What is the term for the ability of an organism to thrive in conditions different from their native environment?

The term that best describes the ability of an organism to thrive in conditions different from their native environment is adaptation. Adaptation refers to the evolutionary process through which species adjust and develop traits that enhance their survival and reproduction in new or changing environments. These can include physical changes, alterations in behavior, or physiological adjustments that help the organism cope with unfamiliar conditions.

For example, a species that migrates to a new environment may need to adapt to different temperatures, food sources, or predators that it did not encounter in its native habitat. Through natural selection, individuals that possess advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, eventually leading to a population that is well-suited to the new environment.

While resilience indicates an organism's capacity to recover from challenges or disturbances, and survival signifies the act of continuing to live, neither term specifically encompasses the broader scope of physiological or genetic changes that occur over generations, which is central to adaptation. Similarly, migration refers specifically to the movement of organisms from one location to another and does not imply the ability to thrive in a new environment without the accompanying adaptations.