Adaptation

Question 1

Give some harsh conditions and examples of organism adaptations in these conditions

Answer 1

Wood frogs, camels and kangaroo rats. Harsh conditions include deep sea, high altitude, hydrothermal vents and volcanoes, fluctuating environments and constant darkness.

Question 2

Talk about astyanax in terms of adaptations to caves

Answer 2

There is the cave morph and surface morph. The cave morph has a loss of eyes, pigmentation, increased sensory systems and lower metabolic rate. Loss of eyes means altered prey capture, less tissue damage and lower metabolic costs. Lateral line system with neuromasts and kinocilia to detect vibration and send signals through lateral nerve. Lower metabolic rate due to short supply of food and also increased fat reserves.

Question 3

Define adaptation and give examples of some general adaptations

Answer 3

Adaptation is the possession of a characteristics that enhances the survival and reproductive fitness of an organism. Examples include cows having four stomachs, the long necks of giraffes and manatees staying underwater for up to 20 mins.

Question 4

Define troglobite, trogloxene and troglophile. Define epigram and hypogean.

Answer 4

Troglobite is for permanent living in caves, troglophile for living inside or outside of caves and trogloxene for leaving cave to eat. Epigean is living on or near surface and hypogean is living underneath the surface.