Biology Unit 2

Every organism has certain features or charicteristics that allow it to live succesfully in its habitat. These features are called adaptations. Organisms within a communtity competewith each other for limited reasourses, including water and space. Plants also compete with each other for light and minerals.

Organisms that live in different habitats need different adaptations. Animals and plants may have specific features that adapt them to their environment. 

Cold climates: The artic is very cold and windy with very little rainfall. 

Polar bear: Polar bears are well adapted to living in the artic. Their adaptations include, a white coat to camouflage from prey on the snow and ice, thick layers of fur and fat for insulation and a small surface area to volume ratio (to minimise heat loss)

Hot climates: The desert is very hot and dry with very little rainfall.

Camel: Camels are well adapted to living in deserts. Their adaptations include, large feet to spread their weight among the sand, thick fur on top of their body for shade, thin fur elsewhere to allow heat loss, a large surface area to volume ratio to maximise heat loss and two sets of eyelashes to keep out the sand.

Habitats have limited amounts of the reasources needed by living organisms and organisms can only survive if they get enough of these reasources, so they have to compete for reasources with other organisms. If they are unsuccessful and cannot move to another habitat, they will die.

Animals compete for: food, water and space

Plants compete for: water, space and minerals

Humans are very successful organisms. We compete with animals and plants all over the world. For example our farmers compete with plants and animals for water, space and food.