Adaptive Features - 1 | Biology for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Adaptations & Fitness

• Adaptive features are the inherited functional features of an organism that increase its fitness
• Fitness is the likelihood of an organism surviving and reproducing in its specific environment
• One should be able to analyze images or data of a species to identify its adaptive features, for instance:

A common question may involve explaining how factors like leaf area, stomata distribution, and stomata density contribute to the survival of different plant species in their respective habitats.

Adaptive Features

• Adaptive features are characteristics of an organism that have evolved to improve its survival and reproduction in a particular environment.
• These features can include physical traits, behaviors, or physiological mechanisms.
• Examples of adaptive features are the camouflage of a chameleon, the migration of birds, and the hibernation of bears.
• Organisms with well-developed adaptive features are more likely to thrive and pass on their genes to the next generation.

Types of Adaptive Features

• Structural Adaptations:
  • Physical features of an organism that help it survive in its environment.
  • For example, the thick fur of polar bears insulates them from the cold Arctic climate.
• Behavioral Adaptations:
  • Actions or habits that help an organism survive.
  • Migration patterns in birds are a behavioral adaptation that helps them find food and suitable breeding grounds.
• Physiological Adaptations:
  • Internal mechanisms that allow an organism to function effectively in its environment.
  • For instance, desert plants have adapted to store water efficiently to survive in arid conditions.