Adaptations - cold climates

Every organism has certain features or characteristics that allow it to live successfully in its habitat [habitat: A place where plants, animals and micro-organisms live. ]. These features are called adaptations, and we say that the organism is adapted to its habitat. Organisms living in different habitats need different adaptations.

The polar bear

Polar bears are well adapted for survival in the Arctic. They have:

• a white appearance as camouflage from prey on the snow and ice
• thick layers of fat and fur for insulation against the cold
• a small surface area to volume ratio, to minimise heat loss
• a greasy coat that sheds water after swimming
• large furry feet to distribute their load and increase grip on the ice

The polar bear is adapted to life in a cold climate

The snowshoe hare

The snowshoe hare has white fur in the winter and reddish-brown fur in the summer. This means that it is camouflaged from its predators for most of the year.

Arctic plants

The Arctic is cold and windy with very little rainfall. Plants in the Arctic often grow very close to the ground and have small leaves. This helps to conserve water and to avoid damage by the wind.