Adaptation and Variation

A Species is a group of organisms that can breed together to produce fertile offspring.
Species adapt to their environments- Animal and plant species survive in many different environments. They can do this because they have adapted to their environment. Adaptations make individuals of a species more likely to survive and go on to produce offspring this then makes it more likely that the whole species will continue to exist in its environment.

Cacti have a rounded shape giving them a small surface area compared to their volume to reduce water loss.
They've got a thick waxy layer called a cuticle to further reduce water loss.
They store water in their thick stem which they can use when not a lot is around
They have shallow but very extensive roots which ensures water is absorbed quickly over a large area.

Fish have gills that extract oxygen from water for respiration.
They have tail fins with a surface area to help propel them through the water.
They use their other fins to keep them stable as they move.
Fish have an organ called a swim bladder (or air bladder). They can adjust the amount of gas in their swim bladder to change their depth in the water without having to use any energy.

	Created by Arun Toora over 8 years ago

ALL ABOUT BIOLOGY B3