Final answer:
Adaptation is a biological process where organisms become better suited to their environment, influenced by evolution via natural selection. It includes heritable traits that improve survival and reproductive success.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adaptation, in biological terms, refers to the cumulative changes that occur in groups of organisms over time, enhancing their suitability to their environment. This process is a fundamental outcome of evolution through natural selection and plays a crucial role in the survival and reproduction of species.
Natural selection, a key mechanism of evolution, operates by favoring traits within populations that provide a reproductive advantage in a given environment. As environmental conditions change, natural selection acts on heritable traits, directing the evolution of organisms to better fit their surroundings. This continual process results in adaptations that confer increased fitness, allowing organisms to thrive and reproduce successfully.
Examples of adaptations abound in the natural world. The webbed feet of a platypus, for instance, are an adaptation that aids in swimming and hunting in aquatic environments. The thick fur of a snow leopard serves as insulation against harsh cold climates, helping it survive in mountainous regions. The high speed of a cheetah is an adaptation for successful predation in open grasslands.
These adaptations are heritable traits that have evolved over time through the selective pressures of the environment. The development of such traits reflects the dynamic interplay between organisms and their surroundings. As environments change, species undergo adaptations to maximize their reproductive potential and increase their chances of survival. The concept of adaptation is foundational to our understanding of how life on Earth has diversified and thrived in a wide array of ecological niches.