Re: What is the difference between a structual and a physiological adaptation?

Dear Kim

In answer to your question - what is the difference between structural and physiological adaptations - structural adaptations are those that give a morphological difference e.g. Mountain goat feet have developed for mountainous terrains or the shape of legs in different animals to run faster or jump higher. Physiological adaptations are those that help to regulate a function of the body e.g. The amount of melanin produced in the skin serves as a protection against UV radiation, or consider the production of a special fat that bears use as food during hibernation. However, some adaptations are both physiological and structural because a special structure is required for a physiological adaptation to occur - e.g. the length of renal tubes in the kidney retain more water in animals living in the desert; a camel hump that stores water is a structural adaption that physiologically allows it to survive long periods without drinking water.

In case of the teeth as an example of a structural difference, I agree that it could be considered an ambiguous one, but I think that it is a structural adaptation as it represent a morphological difference. However, I do not like the terms structural and physiological adaptations, but prefer genetic, non-genetic and behavioural adaptations.

I hope this answers your question

Cliff Luke
luke@bbsrc.ac.uk