Adaptations and extremophiles

In a nutshell

Organisms are suited to the environment they live in. They have structural, behavioural and functional features that allow them to survive. Extremophiles are adapted to extreme and harsh living conditions.

Adaptations

Definition

Adaptations are special features that organisms have that are suited to the environment they live in. Adaptations can be structural, behavioural or functional.

Adaptation	Description	Example(s)
Structural	These are features of an organism's body structure like shape or colour.	Arctic foxes have white fur so they cannot be seen against the snow. This protects them from predators and allows them to sneak up on prey. Animals that live in hot environments like camels have a thin layer of fat and a large surface area to volume ratio. This helps them lose heat and stay cool.
Behavioural	These are the ways an organism behaves.	Many species of birds migrate to warmer climates during winter to avoid living in cold conditions and the associated problems.
Functional	These are things that happen inside an organism's body.	Desert animals produce very little sweat and small amounts of concentrated urine to ensure they do not lose too much water.

Extremophiles

Definition

Extremophiles are microorganisms that are adapted to living in extreme conditions.

Examples

Extreme condition	Environment
High temperature	Volcanic vents
High salt concentration	Salty lakes
High pressure	Deep sea vents