AREA OF STUDY 1

Adaptations of organisms
This area of study focuses on the kinds of environmental factors that are common to all habitats. Students
investigate the adaptations of organisms that enable them to exploit the resources of their particular
ecological niche. Adaptations are interrelated and can be grouped into structural, physiological, and
behavioural categories.
Students make connections between the conditions that operate in habitats, the tolerance range of
organisms and the distribution of organisms. They examine individual and collective behaviours that
organisms exhibit and relate them to an organism’s survival.
Students undertake practical investigations into selected factors operating in habitats and adaptations
of organisms to those habitats. They investigate techniques and technologies that monitor and record
environmental factors and track the distribution of species.

Outcome 1
On completion of this unit the student should be able to explain and analyse the relationship between
environmental factors, and adaptations and distribution of living things.
To achieve this outcome the student will draw on the key knowledge outlined in area of study 1, and
key skills listed on page 12.

Key knowledge
This knowledge includes;

• environmental factors: biotic and abiotic factors; availability of resources;
• structural adaptations: relating major features of organisms to survival value;
• physiological adaptation
  • tolerance range of organisms; maintaining equilibrium by detecting and responding to changes in environmental conditions
  • nerve control in complex multicellular organisms: major sense organs and pathways of transmission of nerve impulses
  • hormonal control in complex multicellular organism
  • regulating water balance and controlling temperature;
• plant tropisms: growth responses, rhythmic activities;
• behavioural adaptations: individual and group behaviours of animals including rhythmic activities,
  • feeding behaviours; communication; social and territorial behaviours;
• reproductive adaptations: systems and strategies; development and life cycles;
• techniques used to monitor environmental change and species distribution.

Cited from (VCAA Biology Study Design)