Adaptations Flashcards

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1
Q

What are adaptations?

A

Every organism has certain features or characteristics that allow it to live successfully in its habitat. These features are called adaptations.

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2
Q

What do organisms within a community compete with each other for?

A

Limited resources, including water and space. Plants also compete with each other for light and minerals.

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3
Q

What is the definition for environment?

A

All the conditions that surround a living organism.

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4
Q

What is the definition for habitat?

A

The place where an organism lives.

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5
Q

What is the definition for population?

A

All the members of a single species that live in a habitat

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6
Q

What is the definition for a community?

A

All the populations of different organisms that live together in a habitat.

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7
Q

What is the definition for an ecosystem?

A

A community and its habitat.

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8
Q

What does a pond ecosystem consist of?

A

A pond habitat inhabited by aquatic plants, waterside plants, microorganisms, minnows and herons. The organisms together make up a community of living things.

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9
Q

Animals and plants may have specific features that adapt them to their environment, give examples:

A
  • Barbs and spines
  • Poisons and warning colours that deter predators and herbivores
  • Some harmless species may even resemble a poisonous or dangerous species to increase their chance of survival.
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10
Q

List the three resources that animals compete for:

A
  • Food
  • Water
  • Space
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11
Q

List the three resources that plants compete for:

A
  • Water
  • Space
  • Mineral salts
    Plants make their own food using photosynthesis, so they don’t need to compete for food
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12
Q

List 5 adaptations of polar bears:

A
  • A white appearance as camouflage from prey on the snow and ice.
  • Thick layers of fat and fur for insulation against the cold.
  • A small surface area to volume ratio, to minimise heat loss.
  • A greasy coat that sheds water after swimming
  • Large furry feet to distribute their load and increase grip on the ice.
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13
Q

List 6 adaptations of camels:

A
  • Large, flat feet to spread their weight on the sand
  • Thick fur on the top of the body for shade, and thin fur elsewhere to allow easy heat loss
  • A large surface-area-to-volume ratio to maximise heat loss.
  • The ability to go for a long time without water. They don’t store water in their humps but they lose very little water through urination and perspiration.
  • The ability to tolerate body temperatures up to 42 degrees C.
  • Slit-like nostrils and two rows of eyelashes to help keep out sand.
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14
Q

List 4 adaptations of cacti:

A
  • Stems that can store water
  • Widespread root systems that can collect water from a large area
  • Spines instead of leaves. These minimise the surface area and so reduce water loss by transpiration
  • Spines also protect the cacti from animals that might eat them
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15
Q

What are extremophiles?

A

Organism that live in very extreme environments and can survive conditions that would kill most other organisms.

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16
Q

What extreme conditions can extremophiles live in?

A
  • High temperatures
  • High concentrations of salt in water
  • High pressures