EVOLUTION: ADAPTATION

All organisms and species adapt. This includes both plant and animal.

Warnbro Community High School Evolution: Adaptation Information Sheet 2014
What is adaptation?
Adaptation can be explained as an adjustment in the
behaviour, physiology, or structure of an organism where the
change or mutation makes them more suitable to their
environment and improves function. Organisms that possess
heritable traits can adapt better to their surroundings,
compared to other members of their species, and are more
efficient when it comes to survival because of these
favourable traits. Because they are more likely to survive,
there is an increased chance that they will reproduce and pass
on more of
their genes
to the next generation. As more and more
organisms inherit the mutation, it becomes a
more permanent part of the species and becomes an
adaptation. This also forms the basis of natural
selection.
Why do animals adapt?
There are a many number of reasons why animals adapt and make progressive changes as they evolve.
Generally, it is a matter of survival: adapting allows organisms to do a number of things such as blending into
an environment, evading predators, scaring away
predators, catching prey or food easier, socialising
, performing more complex tasks, regulating body
temperature (e.g. staying warm or cool),
finding/maintaining shelter, restoring energy, or
replenishing stamina quickly amongst others.
Adaption is required to avoid extinction.
Types of adaptation:
Behavioural (top right):
Behavioural adaptations are, as the name
suggests, modifications to the behaviours of a
species. Behaviours being the way they act and
things that they do in order to progress, advance, survive and evolve.
e.g. use of tools/basic instruments; language/communication; socialisation; migration.
Structural (bottom right):
Structural adaptations are changes to the physical
features of an organism. Whether that be size or
shape of part of or their whole body, body
coverings, or movements.
e.g. larger heads or bodies; spines, scales, skin,
hair, fur, or feathers; running, flight, climbing, etc.
Figure 1 Illustrates the changes in the beak
shapes of Galapagos due to change in diet.
EVOLUTION: ADAPTATION
All organisms and species adapt. This includes both plant and animal.

Warnbro Community High School Evolution: Adaptation Information Sheet 2014
Physiological:
Physiological adaptations are abilities and general functions that an organism possesses.
e.g. venom in snakes, temperature regulation.

Survival of the fittest:
Not all species die out and become extinct. Some become so well adpated to their environment that they
branch off into new species whilst others continue to develop, grow and adapt to suit their different
environmental surroundings, lifestyle and habitat. It is when species fail to adapt that they begin to weaken
and die out, eventually becoming extinct.











Natural Selection:
The diagram on the right is a representation of natural selection.
The dark colour represents a positive genetic mutation or
heritable trait whilst the light colour represents the less than
favourable or the negative traits that lead to extinction.




REFERENCES:
http://www.nas.edu/evolution/Definitions.html
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/teacher_resources/webfieldtrips/hab_adaptation/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/adaptations
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep1.htm
http://www.adaptationswebquest.weebly.com/structural-behavioral.html