Biological adaptation: What is, types and examples

Biological adaptation is the Promoting force of evolutionand includes the changes at the phenotypic and molecular level experienced by organisms over time in relation to the selective demands of their environment that allows them survive better in a changing environment. Although it is known that before the nineteenth century there was already talk of adaptation, especially because of Lamarck’s theory, it was not until the development of the theory of Natural selection by naturalists Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace where this concept was enhanced. Similarly, its concept has been expanded, since, in the Darwinian era, biological adaptation referred exclusively to changes at the phenotypic level while, since the beginning of the 20th century and with the progress of molecular biology, the molecular level has been introduced, that is, the changes given by gene regulation.

According to Wallace, the Evolution of organisms I was related to the Organisms adaptation to changing environmental conditions. In developing the theory of natural evolution, Wallace and Darwin took a step further when explaining how organisms adapt and evolve. The idea that became known with the theory of natural selection is that the features that can be transmitted allow the organisms that present these features to adapt to the environment than other organisms of the same species that lack said feature; Consequently, this entails better survival and reproduction compared to other individuals of the species that have not acquired that trait, which gives rise to evolution.

To expand this information, we recommend these other articles on the origin and evolution of animals and the origin and evolution and plants.

Acquired features can be given through Three types of biological adaptations:

• Morphological adaptation (or structural): It occurs when there is a change in the physical aspect of an organism. Several examples are developing windy or climbing claws, flying alar, swimming fins or legs with potential to jump.
• Physiological (or functional) adaptation: This type resembles the previous one, since they imply a physical change in the species, but, in this case, it focuses on the internal processes and operations of the organisms; In addition, these adaptations can be encouraged by a change in the environment or by the behavior of another species. For example, develop resistance to diseases or toxins, develop greater intelligence and improvements of the senses.
• Ethological adaptation (or behavioral): This type occurs when an organism changes its way of acting naturally. Some examples are changes of vocalizations, of courtship rituals, nesting or mating, as well as changes in the predatory strategy, in communication methods or in food habits.

In our environment, there are numerous Biological adaptation examples:

• One of them, we find it in the mimicry of insects with the leaves, because this mechanism allows them to camouflage and avoid being predated. As an example, we can mention the orchid mantis, which you can appreciate in the photo below.
• Bats also have a very important biological adaptation: the echolocation that serves to catch their prey.
• In the desert there is a plant, called El Chaparral, which produces toxins that causes other plants around them to grow, thus reducing competition for nutrients and water.
• Inside the marine medium, the foliated sea dragon (Phycodurus Eques) It presents adaptations that allow you to reduce its detectability to your predators, since they mix with the environment.
• In humans, the organisms of people living at large heights with considerably lower oxygen levels than at sea level, as is the case of Tibet, have developed changes in the chemistry of their body and genetic mutations that allowed them to use oxygen more efficiently without the need for a hemoglobin (IE, protein responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood) extra.
• Another example of adaptation of animals to their well -known environment is that of the evolution of the giraffes neck, which were gaining height but above all it was their neck the part of their body that was most extended to, thus, to be able to feed on the highest leaves of the high trees, an area of ​​food to which many other animals do not access and, therefore, thus they managed to have less competition for food.

Adaptations are vital for the survival and evolution of species, and their existence is based on counteracting the constantly changing environment. The adaptation of living beings to the environment is vital To guarantee the survival of the species, since it will favor those species that have modeled their characteristics in response to the selective forces of their environment benefiting them with a better exploitation of the environment.

Thus, in general, the importance of biological adaptation for an individual is that of power survive better than others From the same species to its environment, reproducing more and passing this adaptation to the following generations, producing an evolution.

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