Question

Adaptations in an organism are meant for
A. Optimum primary production
B. Optimum lifespan
C. Optimum mobility
D. Optimum survival and reproduction

Answer 1

Hint: Adaptation is the adjustment of the organism to their environment so that they get accustomed to their environment.

Complete answer:
Adaptations in an organism are meant for ‘Optimum survival and reproduction’.
Evolutionary adaptation, or simply adaptation, is the adjustment of organisms to their environment in order to improve their chances of survival in that environment.

Adaptations can be of the following types:
- Structural Adaptations- These are the physical features of an organism that help them to survive in the environment, for example, the type of terrestrial habitat. It is related to the changes in the physical environment. For eg., camouflage, which is the protective coloration that helps an organism to blend in its environment.
- Behavioral Adaptations- This is the change that affects the behavior of an organism. This could be caused due to the changes in the surrounding environment or due to the actions of other species. For example, The rabbit freezes if it feels that it has been seen by a predator.
- Physiological Adaptations- The physiological adaptations also involve physical changes in the species. This type of adaptation can be either due to changes in the environment or due to the behavior of other species. For example, a fish living in water that suddenly becomes more acidic has to shift its body chemistry to adapt itself.
- Theory of Adaptation- Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace developed the theory of natural selection in the 19th century while carrying out experiments on adaptation. The Darwinian theory of evolution states that an organism that is able to adapt to the changing environment will survive, the rest will be eliminated. This is known as the ‘survival of the fittest’.

So, the correct answer is ‘Optimum survival and reproduction’.

Note:
- Darwin carried out his experiments on turtles on the Galapagos island in the 1830s.
- Adaptation occurs due to mutation or natural selection (more acceptable cause).
- Natural selection is the process in which individuals with survival advantages will survive in the environment while one without the advantageous traits will disappear.