Adaptions and the Environment Flashcards
What are adaptions?
Characteristics which increase an organism’s chance of survival in the environment in which it lives.
How can animals in the desert adapt to their environment?
- Huge surface area to volume ratio to allow for easy loss of body heat
- Concentrated urine and little swear to save water
- Thin body to aid heat loss
- Sandy colour for camouflage
How can plants in the desert adapt to their environment?
- Small surface area to volume ratio to reduce water loss
- Thin, needle like leaves
- Water storage tissues in case of drought
- Shallow and wide roots to catch any rainfall
How can animals in the Arctic adapt to their environment?
- Small surface area to volume ratio to minimise heat loss
- Thick blubber and hair for insulation
- White colouring for camouflage
How can animals and plants adapt to avoid predators?
Grow thorns or have a poison release system
What is an extremophile?
A microorganism that is adapted to a very extreme environment i.e. volcanoes
What is competition?
Where animals in the same habitat compete for the same resources they need to survive.
What living factors affect the environment?
- Occurrences of diseases
- Change in predator numbers
- Change in food availability
- Change in competition
What non-living factors affect the environment?
- Change in average temperature
- Change in rainfall
- Change in pollution levels
How can changes in the environment affect organisms?
- Population increases
- Population decreases
- Population distribution changes
What is a natural indicator of air pollution?
By monitoring the numbers of certain species of lichen that are sensitive to sulphur dioxide. They will leave any areas with too much pollution.
What is a natural indicator of water pollution?
The presence of invertebrates like mayfly that only lay their eggs in clean water.
What is a non-living indicator of sea temperature and snow/ice coverage?
Satellites
What is a non-living indicator of atmospheric temperature?
Automatic weather stations
What is a non-living indicator of rainfall?
Rain gauges
