Adaptations, Interdependence and Competition

Question 1

State the levels of organisation in an ecosystem.

Answer 1

Individual, population, community,

ecosystem.

Question 2

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 2

The interaction between the living

components and non-living components

Question 3

State the factors that plants may

compete for.

Answer 3

● Light
● Space
● Water
● Mineral ions from soi

Question 4

State the factors that animals might

compete for

Answer 4

● Food
● Mates
● Territory

Question 5

What is intraspecific competition?

Answer 5

Competition within a species.

Question 6

What is interspecific competition?

Answer 6

Competition between different species.

Question 7

What is interdependence?

Answer 7

Different species in a ecosystem depend
on each other for various resources, if
one species is removed, the whole
community may be affected.

Question 8

What is a stable community?

Answer 8

A community in which all the biotic
factors (the different species) and all
abiotic factors are balanced so that
population sizes remain relatively
constant

Question 9

State the abiotic factors that may affect

an ecosystem.

Answer 9

● Light intensity
● Temperature
● Moisture
● Soil pH and mineral content
● Wind intensity and direction
● Carbon dioxide level
● Oxygen level

Question 10

Why might light intensity affect an

ecosystem?

Answer 10

Different species of plants may have different optimum light intensities for growth, rate of photosynthesis may decrease, plants wont grow as quickly, animals that depend on that plant may decrease in population

Question 11

Why does temperature affect an

ecosystem?

Answer 11

Different species of plants and animals may
have different optimum temperatures for
growth and survival

Question 12

How does soil pH affect an ecosystem?

Answer 12

Certain plants may grow better in either
alkaline or acidic soil.
Soil pH may affect the appearance of the
plant eg. colour of hydrangea

Question 13

How does moisture level affect an

ecosystem?

Answer 13

Many plants cannot survive in waterlogged
soil as their roots cannot respire.
Certain plants are adapted to high moisture
levels

Question 14

How does wind intensity affect an

ecosystem?

Answer 14

Plant seeds are more likely to germinate in

locations with lower wind intensity, which may also attract animals that depend on the plant to live nearby

Question 15

How does soil mineral content affect an

ecosystem?

Answer 15

Most plants require a high level of soil

minerals to grow well.

Question 16

Give an example of a type of plants that

have adapted to low soil mineral content.

Answer 16

Carnivorous plants catch insects to
compensate for the low level of soil mineral
content.

Question 17

How does carbon dioxide concentration

affect an ecosystem?

Answer 17

Higher carbon dioxide concentration leads to more plant growth.

Question 18

How does oxygen concentration affect

an ecosystem?

Answer 18

Aquatic animals cannot survive in areas with

low oxygen concentration

Question 19

State the biotic factors that may affect an

ecosystem.

Answer 19

● Food
● New predators
● New pathogens
● Competition

Question 20

What are adaptations?

Answer 20

Features that enable organisms to

survive in their living environment.

Question 21

What are organisms living in extreme

environments called?

Answer 21

Extremophiles

Question 22

Give 3 examples of extreme living

environments

Answer 22

● High temperature
● High pressure
● High salt concentration

Question 23

State an example of where extremophile

bacteria can be found.

Answer 23

In deep sea vents.

Question 24

How are camels adapted to live in deserts

Answer 24

• adapted to hot and dry conditions of a desert
• many structural adaptations
• hump stores fat to insulate, allowing heat loss from other parts of the body, reducing sweating
• metabolic reactions can be used to produce water from fat
• thick coat on the upper surface of their body, insulating camel from sun, reduces heat loss from sweating
• leathery inside of mouth, can chew desert plants which can be a good source of water
• long eyelashes to keep dust out of eyes
• close nostrils to keep dust out of nose
• wide flat feet preventing the camel from sinking into the sand
• functional adaptations include
• concentrated urine + dry faeces, reducing water loss
• can tolerate v large changes in temperature, helping them to cope w the intensity of the desert

Question 25

what are structural adaptations

Answer 25

adaptations to the body shape or structure

Question 26

what are functional adaptations

Answer 26

adaptations to the body functions of an organism

Question 27

what are behavioural adaptations

Answer 27

adaptations to the animal’s lifestyle or behaviour, eg nocturnal animals which keeps them away from the heat in the day time

Question 28

what are the adaptations of the arctic fox?

Answer 28

• very thick white fur, provides insulation and reduces heat loss to the air
• fur on the soles of the feet, reduces heat loss to ice and snow
• very small ears, reduces surface area of fox, reducing heat loss
• coat is camouflage, helps it hunt its prey

Question 29

how are cacti adapted?

Answer 29

• very small leaves, reducing water loss
• no leaves at all, only spines, which protect the cactus from animals
• extensive shallow roots allowing them to catch as much water as possible after rainfall
• can store water in their stem, can survive many months without rain