Australian National Botanic Gardens

In this chapter...

What is an adaptation?

• Adaptations help organisms to ‘solve a problem’, such as surviving a shortage of water, very cold temperatures or being eaten by a predator.
• Adaptations are a physical trait or behaviour that helps an organism to survive and reproduce.
• If a plant species can adapt and survive, the greater the chance of the species surviving into the future.
• Adaptation usually happens through generations over a very long period of time. For example, small changes occur from the parent, to the offspring, to their offspring etc.