Question

How do the organisms living in habitats which can drastically change in time, cope or manage with stressful conditions?

Answer 1

In order to survive and reproduce, organisms need to appropriately adapt to changing environmental conditions in a habitat. Organism adapt in the following manner:-
● Regulate
● Conform
● Migrate
● Suspend

Through homeostatic mechanisms like thermoreg
ulation and osmoregulation, some organisms can adapt to temperature or salinity changes.

Homeostatic mechanisms are high energy requiring mechanisms. So most organisms like the fishes, reptiles and amphibians use behavioral mechanisms to combat environment changes. Example: Lizards go into shaded areas if the temperature is high.

If the stressful environment conditions are short-lived, animals exhibit migration where they move temporarily away from the stressful conditions. Example: Pied cuckoo migrates from Africa to India during the summer.

● Bacteria produce thick-walled spores.
● Seeds go through a period of metabolic inactivity by becoming dormant and germinating only under favourable conditions.
● Some animals like bears hibernate (to escape cold harsh conditions) and some animals like frogs perform aestivation (to escape the heat).
● Zooplanktons undergo diapause which is a state of suspended development.