10.7

Question 1

What are adaptations?

Answer 1

• Characteristics that increase an organisms chance of survival and sucessfull reproduction in its environment
• It can be divided into 3 groups:
• Anatomical adaptations- physical features
• Behavioural adaptations- inherited or learnt from parents
• Physiological adaptations- processes that take place inside an organism

Question 2

What are anatomical adaptations?

Answer 2

natomical adaptations: these are structural features which increase an organisms chance of survival.

• Body covering- animals have a number of different body covering such as hair, scales, spines, feathers and shells- hair keeps them warm
• Wales have a thick layer of blubber which keeps them warm in the sea
• Camouflage- outer colour of an animal allows it to blend into its environment
• Teeth- shape and teeth present in animals jaw are related to its diet. Herbivores like sheep have continuously growing molars for chewing tough grass and plants while carnivores have sharp canines to kill prey and tear meat.
• Mimicry- copying another’s appearance or sounds allows a harmless organism to fool predators into thinking it is poisonous or dangerous.
• Streamlined shape like otters making it easier to glide through water- this makes it easier for them to catch prey and escape predators, increasing their chance of survival.

Question 3

What are the adaptations of marram grass?

Answer 3

• Xerophyte- that is adapted to live in an environment with little water
• Reduce rate of transpiration
• Curled leaves minimise the surface area of moist tissue exposed to air and protect the leaves from the wind.
• Stomata sunk into pits which make them less likely to open and lose water
• Thick waxy cuticle reduces water loss through evaporation

Question 4

What are behavioural adaptations?

Answer 4

• survival behaviours- opossum plays dead and rabbits freeze
• Courtship- many animals exhibit courtship behaviour to attract a mate like scorpions dance to find a mate.
• Seasonal behaviours- enable organisms to cope with changes in their environment
• These include migration- move from one regions to another and when environmental conditions are favourable. This may be for a better climate or a source of food.

Question 5

What are the 2 groups behavioural adaptations fall into?

Answer 5

• innate behaviour- inherited through genes

- Learned behaviour- from experience or observing other animals

Question 6

What are examples of physiological adaptations?

Answer 6

• poison production- reptiles produce venom to kill their prey and many plants produce poisons to protect themself from being eaten
• Antibiotic production- some bacteria produce antibiotics to kill other species of bacteria in the surrounding area
• Water holding- water holding frog stores water in its body so can survive in the desert without having access to water
• Hibernation- period of inactivity in which an animals body temperature, heart rate and breathing rate slow down to conserve energy, reducing the animals requirement for food

Question 7

What are the 2 types of mammals?

Answer 7

• Placental mammals and marsupials
• Marsupials (kangaroos)
• Have a short gestation period
• Don’t have a full placenta
• Born early in their development and climb into mothers pouch
• Become attached to a teat and receive milk while they continue to develop

What are the adaptations of placental mammals?

• Longer gestation period
• Develop a placenta during pregnancy which allows the exchange of nutrients and waste products
• Are born more fully developed

What are the adaptations that make placental moles and marsupial look alike with similar anatomical features but live in different environments?

• small or non existent eyes because they don’t need to see underground
• No external ears to keep a streamlined head for burrowing
• Scoop shaped paws and claws to dig
• Tube shaped body and cone shaped head, which makes it easier to push through sand or soil.