Which of the following are two primary ways that organisms respond to a changing environment?

• A. Adaptation through natural selection and migration to new habitats
• B. Mutation and mitosis
• C. Photosynthesis and cellular respiration
• D. Symbiosis and fermentation

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the question: The problem asks about the primary ways organisms respond to a changing environment. This requires knowledge of biological processes and evolutionary mechanisms.
2. Clarify the concept of adaptation through natural selection: Adaptation occurs when organisms develop traits over generations that enhance their survival and reproduction in a changing environment. This process is driven by natural selection, where advantageous traits become more common in a population.
3. Explain migration to new habitats: Migration is a behavioral response where organisms move to different locations to find suitable conditions for survival when their current environment becomes unfavorable.
4. Evaluate the other options: Mutation and mitosis are cellular processes, not direct responses to environmental change. Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are metabolic processes, and symbiosis and fermentation are ecological and biochemical interactions, none of which directly address the question.
5. Conclude that adaptation through natural selection and migration to new habitats are the two primary ways organisms respond to environmental changes, as these mechanisms directly involve survival strategies in response to external pressures.