B1.4.1 Adaptations

Plants compete for:

• Light
• Space
• Water
• Nutrients

Animals compete for:

• Food
• Water
• Mates
• Territory

An adaptation is a feature which enables an organism to survive in the conditions of its usual and natural habitat.

Extremophiles are organisms which live in extreme environments. This may mean:

• High salt
• High pressure
• High temperature
• Low temperature
• High levels of radiation

This is an animal adaptation which works as follows:

1. In cold climates:

Small surface area to volume ratio to reduce heat loss.

2. In warm climates:

Large surface area to volume ratio to increase heat loss.

There may be adaptations to:

• Legs
• Teeth
• Ears
• Paws
• Colour
• Fur
• Fat
• Eyes
• Permeability
• Hair
• Mouth
• Storage
• Nose
• Water Loss
• Size
• Shape

There may be adaptations to:

• Stem
• Leaves
• Cuticle
• Roots
• Shape
• Surface
• Colour
• Products e.g. CO2
• Growth
• Seeds