B 4.

1
Adaptations to
Environment
Guiding Questions:

ow are the adaptations and habitats of species relat

“What causes the similarities between

ecosystems within a terrestrial
biome?”
Learning Objectives
Habitat as the place in which a A description of the habitat of a species can include both geographical and
B4.1.1 community, species, population physical locations, and the type of ecosystem.
or organism lives
Adaptations of organisms to the Include a grass species adapted to sand dunes and a tree species adapted to
B4.1.2 abiotic environment of their mangrove swamps.
habitat
Include examples of abiotic variables for both plants & animals. Students
Abiotic variables affecting should understand that the adaptations of a species give it a range of
B4.1.3
species distribution tolerance.
Students should use transect data to correlate the distribution of plant or
animal species with an abiotic variable. Students should collect this data
Range of tolerance of a limiting themselves from a natural or seminatural habitat. Semi-natural habitats have
B4.1.4 been influenced by humans but are dominated by wild rather than cultivated
factor
species. Sensors could be used to measure abiotic variables such as
temperature, light intensity and soil pH.

Conditions required for coral Coral reefs are used here as an example of a marine ecosystem. Factors
B4.1.5 should include water depth, pH, salinity, clarity and temperature.
reef formation
Students should understand that, for any given temperature and rainfall
Abiotic factors as the pattern, one natural ecosystem type is likely to develop. Illustrate this using a
B4.1.6 determinants of terrestrial graph showing the distribution of biomes with these two climatic variables on
biome distribution the horizontal and vertical axes.

Biomes as groups of ecosystems Students should be familiar with the climate conditions that characterize the
with similar communities due to tropical forest, temperate forest, taiga, grassland, tundra and hot desert
B4.1.7 biomes.
similar abiotic conditions and
convergent evolution
Adaptations to life in hot deserts Include examples of adaptations in named species of plants and animals.
B4.1.8
and tropical rainforest
 Habitat as the place
…in which a community, species, population or organism lives
https://www.britannica.com/science/habitat-biology

A habitat is the place where an

organism lives, which could be both in
terms of its geographical as well as its
physical location within an ecoystem.

d you describe the habitat of the

Adaptations of organisms to the abiotic environment
….of their habitat
Organisms need to adapt to their biotic and abiotic factors within their habitat.

Biotic factors are “living” factors which Abiotic factors are ”non-living” physical
have impact on feeding, predator-prey, factors. They have an influence on
symbiotic, mutalistic or other forms of specific adaptations of organism to live
interdependent relationships. in their respective habitat.
Adaptations of organisms to the abiotic environment
….of their habitat
How would you Plants in
describe the
abiotic
alpine
conditions of areas
these habitats?

Grass and Trees in

sand dunes mangrove
forests
Adaptations of organisms to the abiotic environment
….of their habitat
Plants growing in high altitude are exposed
to many different types of abiotic stress,
such as UV radiation, low temperature,
water scarcity and frozen soil (permafrost)
which makes rooting and absorption of
nutrients and water difficult.
 Adaptations of organisms to the abiotic environment
….of their habitat
Can you explain how the following
features help alpine plants (e.g.
edelweiss, moss campion...) to
https://plantura.garden/uk/flowers-perennials/edelweiss/edelweiss-overview

adapt to its Small

environment?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silene_acaulis
leaves,
stunted
growth to
stay low to
the
ground.
White,
reflective wooly
hair.

Thick, fleshy
leaves (just like
in succulents)
Adaptations of organisms to the abiotic environment
….of their habitat
Plants growing on beach dunes have the challenge of water conservation
and tolerance of high salt concentration which hinders water uptake by
osmosis. Sand retains little water and it contains little organic matter
(which normally helps to store water).

https://dynamicdunescapes.co.uk/species/marram-grass/
Grasses, such as marram grass are good examples for plants which show adaptations to this.
 Adaptations of organisms to the abiotic environment
….of their habitat
Can you explain how the following
https://www.dreamstime.com/rhizome-marram-grass-rhizome-marram-grass-fresh-shoot-emerging-shifting-dune-sand-image185729003

features help grasses (e.g.

marram
Thickgrass) to adapt
waxy covering to (cuticle)
on leaves its Leaves
environment to a life in sand that
dunes? can roll
up

https://pixels.com/featured/marram-grass-leaf-section-gerd-guenther.html
Underground
stems
(rhizomes)

Accumula Stomata
(pores in
tion of the leaf) in
carbohydr indentation
Adaptations of organisms to the abiotic environment
….of their habitat
Adaptations of organisms to the abiotic environment
….of their habitat

Mangrove swamps develop in the tropics and

subtropics where they grow under shelterd
conditions and where mud accumulates. The soil
is waterlogged, anaerobic and with high salt
concentrations (due to the evaporation of water).

https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2022/07/26/6-reasons-for-restoring-and-protecting-mangroves
Adaptations of organisms to the abiotic environment
….of their habitat
Can you explain how the
following features help trees to
adapt to its environment
Stilt roots growingtoin aa
life in mangrove samps?
downward arch from the
stem

matophores and Cable roots

https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/plants-algae/mangroves
Salt glands in leave

https://www.langdale-associates.com/australia_2011/part_7/mangrove-roots.htm
Buoyant seeds
Adaptations of organisms to the abiotic environment
Adaptations to the abiotic environment of plants growing in waterlogged soil (Mangrove trees)
Adaptation Purpose of the structure
Pneumatophores
and cable roots

Stilt roots
growing in a
downward arch
from the stem.

Buoyant seeds

Salt glands in
leaves
Abiotic variables affecting species distribution
The distribution of a
species where it lives
can be shown on a
map. Distribution
maps reflect the
Glanville Fritiniary factors that affect
(Melitaea cinxia) species, especially
abiotic factors.

Animal distributions
are affected by abiotic
factors such as water
availability and
https://lepido.ch/espece/melitee-du-plantain/ temperature.
Abiotic variables affecting species distribution
Plant distributions are affected by temperature, water availability, light
intensity, soil pH, soil salinity and the availability of mineral nutrients.
Plants have specific adaptations to the abiotic factor in their habitat.

https://atlas.infoflora.ch/en/?taxon_id=1034250
Range of tolerance of a limiting factor
To investigate the range of tolerance of an abiotic factor such as pH, temperature
or light intensity, a transect can be used. There are different types of sampling
data with transects. The two most important ones are shown below:

https://www.savemyexams.co.uk/a-level/biology/cie/22/revision-notes/18-classification-biodiversity--conservation/18-2-biodiversity/18-2-4-testing-for-distribution--abundance/
Range of tolerance of a limiting factor
Range of tolerance of a limiting factor
Conditions required for coral reef formation
Coral reefs are biodiverse marine ecosystems which are only able to develop where
conditions are suitable for hard corals. The corals are animals, which share a
mutualistic relationship with tiny algael cells called zooxanthellae, form the rocky
structure of the reef. Zooxanthellae perform photosynthesis, so light is required.
Conditions required for coral reef formation
Low depth pH
So that light can penetrate and Salinity Above 7.8 to allow
deposition of CaCO3 in
photosynthesis carried out To avoid osmotic
problems the coral skeleton
Clarity
Turbidity prevents Warm temperature
light penetration Optimal temperature for coral
and zooxanthellae

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/we-can-save-earths-coral-reefs/
Abiotic factors
….as the determinants of terrestrial biome distribution

A biome is a biogeographical unit consisting of

a biological community, that has formed in
response to the physical environment in which
they are found, and a shared regional climate.
Abiotic factors
….as the determinants of terrestrial biome distribution
Earth temperature and
annual rainfall are the two
main abiotic factors which
determine the distribution
of terrestrial biomes.

The species composition of

organism living in the
biomes will vary depending
on geographical location,
but the adaptations are
likely to be similar.
Biomes as groups of ecosystems with similar communities
….due to similar abiotic conditions and convergent evolution
Tropical Temperate Taiga (Boreal) Desert Grassland Tundra

Use the information of the climatographs and complete the table.

Tropical Temper Taiga Desert Grasslan Tundra
ate (Boreal) d
Temperature

Seasonal
variation

Precipitation

Plant
communities
include
Biomes as groups of ecosystems with similar communities
….due to similar abiotic conditions and convergent evolution
Tropical Temperate Taiga (Boreal) Desert Grassland Tundra

Use the information of the climatographs and complete the table.

Tropic Tempera Taiga Desert Grasslan Tundra
al te (Boreal) d
Temperature high medium low high high/medium very low
Seasonal
variation warm summers,
short summers, short summers,
minimal cold winters, spring minimal variation dry and cold seasons
long cold winters very cold winters
and autumn
Precipitation
high medium/high medium/high very low medium/high medium/low
Plant Very high plant Deciduous broad- Evergreen forests Little vegetation, often Grass species, little No trees because of
communities biodiversity. leafed trees which dominated by conifer with spines for leaves, significant tree growth lack of water & short
include loose leaves in colder trees. adapted for water because of lack of water. growing season. Soil is
season. conservation frozen for most of the
year – so little growth.
Biomes as groups of ecosystems with similar communities
….due to similar abiotic conditions and convergent evolution

https://www.treehugger.com/tundra-plants-5193248
Arctic willow Moss campion Tundra rose

Cotton grass Pasqueflower Arctic lupine

Plants growing in the tundra all share similar adaptations to the abiotic environment,
no matter where in the world they grow. They typically are close to the ground,
small in height, slow growing and have hair to trap heat. They germinate,
flower, and set seeds within a very short growing season. Their
waxy leaves help to preserve water and the shallow root system
Adaptations to life in hot deserts and tropical rainforest
Research the adaptations

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/five-major-types-biomes/
cacti show to life in hot
deserts

Environmental conditions to which organism need to adapt against:

• Very high daytime temperatures, very low night time temperatures
• Litte water availability due to low annual rainfall
• Limited soil development
• Predators and little shelter
Adaptations to life in hot deserts and tropical rainforest

https://www.thoughtco.com/fennec-fox-4692222
Research the adaptations the fennec
fox shows to life in Environmental
hot deserts.
conditions to which
organism need to adapt against:
• Very high daytime temperatures, very
low night time temperatures
• Litte water availability due to low
annual rainfall
• Limited soil development
• Predators and little shelter
Adaptations to life in hot deserts and tropical rainforest
Research the
adaptations the
spider monkey shows
to life in tropical
rainforest

Environmental conditions to which organism need to adapt against:

• High temperatures
• High levels of humidity and high annual rainfall
• Low light availability due to dense forest canopy
• Little ground space for habitat
• Predation due to high biodiversity
https://neprimateconservancy.org/spider-monkeys/
Adaptations to life in hot deserts and tropical rainforest
Research the adaptations
the blue poison dart frog
shows to life in tropical
rainforest

Environmental conditions to which organism need to adapt against:

• High temperatures
• High levels of humidity and high annual rainfall
• Low light availability due to dense forest canopy
• Little ground space for habitat
• Predation due to high biodiversity
https://tnaqua.org/animal/blue-poison-dart-frog/
Adaptations to life in hot deserts and tropical rainforest
Research the
adaptations
Philodendron shows

https://www.exoticrainforest.com/Philodendron%20giganteum%20%20pc.html
to life in the tropical
rainforest

Environmental conditions to which organism need to adapt against:

• High temperatures
• High levels of humidity and high annual rainfall
• Low light availability due to dense forest canopy
• Little ground space for habitat
• Predation due to high biodiversity