Ecology Regents Practice Exam 2025 - Free Regents Practice Questions and Study Guide

Adaptation enhances survival and reproductive success because it allows organisms to better fit into their environments and cope with the challenges they face. Through the process of natural selection, traits that increase an individual's chances of surviving and reproducing are more likely to be passed on to future generations. For example, physical adaptations such as camouflage can help an animal avoid predators, while behavioral adaptations like migration can enable species to exploit resources more effectively during different seasons.

When animals or plants have adaptations that improve their ability to find food, escape from predators, or endure harsh environmental conditions, they are more likely to survive long enough to reproduce. As a result, these adaptations can drive evolutionary changes within a population, leading to greater overall reproductive success. In essence, successful adaptations contribute positively to the growth and sustainability of a species.