Charles Darwin on
Adaptations & Evolution
Darwin observed…
Overproduction
More offspring produced than can survive
Genetic Variation
Within populations, individuals have different traits
Struggle to survive
Must compete for existence
Differential reproduction
Not everyone has an equal opportunity to reproduce.
Those with best adaptations are most likely to survive
and reproduce
How Natural Selection works…
In any population, individuals have traits, many
of which show variation.
Traits that are determined by genes are
heritable.
Advantageous traits benefit an organism and
allow it to leave more offspring—this is natural
selection.
Advantageous traits become more common in a
population, resulting in adaptation of the
species in response to its environment.
What is an adaptation?
An adaptation is a structural (physical) change in
DNA or behavior that helps a living thing survive
and reproduce in its environment.
Examples: The shape of a bird’s beak or the color of
an animal’s fur.
Animal Adaptations
Types of Adaptation
Anything that helps an organism survive in its
environment is an adaptation.
It also refers to the ability of living things to adjust
to different conditions within their environments.
Structural adaptation
Protective coloration
Mimicry
Behaviour adaptations
Migration
Hibernation
Structural adaptations
A structural adaptation involves some
part of an animal's body.
Teeth
Body coverings
Shape of body
part
Structural Adaptations
Structural Adaptations
Protective Coloration
Protective Coloration and
resemblance allow an
animal to blend into its
environment.
Another word for this
adaptation might be
camouflage. Their
camouflage makes it hard for
predators to single out prey
or the other way around.
Camouflage
(coloration)
Mimicry
Mimicry allows one
animal to look, sound, or
act like another animal to
fool predators into
thinking it is poisonous
or dangerous.
Mimicry (imposters)
Behaviour adaptations
Behaviour adaptations
include activities that help an
animal survive.
Behaviour adaptations can be
learned or instinctive.
Social behaviour
Behaviour for protection
Migration
This is a behavioural Animals migrate for
adaptation that involves an different reasons.
animal or group of animals
moving from one region to better climate
another and then back better food
again. safe place to live
safe place to raise young
go back to the place they
were born.
Hibernation
This is deep sleep in which animal’s body temp
drops, body activity (metabolism) are slowed way
down to conserve energy. (Behavioural)
E.g. Bats, squirrels & bears.
Plant Adaptations
Types of Adaptations
• Structural adaptations are the
way something is built or made.
• Behavioral adaptations are the
way something acts naturally or
by instinct.
Structural Adaptations
• Adaptations to get food
– Leaves and stems absorb energy from
the sun.
Structural Adaptations
• Adaptations to get water and
nutrients
– Roots soak up water and nutrients
from soil.
Structural Adaptations
• Adaptations for reproduction
– Brightly colored flowers with nectar
attract pollinators such as birds, bees
and insects.
Structural Adaptations
• Adaptations for reproduction
– Sweet fruit attracts animals that spread
seeds far away.
– Some seeds are shaped to catch the
wind.
Structural Adaptations
• Adaptations for defense
– Spines and thorns protect plants from
predators
Structural Adaptations
• Adaptations for defense
– Poison Ivy and Poison oak have toxins
that give predators a painful itchy rash.
Behavioral Adaptations
• Adaptations to get food
– Plants lean or grow towards the sun.
– Roots grow down into soil.
– Vines climb up trees to catch sunlight.
Behavioral Adaptations
• Adaptations to get water and
nutrients
– Desert flowers can stay dormant for
months, only coming to life when it rains.
Behavioral Adaptations
• Adaptations for reproduction
– Plants drop seeds to grow new
offspring.
Plant Adaptations
for different Biomes
Desert Adaptations
– Small leaves or spines on desert plants
conserve water.
– Thick waxy skin holds in water.
– Roots near the soils surface soak up rain
water quickly before it evaporates.
Grassland Adaptations
• Deep roots help plants survive prairie fires.
• Narrow leaves lose less water than broad
leaves.
• Flexible stems bend in the wind.
Tundra Adaptations
• Small plants grow close to the ground for
warmth.
• Dark colored flowers absorb heat from the
sun.
• Fuzzy stems provide protection from wind.
Rainforest Adaptations
• Smooth, slippery bark keeps vines from
killing trees.
• Slide shaped leaves lets rain run off so
fungus doesn’t grow on plants.
Temperate Forest Adaptations
• Thick bark protects trees and dropping
leaves in winter conserves water and
nutrients during cold winters.
Water Adaptations
• Flexible stems move with water currents.
• Floating seeds spread offspring.
