Adaptation

Suggest how organisms are adapted to the conditions in which they live
Organisms have features (adaptations) which enable them to survive in the conditions in which they normally live
Animals and plants may be adapted for survival in the conditions where they normally live eg deserts, the Arctic.
Animals and plants may be adapted to cope with specific features of their environment eg thorns, poisons and warning colours to deter predators.

A habitat is a natural environment where organisms live. There are very few places on Earth where nothing at all lives. Everywhere else counts as a habitat.

What animals and plants would you expect to find in the habitats above?

The plants and animals one finds in a particular environment seem ideally suited to live there. They are adapted to their natural environments. Consider the following examples.

This Polar Bear lives in the Artic It has a thick layer of fur which insulates it from the cold It has a thick layer of blubber which helps keep it warm when swimming in cold water Its nostrils close when under water Polar bears move slowly and rest often to avoid overheating Like all hunters they have eyes on the front of their face White fur is excellent camouflage Skin is black to absorb heat from the sun Claws are curved to dig through ice Teeth are sharp as for other carnivores

This Cactus lives in the Arizona Desert No leaves as they would lose too much water Spines defend against animals Enlarged stems store water A waxy coat reduces water loss Very extensive shallow root system to absorb lots of water Roots have a high salt concentration so water is absorbed quickly