Significance of Ecological Adaptation B.Sc I Year Syllabus

1. Significance of Adaptation
Dr. Asmita Daspute .

2. Adaptation
Adaptation to environment is one of the basic characteristics of the living
organisms. ...
Adaptation to environmental dynamics is a biological process eternally
operating in nature.
It is a facet of evolution and involve structural diversities amongst living
organisms that are heritable.
The adjustments made by the individuals in response to the specific
environmental conditions are known as adaptations.
Adaptations are structural or physiological characteristics that allow an
organism to exist under the conditions imposed by its habitat.
Some adaptations are structural, while some are behavioural.

4. Categories of Adaptations:
 Adaptations may be classified into three main categorie
 a. Inherited Adaptations:
 Inherited adaptations are
 those inherited from one generation to another.
 b. Acquired Adaptations:
 These are acquired by a species under the influence of the environment.
For example, the skin colour changes after exposure to sunlight. Similarly the
body produces antibodies to protect against toxins.

5.  c. Ecological Adaptations:
 Ecological adaptations are those developed by plants and animals
in different habitats.
 Accordingly adaptations may be further classified into desert, fresh
water, marine, pelagic, etc.

6. Structural Adaptations
 These involve the physical features of an organism that help them to
survive in the environment including the different types of terrestrial
habitat. The physical changes are related to the changes in the physical
environment. For eg., camouflage, which is the protective colouration that
helps an organism to blend in its environment. This protects them from
predators and increases their chances of survival.

14. Behavioural Adaptations
 This is the change that affects the behaviour of an organism. This could
be caused due to the changes in the surrounding environment or due to
the actions of other species. For eg: The rabbit freezes if it feels that it has
been seen by a predator. Changes in reproductive strategy, feeding
habits, migration, hibernation, communication methods are a few other
examples of behavioural adaptations

20. Physiological Adaptations
 Like structural adaptations, the physiological adaptations also involve
physical changes in the species. However, physiological adaptations
are not always seen in the organism’s appearance. This type of
adaptation can be either due to changes in the environment or due
to the behaviour of other species.
 For eg: A fish living in water that suddenly becomes more acidic has to
shift its body chemistry to adapt itself.

21. Types of Adaptation
 Behavior.
 Camouflage.
 Environment.
 Habitat.
 Inborn Behavior (instinct)
 Mimicry.
 Predator.

22. Significance of Plant Adaptation
Dr. Asmita Daspute.

36. Theory of Adaptation
 The theory of adaptation was proposed by Charles Darwin which states that
an organism that is able to adapt to the changing environment will survive,
the rest will be eliminated. This is known as survival of the fittest.
 According to the adaptation theory, there are different changes that take
place when the habitat changes:
 • Habitat Tracking: This is when a species finds another similar environment
to which it has inhabited before.
 • Extinction: When the species is unable to find such an environment, it
dies or becomes extinct.
 • Genetic Change: This occurs when organisms with slight genetic
changes are better adapted to changed habitat with better access to
resources and mating partners.

37. Importance of Adaptation
 Adaptation is essential for the survival of living organisms. Animals, which are unable to
adapt to changing environmental changes die. These adaptations are a result of
genetic changes. The animals that survive pass on the mutated genes to their
offsprings. This is known as natural selection.
 Adaptations such as camouflage and colouration protect them from predators. DNA
mutations help in the longer survival of animals in dangerous environments and these
traits of survival are passed onto future generations. These adaptations make it
possible for a variety of creatures to thrive on planet earth.
 Charles Darwin studied turtles of two islands. The turtles present on one island had
short legs, straight shells and derived food present low to the ground. A few turtles
migrated to another island, where the food was much higher up. The turtles with
longer legs survived. Their necks elongated and shells became rounded over the
course of time. Thus, the population on the new island grew with these adaptations in
their species.