Adaption

• what does adaptation mean?

  a feature or variation that increases survival and reproductive success, this can be behavioural, physiological and anatomical
• what does it mean to be well adapted?

  • find food or photosynthesise well
  • find enough water
  • gather enough nutrients
  • defend itself from predators or disease
  • survive physical conditions of environment e.g. temperature
  • respond to changes in the environment
• what is the difference between an innate and a learned behaviour?

  • innate - inherent, born with it in genes
  • learned - acquired by experience or learned from outside environment (observing other animals)
• what are some behavioural adaptations?

  • survival - freeze response to act dead when they think predators seen them
  • courtship - animals exhibit elaborate courtship behaviours to attract a mate
  • seasonal - migration - moving from one region to another due to favourable environmental conditions, hibernation - period of inactivity, conserving energy, reducing food requirements
• what are some anatomical adaptations?

  • body covering - hair, scales, feathers, shells, helping fly, stay warm, provide protection, prevent water loss etc
  • camouflage - outer colour blends into environment, making it harder for predators to spot
  • teeth - shape/type related to diet, different in herbivores/carnivores
  • mimicry - copying others appearance or sounds allows animals to fool predators into thinking its poisonous/dangerous
• what are some psychological adaptations?

  • poison production - many reptiles produce venom to kill their prey, many plants produce poison in their leaves to protect themselves from being eaten
  • antibiotic production - some bacteria produce antibiotics to kill other species of bacteria in the surrounding area
  • water holding - water-holding frog can store water in its body allowing it to survive in the desert without access to water
• what is the difference between placental and marsupial mammals?

  • placental have a long pregnancy, whereas marsupial have a short pregnancy
  • placental develop a full placenta, whereas marsupial don't
  • placental young are born well developed, then receive milk whereas marsupial mammals are born early, climb into their mothers pouch to receive milk and complete their development