Final answer:
Homeostasis is the process that allows an organism to maintain internal stability despite a constantly changing environment. It involves regulating internal conditions within a narrow range, such as body temperature. Examples of homeostasis include sweating in humans and adaptations in desert plants and animals to survive extreme temperatures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Homeostasis is the process that allows an organism to maintain internal stability despite a constantly changing environment. It is the ability of an organism to regulate its internal conditions within a narrow range, regardless of the external conditions. For example, sweating is a mechanism by which our bodies regulate temperature and maintain homeostasis. In hot weather, sweating helps cool down the body by evaporating sweat from the surface of the skin.
A desert animal or plant, such as a cactus, has evolved adaptations to survive in extreme temperatures. One example is the ability to store water in its tissues, which helps it survive in the arid desert environment where water is scarce. The ability to reduce water loss through specialized structures like a thick waxy cuticle or spines is another adaptation that allows desert organisms to conserve water.