Animal Survival Behaviors — Reading Comprehension

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Grades

Standards

MS-LS1-4
MS-LS1-5

About This Reader

This passage, aligned with NGSS standards MS-LS1-4 and MS-LS1-5, explores the complex and fascinating world of animal behavior as it relates to survival. Students will discover the differences between innate behaviors, such as reflexes, migration, and hibernation, and learned behaviors, including hunting techniques and tool use. The text explains how internal and external cues trigger behaviors and how natural selection shapes these responses over generations. Rich examples—such as bird migration, salmon spawning, and camouflage—help students connect scientific concepts to real-world situations. The passage integrates academic vocabulary, highlights cause-and-effect relationships, and encourages scientific thinking about adaptation and survival. Glossary, quizzes, writing prompts, graphic organizers, and Spanish translations are included for accessibility. Audio integration supports diverse learners. This resource is ideal for middle school classrooms and supports inquiry into how organisms adapt their behaviors for survival.

CONTENT PREVIEW

Adult African elephant and calf walking side by side in the sunny savanna. by Pixabay

Animal behavior is essential for survival in the natural world. Every day, animals must find food, avoid predators, and adapt to environmental changes. Some behaviors are present at birth, while others are learned through experience. Understanding how and why animals behave in certain ways reveals the complex systems that help them survive and thrive.

Innate vs. Learned Behaviors
Many animals rely on innate behaviors, which are instincts present from birth. For example, salmon instinctively swim upstream to spawn, and birds migrate thousands of miles each year without being taught. These behaviors are triggered by cues such as changing daylight or temperature. In contrast, learned behaviors develop through experience. Young lions practice hunting by playing with siblings, and some birds learn to use tools to reach food. Learned behaviors are shaped by trial and error and can be passed from one generation to the next through observation.

Behaviors That Improve Survival
Survival often depends on the ability to respond to both internal and external cues. Internal cues like hunger or hormone levels signal when it’s time to search for food or find shelter. External cues such as changes in seasons or daylight can trigger major behaviors like migration or hibernation. For example, bears enter hibernation to conserve energy during winter when food is scarce. Some animals, like chameleons, use camouflage to blend in with their environment, reducing the risk of being eaten. Behaviors like these increase an animal’s chances of survival and reproduction.

Natural Selection and Adaptation
Over generations, behaviors that improve survival become more common in populations because of natural selection. For instance, if a certain migration route helps birds avoid predators, those birds are more likely to survive and produce offspring with the same instinct. Scientists observe these patterns by tracking animal movements and comparing behaviors within and between species. Quantitative data, such as the fact that about 90% of Arctic terns migrate from the Arctic to the Antarctic each year, help researchers understand the role of behavior in survival.

Animal behaviors are not just fascinating to observe; they are crucial for the survival of species. By studying these behaviors, scientists gain insights into how life adapts and evolves over time, connecting individual actions to the broader principles of biology and ecology.

Interesting Fact:
Monarch butterflies migrate up to 3,000 miles each year, even though no single butterfly makes the round trip—each generation continues the journey!

What is an innate behavior?

A behavior present at birth that does not need to be learned.A behavior learned through experience.A behavior only seen in humans.A behavior that changes every year.

Which of the following is an example of a learned behavior?

Salmon swimming upstream to spawn.Birds migrating when seasons change.A lion cub learning to hunt by playing.Bears hibernating in winter.

According to the passage, what triggers hibernation in bears?

Migration routes.External cues like cold weather and less food.Learning from other bears.Daylight increasing in summer.

What is the main purpose of camouflage in animals?

To attract mates.To blend in and avoid predators.To find more food.To migrate farther.

What does the word 'internal cues' mean as used in the passage?

Signals from inside the animal’s body, like hunger.Signals from the environment.Behaviors learned from parents.Behaviors that animals do not use anymore.

In the context of the passage, what does 'natural selection' mean?

When animals choose their own food.The process where helpful traits become more common over generations.A type of animal migration.A learned behavior passed between generations.

Why do scientists collect quantitative data about animal behavior?

To compare animal behaviors and understand survival strategies.To teach animals new behaviors.To make animals migrate.To increase the number of predators.

If a bird species changes its migration route to avoid new predators, what is this an example of?

An innate behavior only.Natural selection allowing adaptation.A behavior with no effect on survival.An internal cue only.

True or False: All animal behaviors are learned.

TrueFalse

True or False: Monarch butterflies complete their migration in a single generation.

TrueFalse