Adaptations

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Adaptation Noun

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[ad-ap-tay-shun]

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Adaptation

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A heritable trait or behavior that increases an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its specific environment.

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Example: This diagram shows how different bird species have developed unique beak shapes (adaptations) that are specialized for eating specific types of food, increasing their survival.

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Natural Selection Noun

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[nach-er-ul suh-lek-shun]

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Natural Selection

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The process where organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass those traits to offspring.

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Example: This diagram shows natural selection. The antibiotic is a pressure that kills non-resistant bacteria, while the resistant bacteria (with a helpful adaptation) survive and reproduce.

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Overproduction Noun

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[oh-ver-pruh-duk-shun]

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Overproduction

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A principle of natural selection stating that species produce more offspring than can possibly survive in their environment.

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Example: A fish lays many eggs, but this overproduction leads to a large population of offspring that must compete in a struggle for survival.

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Genetic Variation Noun

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[juh-net-ik vair-ee-ay-shun]

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Genetic Variation

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The natural differences in genetic traits among individuals within a population, which is essential for natural selection.

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Example: This collection of beetles shows the wide range of differences in traits, like color and shape, that can exist within a group of organisms due to genetic variation.

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Differential Reproduction Noun

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[dif-uh-ren-shul ree-pro-duk-shun]

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Differential Reproduction

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The principle that individuals with the best adaptations are most likely to survive and produce more offspring than others.

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Example: In a grassy environment, brown ants are better camouflaged from predators than green ants, so more brown ants survive to reproduce and pass on their color.

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Heritable Trait Noun

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[hair-i-tuh-bul trayt]

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Heritable Trait

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A specific characteristic or feature of an organism that can be passed down from parent to offspring through genes.

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Example: This pedigree chart shows how a trait (red square) is passed from parents to their offspring, demonstrating it is a heritable trait.

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Structural Adaptation Noun

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[struk-cher-ul ad-ap-tay-shun]

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Structural Adaptation

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A physical feature of an organism's body, such as body covering or shape, that helps it survive.

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Example: Different bird species evolved unique beak shapes (a structural adaptation) that are specialized for eating specific foods like nectar, insects, or seeds.

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Camouflage Noun

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[kam-uh-flahzh]

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Camouflage

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A structural adaptation that allows an organism to blend in with its environment to avoid detection by predators or prey.

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Example: This gecko's skin color and pattern are an adaptation that allows it to blend in with the surrounding rock, making it harder for predators to spot.

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Mimicry Noun

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[mim-ik-ree]

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Mimicry

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An adaptation where one organism evolves to resemble another, often more dangerous, species to deter predators.

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Example: The harmless Viceroy butterfly has adapted to look like the toxic Monarch butterfly, an example of mimicry that helps it avoid being eaten by predators.

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Behavioral Adaptation Noun

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[bi-heyv-yer-ul ad-ap-tay-shun]

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Behavioral Adaptation

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An action or activity, either instinctive or learned, that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.

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Example: This diagram shows how warblers developed migration, a behavioral adaptation, over time, moving from a nonmigratory ancestor to a species that travels south for winter.