Why do plants and animals adapt to their environment?

• A. To avoid all forms of competition
• B. To ensure that all individuals in a population are identical
• C. To intentionally create new species
• D. To increase their chances of survival and reproduction in changing conditions

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of adaptation: Adaptation refers to the process by which organisms develop traits that enhance their ability to survive and reproduce in their specific environment.
2. Recognize that adaptation is driven by natural selection: Traits that provide a survival or reproductive advantage are more likely to be passed on to future generations.
3. Clarify why organisms adapt: Plants and animals adapt to their environment to cope with changing conditions, such as climate, availability of resources, or presence of predators, which increases their chances of survival and reproduction.
4. Eliminate incorrect options: Review the provided choices and identify why they are incorrect. For example, organisms do not adapt to avoid all competition, ensure identical populations, or intentionally create new species.
5. Conclude with the correct reasoning: The correct answer is that organisms adapt to increase their chances of survival and reproduction in changing conditions, which aligns with the principles of evolution and natural selection.