Adaptations (IQ2)

How do adaptations increase the organism’s ability to survive?

Structural Adaptations

relate to size and shape of organism (ie. kangaroos have power leg muscles to hop at high speeds)

Physiological Adaptations

relate to how an organism’s body works (functions) (ie. camouflaging chameleon)

Behavioural Adaptations

relate to the behaviour of animals (ie. penguins huddling together to remain warm)

Fleshy Stems (Plant Adaptation)

A structural adaptation, store water but have reduced leaves - less water loss (ie. cactus)

Sunken Stomata (Plant Adaptation)

A structural adaptation, increase humidity outside leaf therefore reducing water lose (ie. Oleander)

Waxy cuticle (Plant Adaptation)

A structural adaptation, waxy layer tends to reflect heat and also reduce water loss; wax directs water to drip down towards roots (ie. Lilly Pilly)

Leaf Fall (Plant Adaptation)

A physiological adaptation, drop leaves when temperature become high to reduce water loss through transpiration

Rolled Leaves (Plant Adaptation)

increases humidity outside leaf therefore reducing water loss

Leaf folding (Plant Adaptation)

Behavioural adaptation, when a leaf is touched by a predator or insect it can fold in wads to avoid any harm (ie. Mimosa plant)

Evolution

the gradual changes in species over a long period of time → adapted to a specific ecological niche

Natural Selection

process through which evolution occurs

Gradual Process of Evolution

Variation → Selective Reproduction → Inheritance → Gradual Change in Population

Evolution of Finches (Charles Darwin)

Observed beak variations in finches, saw that each species of finches had adapted to its ecological niche, noticed geographical and behavioural isolation due to different islands and different calls

Evolutionary Observations on Aus Flora & Fauna

Unusual compared to other plants around the world, well adapted to environmental conditions (through his theory of evolution), favourable characteristics were passed onto the next generation whilst poorly adapted organisms died out

Specific Observations on Aus Flora & Fauna

Noticed plants in Aus were similar to those in Africa and South America → could be because of continental drift or having similar climates/environments