Science Common Sense

122 - How do organisms adapt to extreme environments?

Organisms adapt to extreme environments by changing their bodies or behavior. Here are some examples:

1. Deserts: Cacti grow thick skin to save water and camels store water in their humps.
2. Cold places: Penguins grow thick feathers and fat to keep warm, and polar bears have white fur to reflect sunlight.
3. Hot places: Lizards bask in the sun to warm up, and elephants have big ears to cool down.
4. Underwater: Fish have fins to swim and gills to breathe underwater.
5. Mountainous places: Mountain goats have strong legs to climb steep mountains and have thick coats to keep warm.

Organisms can also change their behavior to adapt, like:

• Hibernating (sleeping) during the winter to save energy.
• Migrating (moving) to find food or better living conditions.
• Changing their diet to eat what's available in their environment.

All these adaptations help organisms survive and thrive in extreme environments.