Adaptation in Nature

Adaptation: Overview

• Adaptation involves changes to acclimate to new environments or situations.

Human Adaptation

• During winter, humans wear heavier clothing to maintain body warmth.

Plant Adaptation

• Chlorophyll, the green pigment in leaves, is essential for photosynthesis (food production).
• In autumn, shorter days and reduced sunlight lead to the breakdown of chlorophyll, causing leaves to change color (yellow, red, brown) and eventually fall off.
• During winter, the lack of chlorophyll results in dormancy, where plants become inactive.
• Plants re-emerge from dormancy in spring and summer, becoming active again.

Animal Adaptation

• Animals face food scarcity in winter and adapt through two primary strategies:
  • Hibernation: Long-term state of reduced metabolic activity characterized by slow heart rate and breathing. Example species include bears and mice.
  • Migration: Movement of large animals to different locations to access food or warmer climates during colder months.

Explore the fascinating ways in which living organisms adapt to their environments. This quiz covers examples in humans, plants, and animals, illustrating changes in behavior and physiology during seasonal transitions. Test your knowledge on how these adaptations support survival and growth.