Adaptation Flashcards
What is meant by the term competition?
Organisms competing for resources to survive
What is meant by the term habitat?
The place where an organism lives
What is meant by the term community?
All the populations of different organisms that live together in a habitat
What is meant by the term population?
All the members of a single species that live in a habitat
What is meant by the term ecosystem?
A community and its habitat
What things to animals compete for?
Territory
Food
Water
Mates
What things to plants compete for?
Light
Space
Water
Minerals/Nutrients from the soil
What adaptations does a polar bear have that helps it to survive in the cold conditions?
- White fur- camouflage from prey
- Thick layer of fat and fur- Insulation
- Small surface area to volume ratio- minimise heat loss
- Large furry feet- distribute their load and grip across the ice
- Black skin under fur- absorb the heat from the sun- insulation, minimises heat loss
What adaptations to desert animals have?
- Large surface area to volume ratio- increases loss of body heat-stops them overheating
- Produce small amounts of concentrated urine- lose less water
- Make very little sweat
- Thin layers of body fat and a thin coat-helps to lose body heat
- Sandy colour gives good camouflage- avoid predators/sneak up on prey
What adaptations do desert plants have?
- Adapted to having little water
- Most plants (especially cacti) have spikes instead of leaves- reduces water loss as plants usually lose water through their leaves
- Small surface area to size ratio- reduces water loss
- Shallow but long and deep roots to absorb roots quickly over a large area.
What are extremophiles?
Organisms that can live in extreme environments and can survive conditions that would usually kill most other organisms.
What are the 3 main extreme conditions that extremophiles survive?
High temperatures
High concentrations of salt in water
High pressures
