptation Planner

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Survival Adaptation Planner

Use the field notes below to investigate how a bilby survives in Australia’s dry inland environment. Then plan a clear, evidence-based mini-poster. An adaptation is a feature or behaviour that helps an organism survive and reproduce.

Field notes: the greater bilby

The greater bilby is a native Australian marsupial found in parts of arid and semi-arid inland regions. It rests during the day in a burrow and usually searches for food at night. Its large ears help release body heat and detect faint sounds. Strong forelimbs and long claws help it dig burrows and uncover food such as insects, seeds and underground fungi. A bilby can get much of the water it needs from its food. Feral cats and foxes prey on bilbies, and habitat loss has reduced their range. Protecting habitat and controlling introduced predators can help bilby populations.

1.Which habitat best matches the field notes about the greater bilby?

A cold, snowy mountain
A dry inland region
A deep ocean reef
A wet tropical rainforest

2.Name two structural adaptations described in the field notes.

3.Match each bilby feature or behaviour to how it helps. Write the correct letter beside each number.

A. Large ears
B. Long claws
C. Resting in a burrow by day and foraging at night

2. Helps detect faint sounds and release body heat
3. Avoids being active in the heat of the day
1. Uncovers underground food and makes burrows

4.Is searching for food at night a structural or behavioural adaptation? Explain your choice.

5.Complete the explanation: The bilby’s claws help it survive because…

6.True or false? The field notes say bilbies get all the water they need by drinking from rivers.

TrueFalse

7.Use one detail from the field notes as evidence that bilbies are suited to finding food underground.

8.Imagine bilbies became active mainly during the hottest part of the day. Predict one difficulty they might face, using information from the field notes.

9.Which action would most directly address one threat named in the field notes?

Remove all native plants from bilby habitat
Protect habitat and control introduced foxes and cats
Encourage bilbies to search for food at midday
Reduce the number of burrows

10.Plan your mini-poster in the box: give it a title, include one structural and one behavioural adaptation, and explain how each helps survival. Add one field-note detail as evidence and one action people can take to help bilbies. Use labelled sketches if helpful.