Adaptations Flashcards
What is meant by adaptation?
The features that increases its chances of survival and reproduction and also the chances of its offspring successfully
What are the 3 categories of adaptation?
-Behavioural
-Physiological
-Anatomical
What are Behavioural Adaptations?
Ways an organism acts that increase its chance of survival
Give an example of behavioural adaptations.
Scorpions dance before mating
What are physiological adaptations?
Processes inside and organism’s body to increase the chance of survival
Give an example of physiological adaptations.
Brown bears hibernating which lowers their rate of metabolism over winter to conserve energy
What are anatomical adaptations?
Structural features of an organism’s body that increase its chance of survival
Give an example of anatomical adaptations.
Otters have a streamlined shape to make it easier to glide through the water and catch prey and escape predators
What is an ecological niche?
The role of an organisms within its habitat
What do organisms have in common even if they are from different taxonomic groups?
Similar features even if not closely related
Why do organisms have similar features even if they are in different taxonomic groups?
As the organisms have evolved in similar environments and to fill similar ecological niches
What is an example of different taxonomic groups having similar features?
Marsupial and Placental Moles
What are the 3 types of mammals?
Marsupial
Placental
Montremes
Give the characteristics of marsupial mammals.
-Have a short gestation period
-Don’t develop a full placenta
-Born early in their development and climb into mothers pouch and continue to develop
Give the characteristics of placental mammals.
-Have a longer gestation period
-Develop of placenta during pregnancy allowing the exchange of nutrients and waste products between fetus and mother
-Are born more fully developed
Why do marsupial and placental moles look alike although they aren’t closely related?
-Share similar anatomical features
-Evolved independently on different continents
What is convergent evolution?
When 2 species evolve similar characteristics independently of one another as they’ve adapted to live in similar environments
Both types live in tunnels to reach food supply. What are the adaptations of moles to live this lifestyle?
-Small or non-existent eyes
-No external ears to keep streamlined head
-Scoop-shaped and powerful front paws
-Claws specialised for digging
-Tube shaped body and cone shaped head to push through sand or soil
