Types of adaptations
This type of adaptation is a physical feature of an organism’s body.
Structural adaptation
Thick fur on an arctic fox is this type of adaptation.
Structural
A selection pressure is best described as this.
An environmental challenge that affects survival
Thick fur is an adaptation to this selection pressure.
Cold temperatures
An animal living in the Arctic needs this adaptation to avoid heat loss.
Thick fur
This type of adaptation involves actions or behaviours that help survival.
Behavioural adaptation
A kangaroo rat producing concentrated urine is this type of adaptation.
Physiological
Predators create this type of selection pressure.
Biotic
Water storage is an adaptation to this selection pressure.
Drought / scarce water
A fish living in a fast‑flowing river needs this adaptation to move efficiently.
Streamlined body
This type of adaptation involves internal body processes such as temperature regulation.
Physiological adaptation
A nocturnal animal avoiding daytime heat is this type of adaptation.
Behavioural
Drought creates this type of selection pressure.
Abiotic
Burrowing behaviour helps organisms survive this selection pressure in grasslands.
Fire / predators / heat
An animal living in a sclerophyll forest needs this adaptation to survive frequent fires.
Burrowing behaviour
A snake producing venom is an example of this type of adaptation
Physiological
A streamlined body in a fish helps with this environmental challenge.
Moving through water / currents
This selection pressure explains why desert animals often have large ears.
Heat / overheating
A specialised diet helps organisms survive this rainforest selection pressure.
Competition for food
A desert organism without water‑saving adaptations is likely to face this outcome.
Dehydration / reduced survival
A meerkat acting as a sentinel is an example of this type of adaptation.
Behavioural
Camouflage helps an organism survive by reducing this risk.
Predation / being seen by predators
Low light on the rainforest floor creates this selection pressure for plants.
Competition for light
Nocturnal behaviour helps organisms avoid this selection pressure in deserts.
Extreme daytime heat
If a population’s environment becomes colder over time, individuals with this trait will be favoured.
Greater insulation / thicker fur