BTEC First Applied Science

Unit 3: Biology and Our Environment

Worksheet: Adaptation
ANSWERS
1. Give definitions of the following terms:
natural selection A mechanism by which evolution takes place. Organisms that are better
adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce to pass on their
characteristics. These characteristics therefore become more common in the
population.
adaptation The process by means of which organisms evolve to become better suited to
their environment.
2. Give two examples of adaptations on which natural selection could act, including the
organism most relevant for your example.
a) ability to run fast for cheetahs
b) being brightly coloured for flowering plants
or any other relevant examples
3. For one of your examples in question 2:
explain why this adaptation is an advantage
explain how this may lead to the trait becoming more common in the population.
Hint you should refer to natural selection in your answer.
Flowering plants that are more brightly coloured are more easily visible to the insects
that pollinate them. This gives them an advantage because it increases their rate of
reproduction. When they reproduce, they pass on the genes for brighter colours. Less
brightly coloured plants reproduce less, so pass on their genes to fewer plants in the
next generation. This is natural selection for bright colouration, leading to an increase
in the frequency of brightly coloured plants in the next generation.

This worksheet accompanies

Unit 3: Biology and Our Environment. Adaptation
Boardworks Ltd 2010

BTEC First Applied Science

Unit 3: Biology and Our Environment

Look at this information about the population of a species of small bird and its beak shape.
Type of habitat

Beak shape

Population size

hedgerows

pointed

552

gardens

blunt

324

hedgerows

blunt

573

gardens

pointed

794

4. What type of beak is best adapted to a garden habitat, or are both equally adapted?
pointed
5. What type of beak is best adapted to a hedgerow habitat, or are both equally adapted?
both equally adapted
6. Can you think of a reason for this difference? [Hint: think about how the birds obtain their
food in each habitat]
Birds in gardens often feed from bird feeders where a sharp beak is an advantage. Birds
in hedgerows feed from insects they find there, and sharp beaks are less of an
advantage for this. Natural selection therefore increases the proportion of sharp beaks
in garden habitats, but not in hedgerow habitats.

This worksheet accompanies

Unit 3: Biology and Our Environment. Adaptation
This worksheet accompanies
Unit 1: Chemistry and Our Earth. Types of Substances

Boardworks Ltd 2010