4.3.8 adaptation

Question 1

adaptation

Answer 1

characteristic which enhances survival in habitat

Question 2

anatomical adaptations

Answer 2

(anatomy) structural features

Question 3

behavioural adaptations

Answer 3

ways that behaviour is modified for survival

Question 4

physiological adaptations

Answer 4

(physiology) affect the way that processes work

Question 5

what will a well-adapted organism be able to do

Answer 5

• find enough food/photosynthesise well
• find enough water
• gather enough nutrients
• defend itself from predators & diseases
• survive physical conditions of environment eg. change in temp, light & water availability
• respond to changes in environment
• have sufficient energy to allow successful reproduction

Question 6

name 3 types of adaptations

Answer 6

• behavioural
• anatomical
• physiological

Question 7

example of an adapted plant species

Answer 7

marram grass
- xerophyte
- lives on sand dunes with little water availability
- adapted to take as much water up as possible & lose as little as possible

Question 8

(anatomical) how is long roots an adaptation

Answer 8

enables plant to reach water deep underground

Question 9

(anatomical) how is widespread roots an adaptation

Answer 9

• enables marram grass to absorb lots of water when it’s available
• stabilises sand dune where plant lives

Question 10

(anatomical) how is curled leaves an adaptation

Answer 10

• reduces SA exposed to wind
• traps air inside (against lower epidermis) so moisture can build up

Question 11

(anatomical) how is hairs covering lower epidermis an adaptation

Answer 11

reduces air movement so water vapour retained close to lower epidermis

Question 12

(anatomical) how is folded lower epidermis (creating pits for stomata) an adaptation

Answer 12

water vapour builds up in pits = reduces loss of water vapour

Question 13

(anatomical) how is low density of stomata an adaptation

Answer 13

fewer stomata = less water vapour lost

Question 14

(anatomical) how is leaves covered in waxy cuticle an adaptation

Answer 14

reduces evaporation from cells of leaf

Question 15

behavioural adaptation of earthworm

Answer 15

if touched, it will contract & return to burrow quickly as it has no eyes so cannot see predators (eg. birds) = avoids it being eaten

Question 16

behavioural adaptations of marram grass

Answer 16

• responds to shortage of water by rolling leaf more tightly & closing stomata = reduces transpiration
• if buried by sand, it will grow quicker to reach sunlight

Question 17

physiological adaptations of marram grass

Answer 17

• roll its leaf due to hinge cells in lower epidermis where they lose turgidity if water is scarce so roll more tightly
• guard cells open/close stomata –> non-turgid cells close stomata
• as not very salt tolerant, it maintains cell water potential lower than other plants so can survive in salty conditions
• leaves contain many lignified cells providing support if flaccid/turgidity lost = keeps leaf upright

Question 18

example of convergent evolution between marsupial moles & placental mole

Answer 18

share similar characteristics eg:
- cylindrical body
- small eyes
- strong front legs
- large claws on front legs
- short fur
- short tail
- nose with tough skin (protection)