Question

Explain, with examples, why we find animals of certain kind living in particular climatic conditions?

Answer 1

Adaptation:

1. Adaptation is referred to as the physical as well as behavioral change in the characteristics of an organism so that the organism can survive in the habitat in which it has to live.
2. Adaptation is different from acclimatization as the latter refers to a short-term change when it is transferred to a different habitat temporarily but is not adapted to live there for a long time.
3. Certain organisms are adapted to live in that particular environment only as through evolution they have developed those features which help them survive in that habitat.

Example:

1. Cactus, which grows in desert areas where there is a scarcity of water is why its leaves adapt themselves into thorns to reduce the evaporation of water and the stem becomes thicker to store water for a long time. These adaptations help the cactus survive in the desert area.
2. Polar bears live in very cold regions and hence they have a thick white fur along with a thick coating of fat. These adaptations help polar bears in remaining less visible to predators and the coating of fat protects them from freezing cold.