Adaptations

• What must organisms do to survive in their environment?

  They must adapt to their environment
• What are the three groups of adaptations scientists categorize?

  Structural, behavioral, and functional adaptations
• What are structural adaptations?

  • Physical features of an organism
  • Examples: shape, color, and body structure
• Why do seals and walruses have a rounded shape?

  To conserve body heat in cold environments
• What color helps seals and walruses camouflage?

  Gray-brown color
• What are behavioral adaptations?

  • Ways organisms behave or act
  • Examples: cooling behaviors, migration
• How do elephants cool themselves in hot environments?

  By flapping their ears and spraying water
• Why do swallows migrate during winter?

  To avoid cold and lack of food
• What are functional adaptations?

  • Processes occurring inside an organism's body
  • Examples: metabolism, reproductive system
• How do many desert animals conserve water?

  By producing little sweat and concentrated urine
• What do camels store in their humps?

  Fat
• What type of environment do brown bears live in?

  Cold northern latitudes
• What is a key adaptation of brown bears for cold environments?

  Having thick fur
• How is the brown bear's diet described?

  Extremely diverse and variable
• What does the brown bear's diverse diet represent?

  A behavioral adaptation to survive
• What adaptations do brown bears have for catching fish?

  Long sharp claws and strong muscles
• What is hibernation in brown bears considered?

  A behavioral and functional adaptation
• What happens to a bear's metabolism during hibernation?

  It lowers significantly to conserve energy
• What environments can extremophiles live in?

  Extreme temperatures, salt concentrations, and pressures
• What are the key differences between structural, behavioral, and functional adaptations?

  • Structural: Physical features
  • Behavioral: Actions and behaviors
  • Functional: Internal processes