  The dynamic nature of life's ability to thrive in diverse and changing
planetary environments suggests that habitability and survival depend on the
evolutionary path and life adaptation to environmental conditions. Here we
explore such "adaptive habitability" through astro-ecological models. We study
the interplay between temperature adaptation and environmental fluctuations,
particularly those induced by solar activity and orbital dynamics. We present a
simplified ecological-evolutionary model to investigate the limits of life's
adaptability on a planetary scale. By incorporating complexities such as
multiple niches, migration, species interactions, and realistic temperature
variations, we demonstrate the potential for adaptive habitability in the face
of both gradual and abrupt environmental changes. Through simulations
encompassing monotonic, periodic, and secular dynamical evolution-induced
temperature profiles, we identify critical thresholds for survival and
extinction, highlighting the importance of phenotypic variance and dispersal
rates in adapting to varying environmental conditions. These findings
underscore the significance of considering temporal variations in assessing
exoplanet habitability and expanding the search space for potentially habitable
worlds.
