18.2 Adaptive features

An adaptive feature defined as an INHERITED feature that helps an organism SURVIVE and REPRODUCE in its environment. Cambridge keywords: inherited + survive + reproduce + environment. Skill of interpreting images to describe the adaptive features of a species. HL extension: explain the adaptive features of XEROPHYTES (cacti — spines, thick waxy cuticle, succulent stem, deep roots — all to minimise water loss in dry environments) and HYDROPHYTES (water lilies — wide floating leaves, stomata on upper surface, air spaces in stem, short roots — all to float and access oxygen in water).