Adaptations (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Flashcards
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What are the three main ways that organisms adapt to their environment?
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What are the three main ways that organisms adapt to their environment?
Organisms adapt behaviorally, physiologically, and structurally.
Define behavioral adaptation.
A behavioral adaptation is an action taken by an organism to survive in its environment, such as birds migrating to warmer regions in winter.
Define physiological adaptation.
A physiological adaptation is an internal body process that helps an organism survive, such as camels conserving water by producing concentrated urine.
The thick fur that insulates arctic foxes against the cold is a adaptation.
The thick fur that insulates arctic foxes against the cold is a structural adaptation.
Define acclimation.
Acclimation is a temporary, reversible physiological change in response to immediate environmental conditions.
True or False?
Acclimation is inherited and plays a role in evolution.
False.
Acclimation is not inherited, does not involve changes to DNA, and plays no role in evolutionary processes.
How does the human body acclimate to high altitudes?
The human body acclimates to high altitudes by increasing red blood cell production.
How do long-term adaptations develop?
Long-term adaptations develop over many generations through natural selection and involve DNA changes.
How might organisms respond immediately to a sudden environmental change?
Organisms may respond to a sudden change by altering certain behaviors or moving to a new habitat.
What can happen to a species when environmental change exceeds its ability to adapt?
When environmental change exceeds its ability to adapt, a species may alter its behavior, migrate, or perish.
True or False?
Coyotes becoming more nocturnal in urban areas is an example of migration.
False.
It is an example of altered behavior, which helps coyotes avoid human interaction and exploit urban food resources at night.
The golden toad of Costa Rica's Monteverde Cloud Forest went extinct because of habitat loss combined with change.
The golden toad of Costa Rica's Monteverde Cloud Forest went extinct because of habitat loss combined with climate change.
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