B1 4 Adaptation for Survival Flashcards
What are adaptations?
Special features owned by living organisms which makes it possible to survive in their habitats; even when extreme.
What do living organisms need to make it possible for them to survive?
Materials from their surroundings and other living organisms.
What do plants compete with each other for?
- Light for photosynthesis; to make food from sunlight.
- Space to grow, allowing their roots to take in water and nutrients,and thee leaves to capture light.
- Water for photosynthesis and to keep their tissues rigid and supported.
- Nutrients from the soil so they can make all the chemicals they need on their cells.
Why do plants need to photosynthesise?
To produce glucose for energy and growth.
What do animals compete with each other for?
- Food
- Mates
- Territory
By looking at what can you identify what certain animals eat?
Teeth
What kind of teeth do herbivores have?
Teeth for grinding up plant cells.
What kind of teeth do carnivores have?
Teeth for tearing flesh and crushing bones.
What are organisms that survive in the most extreme environments called?
Extremophiles
What are most extremophiles?
Microorganisms
What kind of conditions can they survive in?
- High temperatures
- Low temperatures
- Salty conditions
- Low pressures
- High pressures
What do extremophiles contain so that they don’t denature?
Special enzymes
How does camouflage help both predators and preys?
By changing coat colour in the different seasons gives animals year-round protection from either not being eaten or not being caught hunting.
What adaptations will vary in animals living in different habitats?
- Changes to surface area
- Thickness of insulating coat
- Amount of body fat
- Camouflage
What adaptations will vary in plants living in different habitats?
- Changes in surface area; particularly in leaves
- Water-storage tissues
- Extensive root systems
How does the surface area: volume ratio affect animal adaptations?
Heat is lost through surface area. In cold climates, animals are large therefore they have a smaller surface area: volume ratio so less heat is lost. In dry climates it will be the other way round.
Therefore the larger the animal the smaller the ratio.
What are the adaptations of animals living in cold climates?
- Smaller surface area: volume ratio
- Plenty of insulation inside and out - thick fur and lots of body fat.
- Camouflage
What can body fat be used for; when is it built?
It can provide food supply in the winter and therefore is built in the summer.
What are the adaptations of animals living in dry climates?
- Larger surface area: volume ratio
- Thin fur
- Little body fat
- Certain body patterns
What are behaviour patterns like for animals living in a dry climate?
They are most active in the early mornings and late evenings when it’s cooler and resting for the rest of the day.
What are cold climate animals adapted for?
Reducing the amount of heat loss.
What are animals living in dry climates adapted for?
Coping with the lack of water and to stop body temperature from going too high.
What happens at the surface of the leaves when plants take in water from the soil?
Small openings called stomata need to open to allow gases in and out for photosynthesis and respiration. During this time water vapour is lost by evaporation.
When it is hot and dry, at what rate does photosynthesis and respiration take place?
Quickly, therefore more water vapour is lost.
What do most plants do to prevent losing water vapour?
They reduce their leaves’ surface area or store water in tissues.
Give 2 ways the desert plants have adapted their leaves and state how they work.
- Small fleshy leaves with a thick cuticle - the cuticle is a waxy covering on the leaf which stops water evaporating.
- Spikes which are of small surface area so less water is lost due to less heat being lost.
How do extensive root systems help plants collect water?
Plants can collect as much water as possible from the soil.
Where do plants store water?
- Stems
- Roots
- Fleshy leaves
Why do animals need to compete?
For their survival, they need the things they compete for to stay healthy.
Which herbivores will be successful competitors in food?
The one which eats a variety of plants.
Which carnivores will be the successful competitors in food?
The ones with fast running legs and sharp eyes.
How can territories be vital in an animal’s life?
Some may not be able to reproduce without a territory.
How do animals compete for a mate?
- Fighting - winner gets female
* Attracting females and warning off other males.
How can an animal be a successful competitor?
It has better adaptations at finding food or a mate than other members of its species or even other local species. It has to also breed successfully. Many animals avoid competition with other species as much as possible by feeding and mating in a unique way.
How do plants become successful competitors?
- Plants that grow close to other species often have adaptations to avoid competition.
- Small plants in the woodlands flower very early during the time trees don’t use much light, water etc. and take advantage of the things.
- Plants also have different types of roots.
How does spreading the seeds help plants be successful?
They don’t have to compete with their own seedlings.
How can plant seeds be spread?
- Wind
- Ocean currents
- Insects
What does the distribution of living organisms depend on?
Environmental conditions
What are the environmental factors which can affect the distribution of living organisms?
- Average temperature
- Average rainfall
- Average pH
- Oxygen levels
- Other living organisms
- Amount of sunlight
- Strength if wind
What can environmental changes be caused by?
Both non-living and living environmental factors.
What can environmental changes be measured using?
Non-living indicators
What can living organisms be used as indicators for?
Pollution levels
What in particular can lichens be used for?
To measure the concentration of sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere.
What can invertebrate animals be used for in particular?
As indicators of the concentration of dissolved oxygen in water.
What instruments can be used to measure:
• Rainfall
• Temperature
• Oxygen
- Rain gauges
- Thermometers
- Oxygen meters
