Adaptations (B7)

Adaptations are important as they allow organisms to survive, and thrive in environments that they live in.

Without adaptations, organisms would not be able to live, or reproduce resulting in potential extinction.

Adaptations also help organisms fight against predators protecting themselves from death.

Structural adaptations: The shape colour ect. Of the organism

Behavioural adaptations: Migration to a better environment for summer or winter, basking to absorb energy, tool using to obtain food

Functional adaptations: Related to processes such as reproduction and metabolism

Examples:

Polar bears have adapted to have white fur, enabling them to camouflage against the snow, this structural adaptation helps them hide from predators when they are sleeping and for day use. The polar bears have thick fat layers for the cold winter, this behavioural adaptation keeps them from freezing. A functional adaptation of a polar bear is that they frequently nap to conserve energy.

Camels have structural adaptations like their soft brown coloured fur to blend in with the sand. Their behavioural adaptation, migrating to places with better food, helps them reduce constant consumption of the same food, lessening the amount eaten to reserve it for later.

A smaller surface area to volume ratio helps minimise the loss of energy.

Extremophile - Organisms that live in extreme conditions, such as high temperatures, pressures or salt.