Plant & Animal

Adaptations
(Surviving in different temperatures
and water levels)
[C7]
Adaptation
 Adaptation is a special characteristic that allows an
organism to survive in a particular environment.

 Adaptations may be:

 physical appearance (structural)
 internal systems & chemistry (physiology)
 something an organism does (behaviour)
 Organisms that live in only one habitat
or particular environment usually show
many adaptations to that environment.
 e.g. Polar Bear

 Organisms that live in a variety of

different habitats usually do not have as
many adaptations for a particular
environment.
 e.g. Cat
There are many different types of habitats that
plants & animals must be able to survive in.

 Marine
 Arctic
 Desert: hot & cold
 Woodland / forest
The adaptations
that arise in
 River / lake
these habitats
 Tropical rainforest are due to
 Grasslands Natural Selection
 Rocky & Evolution.
 Bogs / marshes
 Urban (gardens / parks) / farmland
 A Shark’s General Adaptations
What are a shark’s general adaptations to life in an aquatic
environment?
streamlined shape
to reduce friction
when moving
through water
(structural)
gills have a large
surface
area:volume so
fins provide that oxygen can be
stability, power extracted from the
and control surrounding water
(structural) (physiological)
A Shark’s Specific Adaptations
What are a shark’s specific adaptations to life as an aquatic
predator?
specialised sense organs can
highly sensitive
detect the sound, movement and
sense of smell that
electrical fields of other organisms
(physiology) can detect drops of
blood from miles
away (physiology)

lots of very sharp

teeth that are
constantly replaced
(structural)
silver colouring
underneath acts as
camouflage
BEHAVIOURAL?? (structural)
Animals in Cold Climates

 Arctic animals must keep

themselves warm to survive.
 You lose body heat through
your body surface, mainly
your skin.
 Arctic animals have developed
many adaptations to help
them survive…
What do these
animals have
in common?
List of adaptations to survive in the
cold climate:
• Thick oily fur coats
• Hibernation/Torpor
• Layers of blubber under the skin
• May change colour in the summer
• Small ears
• Large furry feet
• Often longer snout
• Rounded body shape
 Body Shape

Have fat, round body

shapes with short legs.
Why is this important?
 Surface Area to Volume Ratio

 Animals lose heat from the body surfaces that

are in contact with the surrounding air/water.

 Reducing the contact surface reduces heat loss

 Increasing the surface increases heat loss

Animals in Hot & Dry Climates

 Animals in dry climates have to keep

themselves cool to survive.
 They also have to cope with a lack of
water.
 This means they are unable to lose heat
through sweating – why?
 What do these
animals have in
common?
List of adaptations to help
survive in the desert climate:
 Large thin ears
 Little body fat
 Thin silky fur
 Long limbs to help spread the heat
 They often are only active at night (nocturnal)
 More elongated body shape
 Excretion of uric acid (birds/reptiles)
 Burrows/underground
Have more
elongated
body
shapes and
long legs
Compare these two animals…

Desert Fox Arctic Fox

Similar species yet adapted to their own

specific ecosystem
Role of nephron in water
regulation (Both Dry and Wet)

• Overall number of
nephrons
• Size of
glomerulus/bowmans
capsule
• Length of loop of
henle
• Area of convoluted
tubules.
• Vascularisation
amount
Plants in Cold Climates
 Plants often small - to avoid wind
 Plants are dark - helps them absorb
solar heat.
 Small waxy leaves / needles
 Some plants are covered with hair
 Some plants grow in clumps for
protection
 Some plants have dish-like flowers that
follow the sun
Saxifrage Arctic Willow

Bearberry Arctic flower

Plants in Hot/Dry Climates
Adaptations:
Can you think of any?
 Plants in Dry Climates
• Some plants store water in their stems or leaves
= succulents
• Some plants have no leaves
• Long root systems spread out wide or go deep
into the ground to absorb water
 Plants in Dry Climates

 Spines to protect from being eaten

 Plants slower growing so require less
energy
 Flowers that open at night lure
pollinators who tend to be active during
the night
 Hair help shade the plant, reducing
water loss
 Cuticle and stomata – prevent water loss
STOMATA & CUTICLE

Role in water & temperature regulation? -

Prevent water loss!!

Impact of:

•Thickness of
cuticle
•Amount and
position of
stomata
•Epidermal hairs
Example Question: