Benefits of having adaptations
Survival of an organism in a particular place or habitat doesn't just involve using resources available from the surrounding environment, but also what adaptations an organism has. Organisms benefit from having Structural, Physiological and Behavioural characteristics as they can use these to adapt to the surrounding environment and become successful in sustaining survival in an environment with constantly changing conditions. Organisms that have the most favourable adaptations will have the greatest chance of survival.
Structural adaptations are physical features of an organism that have changed over time to suit the environment that it lives. This can be beneficial for hunting and making nests.
Physiological adaptations are biological responses that occur as a result of a change in conditions in the surrounding environment. This can be beneficial for survival through warning others and to show emotions such as anger and love.
Behavioural adaptations are changes in patterns of behaviour that an organism makes in order to better suit its environment. This can be beneficial for retaining temperature (example: bears curling together for warmth) and also for socialising with other organisms of its species.
Structural adaptations are physical features of an organism that have changed over time to suit the environment that it lives. This can be beneficial for hunting and making nests.
Physiological adaptations are biological responses that occur as a result of a change in conditions in the surrounding environment. This can be beneficial for survival through warning others and to show emotions such as anger and love.
Behavioural adaptations are changes in patterns of behaviour that an organism makes in order to better suit its environment. This can be beneficial for retaining temperature (example: bears curling together for warmth) and also for socialising with other organisms of its species.
Tolerance Range
Tolerance range refers to the range of conditions that an organism or species can withstand. These are usually abiotic factors such as oxygen, rainfall and temperature.
Tolerance range in temperature changes affects both plants and animals, sometimes more extreme than others depending on the species. Organisms work best when in optimum conditions (range of optimum). Organisms also might work as well and majority die if in the zone of physiological stress. If reaching the zone of Intolerance, which is the extreme conditions, then the organism has highly likely to have died.
Animals have a greater tolerance range for temperature changes than plants as animals can often use behaviour and movement to evade or ameliorate environment stresses and extreme conditions, whereas plants are more responsive to climate shifts, as seen through the seasons. Plants are also non-mobile and are more sensitive to temperature changes, therefore have a weaker tolerance range for extreme temperature changes.
Image: Author: Bioknowledgy Available at: http://bioknowledgy.weebly.com/c1-species-and-communities.html Accessed: July 7th 2015
Tolerance range in temperature changes affects both plants and animals, sometimes more extreme than others depending on the species. Organisms work best when in optimum conditions (range of optimum). Organisms also might work as well and majority die if in the zone of physiological stress. If reaching the zone of Intolerance, which is the extreme conditions, then the organism has highly likely to have died.
Animals have a greater tolerance range for temperature changes than plants as animals can often use behaviour and movement to evade or ameliorate environment stresses and extreme conditions, whereas plants are more responsive to climate shifts, as seen through the seasons. Plants are also non-mobile and are more sensitive to temperature changes, therefore have a weaker tolerance range for extreme temperature changes.
Image: Author: Bioknowledgy Available at: http://bioknowledgy.weebly.com/c1-species-and-communities.html Accessed: July 7th 2015
Bibliography (Harvard Style)
This bibliography is of information relating to the overview only.
- Integrative and Comparative Biology, Plants Versus Animals Do they deal with stress in different ways?, Available from: http://icb.oxfordjournals.org/content/42/3/415.full, [Accessed 11 July 2015]
- Semple, A , Borger, P, Cleeland, C, Jakel, S & Pappas, X 2006, Nelson Biology VCE Units 1 & 2, Thomson Nelson, South Melbourne
- Banner Image: Author: Lea Allen Available at: http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=188033 Accessed: July 7th 2015