Core Concepts
This term describes a heritable trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.
What is an adaptation?
This phrase is often used as a shorthand for "natural selection".
What is "survival of the fittest"?
This is an adaptation where one organism, like the harmless scarlet king snake, looks like another deadly organism to avoid being attacked by predators.
What is mimicry?
This 1850s event in England led to factories producing black soot that covered trees and buildings.
What is the Industrial Revolution?
These types of adaptations are specific actions an organism takes to survive, such as migrating.
What are behavioral adaptations?
This concept refers to an organism's ability to survive and produce offspring in its specific environment.
What is fitness?
To be considered an adaptation, a trait must be able to be passed down in this way.
What is genetically?
To survive the pollution from the Industrial Revolution, these insects developed a darker color to blend in with soot-covered trees and hide from predators.
What are peppered moths?
In The Amazing Story of the Peppered Moths, these were rare before the Industrial Revolution but became common after soot turned the trees black.
What are black-colored moths?
These types of adaptations are physical features, like a bird's beak or wing structure.
What are structural adaptations?
In the process of natural selection, individuals with high fitness are more likely to do these two things. (Hint: Think about what every organism wants to do in life)
What are survive and reproduce?
These help organisms stay safe from "hazards" in their environment.
What are adaptations?
Koalas have adapted to digest these toxic, low-protein leaves, which allows them to survive by eating a food source with very little competition.
What are eucalyptus leaves?
In Battle of the Beaks, you were a finch on these islands, tasked with eating as much food as possible with your given beak.
What are the Galapagos Islands?
This is the ultimate "goal" or outcome for an organism that has successfully adapted to its environment.
What is survival?