Lesson 4 - Organism Adaptations

Question 1

Adaptations

Answer 1

Adaptations are inherited biological characteristics which increase the chances that an organism will survive and successfully reproduce in a particular habitat (and therefore pass on their genes).

Adaptations allow organisms to tolerate abiotic factors in their environment. Most organisms have a combination of many adaptations that allow them to fit into their environment easily.

There are three types of adaptations - structural, behavioural, and physiological.

Question 2

Structural Adaptations

Answer 2

Physical structure of an organism, part of the body which allows the organism to survive better.

E.g. giraffe neck, horns, tusks, sabre teeth, turtle shell, etc.

Question 3

Behavioural Adaptations

Answer 3

Innate way of behaving that provides an advantage - how organisms change the way they behave, either individually or as a group to increase chances of survival.

E.g. plants grow towards the sun, roots grow down into soil, NZ flax caterpillars are nocturnal to avoid predation, etc.

Question 4

Physiological Adaptations

Answer 4

A process that occurs inside the organism which allows it to survive better. Adaptations in the way an organism’s body works (internal chemistry/metabolism) in order to increase the chance of survival.

E.g. skunk spray, venom, temperature regulation, enzymes in carnivorous animals’ stomachs to help digestion, etc.

Question 5

Note - remember this for adaptations

Answer 5

Relate the adaptation to how it helps the organism to survive. In biology, being successful is about passing on your genes to the next generation.