Evolution and Ecology
Lesson 2-Adaptation
Adaptation
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Adaptation is a special characteristic that
allows an organism to survive in a particular
environment.
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Adaptations may be:
physical appearance (morphology)
internal systems (physiology)
something an organism does (behaviour)
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Adaptation
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Organisms that live in only one habitat or
particular environment usually show
many adaptations to that environment.
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Organisms that live in a variety of
different habitats usually do not have as
many adaptations.
Adaptation
How many different types of habitat
can you think of?
Make a list.
Adaptation
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Marine
Arctic
Desert: hot & cold
Woodland / forest
River / lake
Tropical rainforest
Grasslands
Rocky
Bogs / marshes
Urban (gardens / parks) / farmland
Marine Habitat
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Seas and oceans
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Salty water
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Warm and cold water
A Shark’s General Adaptations
What are a shark’s general adaptations to life in an aquatic
environment?
Streamlined shape to
reduce friction when
moving through water
(morphology)
Fins provide
stability, power
and control
(morphology)
Gills have a large
surface area so that
oxygen can be
extracted from the
surrounding water
(morphology)
A Shark’s Specific Adaptations
What are a shark’s specific adaptations to life as an aquatic
predator?
specialised sense organs can detect
the sound, movement and electrical
fields of other organisms
(physiology)
highly sensitive sense of
smell that can detect drops
of blood from miles away
(physiology)
lots of very sharp teeth that
are constantly replaced
(morphology)
silver colouring
underneath acts as
camouflage
(morphology)
Cold climates
Temperatures:
• Arctic winter can dip to -51oC
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Warmest month is between 10oC and 0oC
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Often permanent snow & ice
Animals in Cold Climates
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Arctic animals must keep themselves warm
to survive.
You lose body heat through your body
surface, mainly your skin.
Arctic animals have developed many
adaptations to help them survive
Non-adapted animals (us) have to take extra
precautions
What do these
animals have
in common?
Animals in Cold Climates
List as many adaptations to the cold climate as
you can:
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Thick oily fur coats
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Layers of blubber under the skin
• May change colour in the summer
• Small ears
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Large furry feet
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Often longer snout
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Rounded body shape
Body Shape
Have fat, round body
shapes with short legs.
Why is this important?
Surface Area to Volume Ratio
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Animals lose heat from the body surfaces
that are in contact with the surrounding
air/water.
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Reducing the contact surface reduces heat
loss
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Increasing the surface increases heat loss
Surface Area to Volume Ratio
Hidden surfaces are
exposed
Larger SA: Vol
Small SA: Vol
(cold climates)
(hot climates)
Hot Desert Climates
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Temperatures:
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Can reach 45 – 50oC during the day
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Can fall below 0oC at night
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Less than 25cm rain a year
Animals in Dry Climates
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Animals in dry climates have to keep
themselves cool to survive.
They also have to cope with a lack of water.
This means they are unable to lose heat
through sweating – why?
What do these
animals have in
common?
Hot Desert Climates
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Large thin ears
Little body fat
Thin silky fur
Long limbs to help spread the heat
They often are only active at night
More elongated body shape
Hot Desert Climates
Have more
elongated
body shapes
and long legs
Question:
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If a polar bear lived in a desert:
What colour would the polar bear be so it
was camouflaged?
Would it still have thick fur?
What would it eat?
Compare these two animals
Desert Fox
Arctic Fox
Draw a table to compare their adaptations to
their environments.
Plants in Cold Climates
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Plants are small - usually less than 12 inches
tall to avoid wind
Plants are dark - helps them absorb solar
heat.
Small waxy leaves / needles
Some plants are covered with hair
Some plants grow in clumps for protection
Some plants have dish-like flowers that
follow the sun
Saxifrage
Bearberry
Arctic Willow
Trees
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many trees are evergreen
many trees have needle-like leaves to lose less
water
waxy coating on needles
needles are dark in colour
trees have branches that droop downward
Plants in Dry Climates
Adaptations:
Can you think of any?
Make a list.
• Some plants store water in their stems or
leaves = succulents
• Some plants have no leaves
• Long root systems spread out wide or go deep
into the ground to absorb water
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Spines to protect from being eaten
Plants slower growing so require less
energy
Flowers that open at night lure pollinators
who tend to be active during the night
Hair help shade the plant, reducing water
loss