Adaptation | structural, behavioral and physiological adaptations

 

Adaptation | structural, behavioral and physiological adaptation

Adaptation

It is a physiological, biochemical, or anatomical change that generally happens in a gradual manner over generation.  Adaptation is a change in genotype that changes the phenotype. Normally it is not reversible. Physiology of an animal is generally well matched with the environment. Evolution by natural selection is the description of the adaptation.

Bar-headed goose fly up to top of Himalayas, if other animals do like this, they will die. This is an adaptation of the goose which is selected by natural selection process to survive in this extreme environment.

Types of adaptations

·         Structural adaptation

·         Behavioral adaptations

·         Physiological adaptations

1: Structural adaptation

A structural adaptation is a body part that aids in survival. For example, teeth of animals

Body coverings

Shells - molluscs, tortoise, turtle etc.

Quills - birds

Scales -Fish 

Camouflage

Mimicry

Protective coloration

Structural adaptation in animals

·         Feet of Heron are for wading in mud
  Feet of Eagle for grabbing and holding prey
 Feet of Duck are for swimming
Feet of Sparrow are for perching

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Structural adaptations - Camouflage

In camouflage, colors and shapes of organisms match other things in the surroundings. This helps animals hide from predators. Examples are white polar bear and grey Rabbit.

Structural adaptations – Mimicry

Mimicry permits one animal to look, act, or sound like another animal to fool predators into thinking that it is poisonous or dangerous.  

The milk snake(top) resembles poisonous coral snake(bottom).

 

Structural adaptations – protective coloration

In many animals, their colors are the only line of defense.  Warning colors of red, yellow, orange, and bright blue alert others that these animals could be dangerous.

2: Behavioral Adaptations

Behavior adaptations include actions or behaviors that aid an animal to survive. 

1. Innate
2. Learned
3. Survival
4. Seasonal

·         Innate

This behavior is inherited through the genes. Examples

Flying for bees, birds, swimming for fish, walking for humans and speaking for humans.

·         Learned

It is learned from experience or from observing other animals

Examples: Type of language spoken for humans and riding a bicycle.

·         Survival 

• Finding food

Predator-Prey adaptations

Predator -- an animal that eat other animals

Prey is an animal being eaten

• Marking Territory

Way that animals notify other animals that an area is occupied

• Defensive Action

Protect resources, themselves, mates, foods offspring

• Courtship

Behaviors used in order to find a mate

• Parenting

Young offspring depend on parents for their survival

Seasonal adaptation

These behaviors aid the organisms to adapt to their environment

·         Migration

·         Hibernation

·         Estivation

• Migration

It is an adaptation that involves an animal or group of animals that are moving from one region to another and then move back again. 

Animals migrate for different purposes. 

For better climate, better food, safe place to live, safe place to raise young, go back to the place where they were born

Adaptation | structural, behavioral and physiological adaptations

• Hibernation

It is a phase of inactivity in which animal’s body temperature, breathing rate and heart rate slow down to conserve energy. For example, bats, woodchucks and bears.

• Estivation

It is a period of inactivity in the summer.

In hot, dry places to prevent desiccation

Snakes, lizards, frogs, toads are examples

3: Physiological adaptation

Functions of the body parts controlling life process that aid in survival. For example, warm blooded animals i.e., Birds and Mammals.

            Dolphins are mammals and they need to breath air.  They spend their whole lives in the water and their bodies have adapted so that they can hold their breath for several minutes.