Adaptations

Question 1

How can animals and plants survive in many different environments?

Answer 1

Because they have adapted to their environment

Question 2

What two things are desert animals adapted to do?

Answer 2

1. Save water
2. Keep cool

Question 3

Name 5 specific ways desert animals are adapted to their conditions

Answer 3

1. Large surface area compared to volume
2. Small amounts of Concentrated urine
3. Produce little sweat
4. Thin layers of body fat and a thin coat
5. Sandy colour

Question 4

What does having a large surface area to volume ratio allow desert animals to do?

Answer 4

Lose more body heat, which stops them over heating

Question 5

Why do desert animals produce small amounts of concentrated urine?

Answer 5

To lose less water

Question 6

Why do desert animals produce very little sweat?

Answer 6

To lose less water

Question 7

How are camels able to produce very little sweat?

Answer 7

By tolerating big changes in body temperature

Question 8

How are kangeroo rats able to produce very little sweat?

Answer 8

By living in underground burrows where it is cool

Question 9

Why do desert animals have very thin layers of body fat and a thin coat?

Answer 9

To help them lose body heat

Question 10

Camels have a very thin layer of body fat and a thin coat to help them lose body heat.

How are they adapted to do this?

Answer 10

They keep nearly all their fat in their humps

Question 11

Why do desert animals have sandy coloured coats?

Answer 11

For camouflage - helps them avoid predators and sneak up on prey

Question 12

How have arctic* animals adapted?

*_{In this deck ‘arctic’ is shorthand for ‘an animals living in cold conditions’, as ‘arctic’ is quicker to write}

Answer 12

To reduce heat loss

Question 13

Name the 4 ways arctic animals have adapted to reduce heat loss

Answer 13

1. Small surface area compared to volume
2. Thick layer of blubber
3. Thick hairy coats
4. Greasy fur

Question 14

Describe how arctic animals have adapted to keep their surface area to a minimum, and why

Answer 14

They have a compacted (rounded) shape

To reduce heat loss

Question 15

Why do arctic animals have a thick layer of blubber?

Name the second advantage

Answer 15

For insulation

Also acts as an energy store when food is scarce

Question 16

Why have arctic animals adapted to have thick, hairy coats?

Answer 16

To keep body heat in

Question 17

What does arctic animals’ greasy fur do, and why does this adaptation help them survive in arctic conditions?

Answer 17

Greasy fur sheds water

This prevents cooling due to evaporation

Question 18

How are arctic animals camouflaged to help them survive in their environment?

Answer 18

White fur

Helps them avoid predators and sneak up on prey

Question 19

Desert plants have adapted to having what?

Answer 19

Limited water

Question 20

Name the 3 ways desert plants have adapted to having limited water

Answer 20

1. Small surface area compared to volume
2. Water storage tissues
3. Maximising water absorption

Question 21

What two adaptions of desert plants make them have a small surface area compared to volume and WHY

Answer 21

1. Cacti have spines instead of leaves, to reduce water loss by water vapour
2. Small surface area compared to their size reducing water loss

Question 22

Explain why having large leaves is not beneficial for desert plants

Answer 22

Plants lose water vapour from their leaves

Question 23

Desert plants have a surface area that is about ____ times smaller than normal plants’

Answer 23

Desert plants have a surface area that is about 1000 times smaller than normal plants’

Question 24

Give an example of water storage tissue in cacti

Answer 24

Cacti store water in their thick stems

Question 25

1. Describe how cacti maximise their water absorption
2. Describe how other desert plants maximise their water absorption

Answer 25

1. Cacti have shallow but extensive roots to absorb water quickly over a large area
2. Others have deep roots to access underground water

Question 26

Besides environement, how else are some plants and animals adapted to increase their chances of survival?

Answer 26

Some are adapted to deter predators

Question 27

Name the 3 categories of how some animals and plants are adapted to deter predators

Answer 27

1. Armour
2. Poisons
3. Warning colours

Question 28

Give 3 examples of animals/ plants with armour

Answer 28

1. Roses - thorns
2. Cacti - sharp spines
3. Tortoises - shells

Question 29

Give 2 examples of animals/ plants that produce poisons

Answer 29

1. Bees
2. Poison ivy

Question 30

Give an example of a type of animal/ plant that has warning colours

Answer 30

Wasps

Question 31

Why do some animals/ plants have warning colours?

Answer 31

To scare off predators

Question 32

Microorganisms have a wide variety of adaptations…

Answer 32

…So that they can live in a wide range of environments

Question 33

Some microorganisms _{(e.g. bacteria)} as known as ____ - they’re adapted to live in ____ ____.

Answer 33

Some microorganisms _{(e.g. bacteria)} as known as extremophiles - they’re adapted to live in extreme conditions.

Question 34

Give 3 examples of conditions that extemophiles could live in

Answer 34

1. Volcanic vents - incredibly hot
2. Salty lakes - incredibly salty
3. Sea bed - high pressures

Question 35

By looking at an animal’s ____, we should be able to work out the kind of ____ it lives in _{(and vice versa)}

Answer 35

By looking at an animal’s characteristics, we should be able to work out the kind of environment it lives in _{(and vice versa)}