Originally posted by kimmeh
:uhhuh: i think of it as the "physical" characteristics in which help the organism survive. ie. larger ears..
well i see it as three....
physical/structural: any skeletal characteristic as in opposable thumb in higher order primates for dexterity for example, or a thicker/waxier epidermis in plants to assist in water retention for example
physiological: as i see it this is any bodily function assiting in the maintenance of internal environment eg. secretion of concentrated urine from the desert hopping mouse or the ability to increase rate of photosynthesis in plants by increasing production of chlorophyll
behavioral: a behavioral response to the ambiant environment in an attempt to maintain a balanced internal environment eg, red kangaroos lie in the shade during the hot summer middays to keep cool and not allow the body's 'balance' to fluctuate higher in response to the ambiant environment, as well as this it would lick its paws to promote evaporation of heat from the body, eucalyptus pauciflora (snow gum) move its leaves to always face the sun to maintain a constant rate of photosynthesis throughout the day and while doing so keeps the back of the leaf from being exposed on which the stomates are located, therefore promoting the least amount of loss as possible as far as water is concerned while maintaining a high level of food production
Originally posted by kimmeh
but after reading tele's post.. hmm..should we trust the bio god?
do so at ur own disgression, hey..i aint just a pretty face