Final answer:
Winter adaptations in organisms include plant dormancy, animal insulation with fur and fat, migratory behaviors, and in some cases, changes in appearance like the white winter coats of arctic foxes and ptarmigans for camouflage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adaptations to the winter season in various organisms include physiological and behavioral changes that allow them to cope with colder temperatures and resource scarcity. In biomes with cold climates, plants may adapt by becoming dormant during the coldest part of the year, a process where they slow down cellular activities and may shed leaves. For animals, physiological adaptations include insulation through fur and fat, as seen in polar bears, while behavioral adaptations involve migratory patterns to seek out warmer climates or richer food sources, as demonstrated by the Arctic Tern and Monarch butterflies.
The availability of food generally decreases in winter, necessitating certain species to store additional energy in the form of fat. For example, reindeer undertake long migratory journeys to find food. Conversely, amphibians and reptiles often cannot migrate due to their physiological makeup, which limits their distribution during cold periods.
Additionally, some animals change their appearance to blend in with the snowy landscapes, such as the arctic fox and the ptarmigan which don white winter coats or plumage respectively, as a form of camouflage in their environments.