Question

describe the adaptation of the plants and animals to temperature extremes​

Answer 1

Answer:

During evolution, life has spread all around the world. This means that different species of plants and animals are inhabiting practically every part

of the Earth with different climate conditions. For humans it is not such a problem to live even in extreme conditions. Our technology, for example air conditioning in summer and heating systems for winter, is all we need! But for animals and plants this is not the case and if they want to inhabit areas with better survival opportunities (e.g. less predators, more nutrients), they have to adapt to such conditions through evolutionary processes. In this article, I will present some examples of such adaptations for temperature regulation weather in cold or hot climate.

 

To regulate temperature, organisms went in different directions during their adaptational development.  Some focused either on insulation materials, surface morphology, body shapes or behavioral strategy, others on microclimate creation.

Insulation: The most famous example is the polar bear’s transparent fur which scatters incident light to a dark skin that heats up and air encapsulated between the hair prevents the loss of heat. On the other hand, black birds (e.g. ravens, ostriches) are found in hot deserts which is maybe not so logical on the first view. The secret is in their feather structure. The upper black feathers heat up much more than the surrounding air which creates a temperature gradient greater to the outer temperature than to the body temperature. Consequently, heat transfer occurs to the surrounding air and not to the air molecules in the under-layer of fine wooly down.

Answer 2

Adaptation of the plants and animals due to temperature extremities are described below:

1.Cold-blooded animals :

The animals whose body temperature is regulated with the change in temperature of the surroundings are called cold blooded or poikilothermal animals.

2.Warm- blooded animals

The animals whose body temperature is not regulated with the change in temperature of the surroundings are called warm blooded or homeothermal animals.

Similarly plants are also adapted due to temperature extremities:

1. Plants at deserts have their leaves modified into thorny structures due to shortage of water and also thick fleshy long roots .

2. Plants at mountain have needle like waxy leaves and are cone shaped .

Hope it helps