Adaptations to Environment

An adaptation is a feature that increases an organism's chance of surviving and reproducing in its environment. Adaptations arise through natural selection and can be structural (body features), physiological (internal chemistry and processes), or behavioral. Studying adaptations shows how form and function are shaped by the particular challenges of an organism's habitat, especially the availability of water.

Plant Adaptations: Xerophytes

Xerophytes are plants adapted to dry environments such as deserts, where water is scarce and evaporation is high. Their adaptations reduce water loss while still allowing gas exchange:

• Thick, waxy cuticle on leaves to reduce evaporation from the surface.
• Reduced leaf area, sometimes leaves modified into spines, lowering the surface for water loss.
• Sunken