Plants and Adaptations Plants have adaptations that help them to survive, live and grow in certain environments. These adaptations are special features that help them to make the most of the surrounding area. They also explain why some plants are found in certain areas, but not in others. Plants and Adaptations - What is plant adaptation? Plant adaptation is when a species develops special features to improve its chances of survival. Adaptations evolve over a long period of time, and they are inheritable, meaning they are passed on to offspring.
Types of Adaptation in Plants There are three types of adaptation - structural adaptation, behavioural adaptation, and physiological adaptation.
A structural adaptation is a physical feature that an organism has evolved in order to survive. In plants, this could include the evolution of waxy leaves or different root structures.
Behavioural adaptations are something an organism does to improve its survival. An example of this in plants is how they grow towards the sun, or close their leaves during hot times in the day.
And the final type of adaptation is physiological adaptations. These are something that happens within an organism to change the chemical processes going on inside its cells. In plants, an example of this is the production of poisons and toxins that help protect them from predators.
Plants need to adapt for three main reasons:
to survive harsh environmental conditions such as the climate; to protect themselves against predators; and to be more successful when living alongside competitors. This includes fighting for space, water, or nutrients. Plants and Their Adaptations to Different Habitats Plants adapt differently depending on their habitats, predators and their competitors.
