10.7 Adaptations

Question 1

Adaptations

Answer 1

Characteristics that increase an organisms chances of survival in their environment.

3 types:

1. anatomical (physical external/internal features)
2. behavioural (way they act)
3. physiological (processes internally occurring)

Question 2

Anatomical

Answer 2

1. Body covering - fur to stay warm, scales, thick waxy layers to prevent water loss in plants, shells for protection.
2. camouflage - harder for predators to spot them
3. teeth - molars to chew grass, canines to chew meat
4. mimicry - copying appearance/sounds to fool predators to think they’re dangerous.

E.g. marram grass - to live in dry conditions:
stomata in pits to prevent water loss
hairs on inside of leaves to trap moist air and decrease diffusion gradient.

Question 3

Behavioural

Answer 3

1. survival - e.g. possums play dead
2. courtship - to attract a mate, scorpions dance
3. seasonal - to survive in seasonal changes
   
   • migration
   • hibernation

Behavioural splits into 2 types:
innate ( instinctual) inherited through genes
learned behaviour from observation

Question 4

Physiological

Answer 4

1. poison production (many reptiles produce venom for prey and predators)
2. antibiotic production (some bacteria produce antibiotics to kill other species)
3. water holding (e.g. water-holding frog can store H2O in its body when in dry conditions)

Others include blinking, reflexes and temperature regulation.

Question 5

Anatomical adaptations and evidence for COVERGENT EVOLUTION

Answer 5

Analogous structures - structures with same functions but different genetic origins.

CONVERGENT EVOLUTION - when unrelated species begin to share similar traits; evolved from being in similar environments or SELECTION PRESSURES.

Marsupials start in the uterus then leave and continue to develop in the marsupium (e.g. kangaroo pouch).