Vocabulary
Adaptation
Any heritable trait that helps an organism, such as a plant or animal, survive and reproduce in its environment.
Physiological Adaptation
How the animal or plant functions on the inside. This would include changes at the cell level, chemicals produced, or processes inside of the animal or plant.
Aestivation
The state of inactivity that animals resort to, in order to avoid damage from high temperature.
Variation
Small changes or differences between individuals from the same species.
Hibernation
Animals resort to a state of inactivity to avoid damage from low temperatures.
Behavioral Adaptation
What an animal/plant does or how it acts.
Prey
An animal that is hunted and killed by another for food.
Artificial Selection
Humans have identified desirable traits in plants and animals. It's the steps taken to enhance and perpetuate those traits in future generations.
Dormancy
Temporarily inactive or inoperative.
Migration
The short-term movement of animals from one environment to another.
Predator
An animal that hunts others organisms for food.
Natural Selection
The process in nature by which organisms that are better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more than those whom are less adapted to their environment.
Traits
A characteristic of an organism. These could be Physical (structural) traits, physiological or behavioral characteristics.
Camouflage
Used by plants and animals to blend into their environment.
Evolution
The process in which a species has changed over time.
Probability
The likelihood something will happen. Like offspring having a similar trait to a parent.
Structural Adaptation
How the plant or animal functions on the outside, or in other words, how the organism looks on the outside.
Mimicry
This occurs when one animal or plant display physical or behavioral traits that copy those of a different species or its surroundings.
Biological Fitness
It is the ability to survive to reproductive age, find a mate, and pass genetic material to its offspring.
Structural Adaptation