Adaptive features
Adaptive features
- An adaptive feature is an inherited feature that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.
- Two plant examples (Supplement):
- hydrophytes (water plants): air spaces to help them float; stomata on the upper leaf surface,
- xerophytes (desert plants): a thick waxy cuticle, few small stomata, and water storage — all to reduce water loss.
Practice
An adaptive feature is:
Adaptive features are inherited and improve an organism's chances of surviving and reproducing in its environment.
Practice
A xerophyte (desert plant) typically has:
Xerophytes reduce water loss with a thick cuticle, few small stomata and water storage; hydrophytes have air spaces to float.
Practice
Adaptive features are inherited, not learned during an organism's life.
Adaptive features are passed on in the genes; they are not acquired by learning.
You've got it
Key idea
- an adaptive feature is inherited and helps an organism survive + reproduce in its environment
- (Supplement) hydrophytes float (air spaces; top-surface stomata)
- (Supplement) xerophytes cut water loss (thick cuticle, few stomata, water storage)