Science Year 5 - Unit 2 Survival of the Species

Mammoths and dinosaurs are examples of animals that no longer exist. Is it because of their gigantic size? Elephants look similar to mammoths. Why are they still surviving? Rafflesia is an example of a plant species found in Malaysia that is facing extinction. Why? How do animals and plants ensure the survival of their species?

1. Animals take care of their eggs and young to ensure the survival of their species.
2. Plants disperse seeds and fruits to ensure survival of their species.
3. Shortage of food can cause extinction of species. 

Animals and plants need food to survive. One animal species is a source of food to another. For example, eagles eat snakes. If snakes do not survive, there will be shortage at food for eagles. The eagles may become extinct.

Plants cannot move freely. Therefore, their seeds and fruits need to be dispersed from the parent plants. They are dispersed by wind, animal, water or explosive mechanism. Dispersal of seeds and fruits help to scatter them far away from the parent plants. This helps to ensure the survival of plant species.

Shortage of food can cause extinction of species, mammoths and dinosaurs are examples of animals that no longer exist.