Adaptations

• Adaptations allow organisms to survive in different environments
• What is an adaptation?

  A feature or characteristic that allows an organism to live in different environmental conditions
• Structural adaptations (examples):

  • Arctic Fox- white fur
  • Whales- thick layer of blubber, low surface area to volume ratio
  • Camels- thin layer of fat, large surface area to volume ratio
• What kind of adaptation is migration an example of?

  Behavioural
• What is the type of adaptation which affects things that go on inside the body?

  Functional
• Functional Adaptations:

  • Little sweat, small amounts of concentrated urine- conserve water
  • Hibernation over winter, lowering metabolism- conserves energy
• Microorganisms live in a wide range of environments
• Microorganisms that live in extreme environments are known as what?

  Extremophiles
• What extreme conditions do microorganisms live in?

  • High temperatures e.g. volcanic vents
  • High salt concentrations e.g. very salty lakes
  • High pressure e.g. deep sea vents