Adaptations of Plants
Science: KS3, topic 1.3.17
Adaptations of Plants
Adaptations are changes in an organism. Adaptations allow the organism to survive in its environment.
Definition of adaptations
- Adaptations are changes in an organism.
- Adaptations allow the organism to survive in its environment.
- Adaptations are changes that occur over millions of years.
- Changes occur through natural selection and evolution.
- Organisms pass on characteristics to their offspring.
- Organisms pass on characteristics in DNA.
Cacti
- Cacti live in the desert.
- The desert environment is harsh with:
- Very little rainfall
- High day temperatures
- Very low night temperatures due to lack of cloud cover
Cacti's adaptations
- Cacti have the following adaptations for the desert:
- Spines instead of leaves to reduce water loss and offer protection
- Fleshy stems that store water
- Waxy coating to prevent water loss
- Deep roots to reach water underground
- Wide roots to absorb rainwater from the surface
The Venus flytrap
- The Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant.
- The Venus flytrap is native to the wetlands of the United States.
- The Venus flytrap likes moist acidic soil.
- The Venus flytrap lives in nitrogen-poor environments.
Adaptations of the Venus flytrap
- The Venus flytrap is adapted to get nutrients like nitrogen from insects.
- The Venus flytrap has short hairs.
- The hairs trigger the plant's trap if insects bend them.
- The plant's trap closes when triggered.
- The plant's digestive acids start to digest the insect.
Test yourself on Adaptations of Plants
Which feature of the Venus flytrap acts as a sensitive trigger?
What would most likely happen if a cactus lost its waxy coating?