1. 7.1 Adaptation and Variation

2. Definitions
Species: a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
Species diversity: the variety and abundance of species in a given area

3. Genetic Diversity
Genetic diversity: the variety of heritable characteristics in a population of interbreeding individuals
Population: a group of
individuals of the same
species in an area.

4. Challenges to survival

5. Why is diversity within a species important?

6. What kind of variations exist within a species?

7. Adaptation
A structure, behaviors or physiological process that helps an organism survive and reproduce in a particular environment
Q : What kid of adaptations does a polar bear have?

8. Structural Adaptations
Any physical feature that helps the organism survive.
Ex …..
The stick insect uses
________ as an adaptation

9. Mimicry
Mimicry: A structural adaptation in which a harmless species resembles a harmful species
Example: viceroy butterfly mimics the harmful monarch.

10. Batesian vs. Mullerian mimicry
Batesian mimicry: unharmful species mimics a harmful one
Mullerian mimicry: 2 harmful species mimic eachother

11. Behavioral Adaptations
Something that an organism does, an action, that helps them survive
Example:

12. Physiological Adaptations
A body function that helps an organism survive
venom
Tolerance to environmental conditions (salt temperature, chemicals)
Hibernation

13. How do adaptations develop?
Variation exists naturally, due to random genetic mutations in DNA and development
Not all variations become adaptations
Environmental conditions determine whether a variation in an individual will have a positive or negative or neutral effect
Individuals with a helpful variation are more likely to survive and that variation will become more frequent in the population.

14. Adaptations in Action