That is, there must be some "latent" characteristic(s) of that -- or any -- species that allows it to survive within an environment prior to its "adapting" to that environment.
(its; adapting; to that environment) (any -- species; allows; it to survive within an environment prior to its "adapting" to that environment) Context(any -- species allows,List([69, 95))):(it; to survive; L:within an environment; L:prior to its "adapting" to that environment)
any -- species allows,List([69, 95))
its any -- species it
adapting allows to survive
to that environment
it to survive within an environment prior to its "adapting" to that environment
L:within an environment L:prior to its "adapting" to that environment