Adaptation as Key Factors for Species Survival
Adaptation
- the ability of the organisms to respond to changes in the environment
- the set of characteristics the organisms have that improve their chances to
survive in the changing environment
Structural Adaptation
- involves changes in the morphology of the organism
Examples:
● thorns protect the cacti species from being foraged by thirsty herbivores in
the desert environment
● Hummingbird - long, skinny beaks that help them drink nectar deep inside of
flowers
● Giraffe - long neck allows it to reach food sources
● Deer - strong leg muscles of deer help them run up to 30 miles per hour
● Brightly colored flowers - brightly colored blooms of rainforest plants allow
bees and other pollinators to easily see and find them for pollination
● Water lilies - float on the surface of the water so they can easily take in light
● Aquatic plants - has its own air bubble in each leaf that provides the
necessary space for the exchange of oxygen from the water to the plant
Physiological Adaptation
- any function which an organism exhibits as a direct response to an
environmental change
Examples:
● Humans perspire when the environmental temperature gets higher than usual.
● Giant African millipede - makes a poison that it releases through its skin, it
keeps it from being a tasty treat for predators
● Phototropism - plants are able to bend toward the light
Adaptation
- the ability of the organisms to respond to changes in the environment
- the set of characteristics the organisms have that improve their chances to
survive in the changing environment
Structural Adaptation
- involves changes in the morphology of the organism
Examples:
● thorns protect the cacti species from being foraged by thirsty herbivores in
the desert environment
● Hummingbird - long, skinny beaks that help them drink nectar deep inside of
flowers
● Giraffe - long neck allows it to reach food sources
● Deer - strong leg muscles of deer help them run up to 30 miles per hour
● Brightly colored flowers - brightly colored blooms of rainforest plants allow
bees and other pollinators to easily see and find them for pollination
● Water lilies - float on the surface of the water so they can easily take in light
● Aquatic plants - has its own air bubble in each leaf that provides the
necessary space for the exchange of oxygen from the water to the plant
Physiological Adaptation
- any function which an organism exhibits as a direct response to an
environmental change
Examples:
● Humans perspire when the environmental temperature gets higher than usual.
● Giant African millipede - makes a poison that it releases through its skin, it
keeps it from being a tasty treat for predators
● Phototropism - plants are able to bend toward the light
