Adaptations in Plants | Biology for Grade 10 PDF Download

Adaptations to the environment in plants

Plant adaptations can be structural, behavioural or physiological. Regardless of the type, all adaptations make organisms better suited to their ecosystem and provide them with a better chance of survival and reproduction, which are their ultimate aims. The adaptations that arise from competition are essential for the process of evolution. Survival of the fittest means survival of those best adapted.

Structural adaptations in plants

• Structural adaptations of plants are the physical features, which allow them to compete. An example of this is the formation of spines, which are found on many species, such as cacti and roses, and can stop a plant being eaten by grazing animals.
• Other examples of structural adaptions include plants with wide-ranging, shallow roots to absorb lots of water after rain, large leaves to maximise photosynthesis and flowers, which attract insects to pollinate them.

Behavioural adaptations in plants

Behavioural adaptations of plants are behaviours which give them an advantage. All plant shoots grow quickly towards the light to maximise photosynthesis. Growth towards the light and other tropisms ensure that plants can respond to changes in their environment. Plant roots which grow downwards may be because of gravity or growing directly towards water to maximise photosynthesis. Other plants like the Venus flytrap have evolved structural and behavioural adaptations to catch insects. The flytrap itself is a structural adaptation and the closing of the trap to catch an insect is a behavioural adaptation.

Physiological adaptations in plants

Physiological adaptations of plants are processes which allow them to compete. An example of this is the formation of poisons for defence. The nettle plant stings us when we brush the tiny needles on its leaves, which contain poison. Other plants, like deadly nightshade, are so poisonous they can kill if consumed by humans.

Adaptations to the environment in animals

Not only are plants able to adapt to an ecosystem, so too can animals. Again, the adaptations can be structural, behavioural or physical to meet the aim of survival and reproduction. The competition that arises from adaptations is essential for the process of evolution.

Structural adaptations in animals

• Structural adaptations of animals are the physical features which allow them to compete. Animals have a wide range of structural adaptations including sharp claws to catch prey, dig burrows or scratch trees to signal territories. The scratching of trees is a behavioural adaptation.
• Predators and prey often have similar adaptations. Both are likely to have good vision and hearing. Prey often has eyes on the sides of their heads to easily spot predators. Predators often have their eyes on the front of their heads to judge distance to their prey.

Behavioural adaptations in animals

Behavioural adaptations of animals are behaviours which give them an advantage. Behavioural adaptations include mating rituals, like a male peacock bird showing his tail feathers to attract a female mate. They can also include working together in packs like wolves to hunt prey. Other animals have evolved the behavioural adaptation of using tools. For example, crocodiles use twigs to lure birds, who would pick them up to build nests.

Physiological adaptations in animals

Physiological adaptations of animals are processes which allow them to compete. The production of venom is an example of this. Many predators such as snakes and spiders produce venom both to defend themselves and kill their prey. When the cane toad was introduced into Australia, predators, such as native crocodiles and turtles, had not evolved to be resistant to its venom. Many ate cane toads and were killed.