Modification vs Adaptation

When people change the environment to fit themselves...

• Modification

• Adaptaion

• Non-examples

When the weather is cold people put on warm coats...

• Modification

• Adaptation

• Non Examples

People in the North East build houses with slanted roofs so that snow can fall off during bad weather...

• Mofication

• Adaptation

• Non Example

Answer explanation

People have adapted to their environments by building homes to sustain the weather they encounter. In Arizona the roofs on houses are flat because they do not worry about heavy snow caving in the roof. In California homes are built to withstand Earthquakes. Humans have adapted their homes to withstand the environment!

Building a dam to store or divert (change the path of) water

• Modification

• Adaptation

• Non Example

Answer explanation

Changing the direction and path of water is a change to the environment.

The Sun

• Modification

• Adaptation

• Non Example

A person changes themselves or learns a new behavior to fit their environment

• Modification

• Adaptation

• Non Example

Cutting down trees in a forest to build a home

• Modification

• Adaptaion

• Non Example

Answer explanation

Humans not only cut down trees which changed their environment, but also would burn forests to create grasslands.

A river flowing

• Modification

• Adaptation

• Non Example

Answer explanation

A river flowing is not a change to the environment therefore it is not a modification. It is not an adaptation because no organism is making a change to increase their survival.

Ms. Goldberg puts on sunscreen so she does not get sunburnt in the sun.

• Modification

• Adaptation

• Non Example

Answer explanation

Ms. Goldberg adapted to her environment by putting on sunscreen. She did not make a change to the environment itself.

Elevated (raised of the ground) houses built near flood zones or places with high tides are examples of...

• Modification

• Adapation

• Non Example

Answer explanation

This is an adaptation because people built the house because of their environment. Had they elevated an existing house it would have been modification.