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Y11 Biology 2025 > Adaptations > Flashcards

Adaptations Flashcards

1
Q

Define a species

A

Species are organisms that can breed together to produce fertile and viable offspring.

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2
Q

State the two parts of a binomial name

A

Genus species

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3
Q

State the levels of classification from biggest to smallest

A

domain, kingdom, phlyum, class, order, family, genus, species.

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4
Q

State what a phylogenetic diagram shows

A

Evolutionary relationships and who is most closely related (closely related species diverged more recently)

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5
Q

What is an abiotic factor?

A

A property of the environment relating to nonliving things.

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6
Q

What is a biotic factor?

A

A property of the environment relating to living things

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7
Q

What is an adaptation?

A

A structural, behavioural or physiological characteristic of an organism that enables it to survive in its natural environment

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8
Q

What is a structural adaptation?

A

Evolved modifications to an organism’s physical structure

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9
Q

What is a physiological adaptation?

A

Evolved modifications to an organism’s internal functioning or metabolic processes

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10
Q

What is a behavioural adaptation?

A

Evolved modifications to an organism’s actions

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11
Q

List two structural adaptations for animals living in the desert.

A

Insulation
Surface area to volume ratio

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12
Q

List five physiological adaptations for animals living in the desert.

A

Metabolic heat
Surface blood flow
Increase water input
Decrease water output
Evaporative cooling

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13
Q

List two behavioural adaptations for animals living in the desert.

A

Evading extreme conditions
Enduring extreme conditions

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14
Q

List an advantage and disadvantage of having a high SA:V ratio in the desert.

A

Advantage: can release heat into a cold area (like a burrow)
Disadvantage: exposure to direct sunlight can quickly increase body temperature

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15
Q

List an advantage and disadvantage of having a low SA:V ratio in the desert.

A

Advantage: does not absorb as much heat if directly exposed to sunlight or cannot avoid the heat
Disadvantage: they still need to be able to release waste heat which can be more difficult with a low SA:V ratio

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16
Q

Define an endotherm

A

an animal that produces the majority of its own heat via metabolic processes

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17
Q

Define an ectotherm

A

an animal that obtains heat primarily from the environment, rather than its own metabolic heat

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18
Q

Define torpor

A

A physiological and behavioural adaptation for survival in which an animal’s metabolic rate is severely reduced

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19
Q

List two structural adaptations for animals living in a cold environment.

A

Insulation
Surface area to volume ratio

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20
Q

List three physiological adaptations for animals living in a cold environment.

A

Endotherms
Torpor
Circulation- vasoconstriction and countercurrent circulation

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21
Q

List four behavioural adaptations for animals living in a cold environment.

A

Reducing exposed surface area
Huddling
Seeking shelter
Migration

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22
Q

Why is reducing surface area: volume ratio an advantage in a cold environment?

A

By reducing their surface area to volume ratio, an animal will release heat slowly, increasing the time it takes for body temperature to drop.

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23
Q

Describe the two types of torpor found in animals in cold environments.

A

Hibernation is a type of Torpor in endotherms in response to the cold
Brumation is a type of Torpor in ectotherms in response to the cold

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24
Q

Why is huddling an advantage for animals in cold environments?

A

Huddling artificially decreases the individual surface area to volume ratio, decreasing the amount of heat released by the animal into the environment.

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25
List four adaptations of plants to hot environments.
Decreasing heat uptake Increasing water uptake Water storage Minimising water loss
26
List three adaptations of plants in cold environments.
Preventing freezing Deciduous trees Seed dormancy
27
List three ways plants decrease heat uptake in hot environments.
Having lightly coloured or reflective leaves Producing leaves with smaller surface area Orientating leaves vertically to minimize surface area exposed to the sun
28
List two adaptations plants can use to increase their water uptake in dry conditions.
Desert plants have extensive deep root systems capable of reaching groundwater reserves. Other desert plants spread roots horizontally to absorb the maximum amount of surface water during the brief periods of rain, and store this water for later use.
29
What is a deciduous tree?
A deciduous tree is a tree that seasonally drops all of its leaves at once to avoid harsh conditions.
30
What is the advantage of a deciduous tree?
Avoid frozen leaf tissue during winter. Require less energy and water to survive during winter months. Experience less branch breakage during periods of heavy snowfall and strong winds.
31
Define population.
The number of one species in a geographical location
32
Define community.
A group of interacting populations of different species in the same geographical region
33
Define ecosystem
Organisms interacting with one another and their physical environment
34
Define population size
the number of individuals in a population
35
Define carrying capacity
The maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely
36
Define immigration
migration of individuals into a population
37
Define emigration
migration of individuals out of a population
38
Define population distribution
The range of geographical areas that members of a population can be found in
39
Define population density.
The number of individuals in a population per unit area
40
Define density dependent factors
Environmental factors that affect population growth and become stronger as population density increases
41
Define density independent factors
Environmental factors that affect population growth but are not affected by population density
42
Give three examples of density independent factors.
Climate Natural disasters, like fire/floods/volcanic eruptions Functionally unlimited resources like O2 and CO2
43
Give three examples of density dependent factors.
Disease Predation Competition Resource Availability Accumulation of waste
44
What is meant by r-Selection?
**Quick and many strategy**, this method involves producing **large numbers of offspring** more regularly, while placing **little or no parental care** into each offspring. This typically leads to a **higher death rate**. Species who employ the r-selection strategy will reach sexual maturity quickly, and will become self-sufficient adults earlier than other organisms. **Population growth in r-strategists is often boom and bust**, where large explosions in the population are often followed by a massive die off.
45
What is meant by k-Selection?
**Slow and few method**, this method involves producing much **smaller numbers of offspring**, which are often much larger in size and more **dependent on parental care**. Species who employ the K-selection strategy will reach sexual maturity much slower, and will therefore breed later in their lifespan than other organisms. **Population growth in K-strategists will remain constant** at the carrying capacity of an environment.
46
Define mutualism
When both organisms benefit from a symbiotic relationship
47
Define commensalism
When one organism benefits while the other is unaffected in a symbiotic relationship.
48
Define predation
When one organism (predator) kills and eats another animal (prey).
49
Define parasitism
When one organism (parasite) benefits and the other (host) is harmed in a symbiotic relationship.
50
What is the difference between an endoparasite and exoparasite?
Endoparasites are organisms that live inside another organism and feed from it whereas exoparasites are organisms that live outside an organism and feed from it.
51
Define amensalism
When one organism is unaffected while the other is harmed in a symbiotic relationship.
52
Define competition
Interactions between two or more organisms competing for the same pool of resources
53
What is the difference between interspecific competition and intraspecific competition?
Interspecific competition describes competition between two individuals of different species whereas intraspecific competition is competition between two individuals of the same species
54
What does a food chain show?
The flow of energy from one species to another
55
What is a food web?
a collection of feeding relationships seen in an ecosystem.
56
What is the difference between an autotroph and heterotroph?
An autotroph makes their own food whereas a heterotroph cannot make their own food so feeds on other organisms
57
What is the difference between a carnivore, herbivore and omnivore?
A carnivore feeds only off other animals whereas a herbivore feeds only on plant matter whereas an omnivore feeds on both animals and plant matter
58
What is the difference between predator and prey?
A predator is an animals that kills and eat other animals (their prey) whereas prey is an animal that is killed and eaten by other animals (predator).
59
What is a keystone species?
A species whose effects on an ecosystem are greater than expected relative to its population size
60
Compare apex predators and ecosystem engineers.
Apex predators and ecosystem engineers are both keystone species. An apex predator has no natural predators and is at the top of its food chain whereas an ecosystem engineer is an organism that creates, significantly alters, or maintains the structure of an environment
61
List 3 organism adaptations that are utilised by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Stingray barbs for weapons. Shark teeth for knives. Water-holding frog water storage as a water source. Lawyer cane plant hooks for fishing hooks and extracting witchety grubs. Possum fur for coats. Cultural fires for maintaining land.

Y11 Biology 2025 (16 decks)

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