Adaptations

The process by which an organism becomes better able to live in its environment; is called adaptations.
Plants generally compete with each other for light and space, and for water and nutrients from the soil.
Different animals and plants are adapted to live in different habitats.
Animals usually compete for more specific requirements like mates, food, and territory.
Some organisms live in environments that are very extreme like under high pressure and temperature.
Some microorganisms can survive in very alkaline water.
Adaptations can be classified in a number of different ways: structural, behavioural and functional.

Animals - Structural adaptations

Structural adaptations of animals are the physical features e.g. colour, shape, nature of outer body layers etc. which allow them to compete.
Animals have a wide range of structural adaptations including sharp claws, Sharp Teeth, to catch prey, dig burrows.
Animals living in cold climates have thick layers of fur to insulate the body..
Animals like whales , seals and penguins in polar oceans, stay warm largely because of their blubber(fat).
Blubber acts as a form of insulation to keep body temperatures warm.
Animals that live in very hot climates have a thin layer of fur so too much heat is not retained.

Behavioral adaptations are the things organisms do to survive.
Many animals migrate from colder to warmer climates e.g. birds like ducks and swallows.
Many desert animals live in burrows, during the hot days.

Functional adaptations involve internal systems that affect an organism’s physiology or biochemistry.
Desert animals may conserve water by having a highly efficient kidneys, that produce and excrete a small amount of concentrated urine.
Animals like penguins can survive in extremely cold weather by producing antifreeze proteins in their tissue fluids..

Extremophile is an organisms that live in extreme environments under high pressure and temperature.
Examples of extreme environments include the volcanic vents, polar regions, deserts and deep ocean.
Animals like polar bears, at the North Pole are adapted to suit these harsh Arctic environment.
Polar bears have thick white fur for insulation. They also have a layer of fat under its skin which helps it stay warm
Animals like polar bears have a very large paws, it help a polar bear to walk in the snow.
Some microorganisms can survive in highly acid conditions and very high temperatures.