Biology
Adaptation to habitat
Why a camel thrives in the desert and a polar bear in the cold: body and behaviour fit the habitat.
A polar bear would not survive in the desert, and a camel would not survive at the North Pole. Every animal lives where its body and behaviour fit well. This fit is called adaptation. It does not appear within a single animal's life but builds up over many generations: whoever fits the habitat better leaves more offspring. In this chapter you will see what that looks like.
Life in the desert
In the desert it is hot and dry, and water is rare. A camel is built exactly for this. In its hump it stores fat as a supply, and it can go a very long time without drinking. Its wide feet do not sink into the sand. Many desert animals are also active at night, when it is cooler, and hide in the shade during the day.
After 0 generations: 50 % camouflaged
The environment selects, the beetle does not decide: camouflaged beetles are eaten less often.
Life in the cold
In icy cold regions it is all about keeping warmth. The polar bear has a thick coat and, beneath it, a thick layer of fat that warms like a blanket. Its coat looks white and hides it in the snow, even though the individual hairs are transparent. The body shape helps too: animals in the cold often have small ears, because large ears lose a lot of heat.
Not just the body, the behaviour too
Adaptation is not only in the body but also in behaviour. Some animals move to a warmer region when it gets cold. Others dig burrows, gather supplies, or hibernate. In this way each animal copes in its own way with the conditions in its habitat.
Exercises
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What does the camel store in its hump as a supply?
Why are many desert animals hidden by day and active at night?
In the desert three traits of the body help the camel: fat in its hump, getting by for a long time without drinking, and wide feet. On top of that many desert animals show one adaptation in behaviour: being active at night. How many desert adaptations is that in total?
Match each adaptive trait to the habitat problem it solves.
The polar bear is protected against heat loss by its thick coat, the layer of fat beneath it and its small ears. How many traits is that?
When it gets cold, some animals dig burrows and others go into … to get through the cold season.