Adaption And Survival Flashcards
What are extremophiles?
Organisms that survive and reproduce in the most difficult conditions are known as extremophiles.
What aids meant by adaptations?
Living organisms have special features that make it possible for them to survive in their particular habitat.
Give an example of an extremophile
Animals from deep oceans are adapted to cope with enormous pressure, no light and very cold, salty water. If these extremophiles are brought to surface too quickly, they explode because of the rapid change in pressure.
What do plants need to survive?
Light, carbon dioxide, water and oxygen and nutrients to produce glucose energy in order to survive.
What do animals need to survive?
Food from other living organisms, water and oxygen.
Why do plants need to photosynthesise?
To produce the glucose needed for energy and growth. They also need to have enough water to maintain their cells and tissues.
How are animals living in cold conditions adapted for them?
Animals that are adapted for cold environments are often large with a small surface area: volume (SA:V) ratio. They have thick insulating layers of fat.
What are the adaptations for a animal in hot climates?
A large SA:V ratio, then fur, little body fat and behaviour patterns that avoid the heat of the day.
How is camouflage an important adaptation?
Camouflage is important both to predators (so their prey doesn’t see them coming) and to prey ( so they can’t be seen).
Give an example of colour chaining coat animals
Many Arctic animals including the Arctic fox have grey or brown summer coats that change to pure white in the winter.
What is a herbivore?
Plant eating animals
What is a carnivore?
Animals that eat other animals.
What would happen if animals weren’t adapted to survive in the areas they live in?
They’d die
Why do large animals find it difficult to cool down?
They have small surface area: volume ratio
Where do plants lose water vapour from?
The leaf surface through holes in the leaves called stomata
How can plants survive in dry conditions?
Plants have adapted to reduce the surface area of the leaves and to have tissues which store water and extensive root systems
How can water be conserved in plants?
If it has very small or waxy leaves. A plants might have a swollen stem to store the water.
How can plants deter animals?
Some plants have developed thorns, poisonous chemicals and warning colours to put animals off.
Give three ways a plant can conserve water
Curled leaves Stomata situated away from heat and wind Waxy leaves Small leaves Water storage in stems
What do animals compete for?
For food, mates and territory
Why do animals need a territory?
So that they can find enough food and water. They also need space to protect and rear their young.
What do plants compete for?
Plants compete with each other for light ,water and mineral ions from soil.
What does a plant need so that it can reach deep underground to find water?
Deep roots
Why do plants try to spread their seeds as far as possible?
To avoid competition for water, light and mineral ions.
What affects the distribution of living organisms?
Changes in the environment.
What can these changes be caused by?
Living or non living factors
Give examples of non living and living factors
Non living- temperature, rainfall , light and oxygen levels
Living- arrival of new predator, diseases or the introduction of new plants which might provide new food or habitat
What do lichens indicate?
Lichens indicate the level of air pollution ,particularly sulphur dioxide. The more species of lichens growing, the cleaner the air. They can also indicate carbon monoxide.
What do freshwater invertebrates indicate?
They indicate the level of water pollution in the same way, in particular the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water. The wider the range of these invertebrates the cleaner the streams, river or pond. Some freshwater invertebrates only live in polluted water.
Why do some animals move North during summertime and return South the winter?
The climate further south gets too warm in the summer. It is too cold for them in the northern winter.
Why is it difficult to interpret data about changes in the distribution of animals and plants?
There are so many possible variables. It may be obvious that the climate has got warmer but this might lead to other changes. For example, if a plant flowers earlier in the year the insects which feed on it may not be around to pollinate the flowers. This could lead to a fall in the number of plants and also in the number of insects which would not be able to feed on the nectar.
What is an extremophile?
An organism that can live in extremely difficult conditions where most other organisms cannot survive.
Why do plants need water?
For photosynthesis and to keep the plant upright.
What is a thermophile?
A bacterium which can survive at temperatures over 45 degrees.
Why are so many Arctic animals large?
Keeps the SA:V as small as possible and so helps them to reduce heat loss.
Why do mammals try to cool down without sweating in hot, dry conditions?
Because sweating results in loss of water from the body. There is not much water in the desert ,so they cannot rely on finding more to drink.
How do plants lose water from their leaves?
By evaporation through the stomata.
Why do plants often reduce the surface area of their leaves
To prevent excess water loss. Water is lost through the surface of the lead so if the surface area, there will be less waste lost.
