Adaptions / environment Flashcards
What do animals compete for?
Mates
Food
Territory
What is an adaption
A special feature which makes an animal suited to its environment
What sort of conditions can extremophiles live in?
High salt levels
High pressure
Extreme temperatures
How are desert animals adapted?
Large SA to volume
Camouflage
Thin layers of body fat
Efficient water - little urine -no sweat
How are desert plants adapted?
Small SA to volume
Water storage tissues -stomata
Deep roots
How are animals adapted to the cold?
Small SA to volume
Thick layer of blubber
Thick greasy fur
Camouflage
What are some living factors that affect distribution?
New..
Predators
Disease
Plants
What are some nonliving factors that affect distribution?
Temp Rainfall Concentration of oxygen Light PH soil
What are the 2 living organisms are used as indicators of pollution?
Lichens - clean air if present -
detect air pollution
Invertebrate animals - conc.of o2 - good if present
What happens when raw sewage is released in rivers?
Bacteria use oxygen so fish die
Why is biomass reduced at each stage?
Energy is lost by
- waste materials
- respiration
- movement
- growth
- heat
What conditions are microorganims most active in?
Warm
Moist
Aerobic condition
What is detrtus?
Decaying matter
What is a decomposer?
Microorganism that break sown vegetation
Describe carbon cycle…
CO2 removed by plants - carbon used to make proteins and fats
Animals eat plant and carbon becomes part of them
Respiration release some CO2 back into air
Plants/animals die - carbon left in ground - microorganims eat and respire
Fossil fuels burnt releasing co2 into air
