Adaptation -Behavioural -Physiological -Anatomical

Adaptations are the result of evolution, which is caused by mutations to the alleles of an animal from a species, which will either be advantageous to its survival and therefore be passed on to its offspring or disadvantageous meaning animal will not reproduce and wont pass on disadvantageous alleles, this occurs over long periods of time. Adaptations help organisms survive in their ecological niche or habitat; adaptations can be anatomical, behavioural or physiological.

Behavioural Behavioural adaptations are the things organisms do to survive, these can be inherited or learnt, these include; tool use, language, learning and culture. For example; Bird calls to attract mates Possums playing dead to avoid predators. Bears hibernating in the winter when fish and prey are more scarce

Culture is a set of behaviours that is passed down through the generations, and which differs from that seen in other populations of the same species. E.g. all killer whales are carnivorous, so that is not cultural. But only certain pods of killer whales beach themselves in order to catch seals, these skills are taught to young whales by their mother, this is cultural. Many animals have alarm calls used for alerting to all dangers, this is not language. Vervet monkeys have different calls for warning each other about snakes, eagles and leopards this is sophisticated enough to be considered a proto-language. Other animals with this ability include dolphins, apes and parrots Most animal learning is done by observation, followed by trial and error.

Physiological Physiological adaptations are the functioning of a species from cellular to tissue to organs. This includes the ability for some species to make venom or regulate body temperature. Other examples are; chemical tolerance, cold tolerance, altitude tolerance, dry tolerance and fire tolerance.

E.g. Penguins
Their muscles have large amounts of myoglobin to hold extra oxygen that is used up during a dive. Normal resting Heart rate is about 70 bpm, this increases to 200 bpm right before a dive as they load up with oxygen, as they hit the water and begin their dive, HR drops to 100 bpm and begins slowing to 20 bpm for the dive, this enables them to preserve oxygen and dive for up to 25 minutes. Can cope with a high saline diet due to salt glands and kidneys that produce concentrated urine (penguins are able to drink sea water unlike humans). Cacti are among the most drought resistant plants on the planet and are able to store water in their stems and roots. Some are able to survive years of drought after a single rainfall.

Anatomical (structural) adaptations Anatomical adaptations are to do with the structure, or build, of an organism. An adaptation which helps it to survive, for example, an elephant has tusks to enable it to break trees and fight, and a naked mole rat has its front incisors outside of its mouth so that is does not swallow mud as it digs.

E.g. Penguins have;

Compact shape meaning low surface area to volume ratio in order to reduce heat loss. Very dense specialized feathers for insulation on land and dense fat layer under the skin for insulation and further heat loss reduction. Backward pointing barbs on tongue to stop slippery prey escaping. Black above and white underneath makes them harder to be spotted while hunting in the sea, also this helps with thermoregulation on land, theyll face back or front to the sun depending on whether they are hot or cold to absorb more heat or reflect heat away.