Environmental Adaption

Question 1

These selection pressures can have different effects on the allele frequencies of a population through natural selection

Certain alleles within a species population can produce features that make an organism better suited to its environment - adaptations

When new alleles of genes result from mutation there is the potential for relatively rapid change in a species if their environment changes

For example, a favourable allele in the lion population could result in a higher proportion of fast-twitch muscle fibres in their legs, which is advantageous for sprinting after prey

Question 2

Natural selection will select for favourable alleles that produce adaptations

The lions with the advantageous alleles are more likely to catch prey and survive

These lions will produce more…………

The allele frequency will ………in the population

The resulting adaptation will become more …………in the population

The species will be better suited to their ………….

Answer 2

offspring

increase

common

environment

Question 3

Natural selection will select against ………………………

The slower lions that have the unfavourable allele are less likely to catch prey and survive

These lions will produce less offspring

The allele frequency will decrease in the population

The species will be better suited to their environment

Answer 3

unfavourable alleles

Question 4

This means that over time natural selection will cause favourable allele to ……………. and unfavourable allele to ………………

which makes species

Answer 4

This means that over time natural selection will cause favourable allele frequencies to increase and unfavourable allele frequencies to decrease, making the species better adapted to their environment

Question 5

Types of Adaptations
Adaptations enable organisms to

Answer 5

survive in the conditions in which they normally live

Question 6

An adaptation can be

Answer 6

anatomical, physiological and behavioural

Question 7

what is anatomical adaptation and a example in polar bears

Answer 7

Structural/physical feature

Example: The white fur of a polar bear provides camouflage in the snow so it has less chance of being detected by prey

Question 8

what is physiological adaptation and a example

in mosquitos

Answer 8

Biological processes within the organism

Example: Mosquitos produce chemicals that stop the animal’s blood clotting when they bite, so that they can feed more easily

Question 9

Behavioural and an example in cold blooded mammals

Answer 9

The way an organism behaves
Example: Cold-blooded reptiles bask in the sun to absorb heat

Question 10

You may be asked to identify whether an adaptation is anatomical, physiological or behavioural so make sure you have a good grasp of the difference between these types of adaptations! Learning an example for each can sometimes help you, as you then have them for comparison when in an exam.