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Structural Adaptations to the Environment

TAKS. Structural Adaptations to the Environment. Structural adaptations to the environment. Every species is uniquely adapted to its environment This ensures the survival of the species. Structural adaptations to the environment. Camels Heavy insulation of fur on backs

aristotle-russell
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Structural Adaptations to the Environment

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  1. TAKS Structural Adaptations to the Environment

  2. Structural adaptations to the environment • Every species is uniquely adapted to its environment • This ensures the survival of the species

  3. Structural adaptations to the environment Camels • Heavy insulation of fur on backs • Long eye lashes to protect eyes from sand • Legs long and not fatty • Walks on two toes protected from heat by pads of tissue

  4. Structural adaptations to the environment Camels • Kidney reabsorbs most of the water in urine • Able to drink rapidly to replenish water losses – but does not store water in body (27 gallons in 10 mins!) • Tolerates high levels of dehydration of body tissues

  5. Structural adaptations to the environment Camels • Tolerates wide range of body core temperatures • Feces so dry they can be burned immediately

  6. Structural adaptations to the environment Desert rats • Survive by avoiding the conditions camels thrive in • Live underground in burrows only coming out at night • Rarely if ever drinks water

  7. Structural adaptations to the environment Desert rats • Water supply comes from the respiration of its food • Produces a virtually solid urine • Virtually no sweat glands

  8. Structural adaptations to the environment Plants • Mesophytes – plants living where water is readily available • Xerophytes – plants living in areas where water is in short supply • Halophytes – plants living in salty areas

  9. Structural adaptations to the environment Mesophytes • Includes native plants of Britain • Can control their rate of transpiration • Close their stomata at times of water stress • Can easily recover from short periods of wilting

  10. Structural adaptations to the environment Xerophytes • Reduction of leaves to fine spikes, reducing transpiration • Stem has hard thick epidermis and a waxy cuticle • Can fix carbon dioxide at night so stomata remain closed during the day

  11. Structural adaptations to the environment Xerophytes • Marram grass (see notes from earlier in course) • Reduced number of stomata sunk deep into grooves • Leaves roll up into cylinder shape –trapping moist air within leaf • Interlocking hairs reduce transpiration

  12. Structural adaptations to the environment Halophytes • Although often surrounded by water it is usually salty • Actively absorb salts into their roots so roots have a lower water potential than surrounding water • Also have many xeromorphic features to help them conserve water

  13. Structural adaptations to the environment Adaptations in humans to high altitudes • Greater depth of breathing, higher lung capacity and larger tidal volumes • Blood has a higher affinity for oxygen • Oxygen dissociation curve is shifted to the left • Darker skins to combat higher UV radiation levels

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