B1.4 Interdependence and Adaptation

Question 1

What do organisms need to survive and reproduce?

Answer 1

A supply of materials from their surroundings and from other living organisms

Question 2

Name four things for which plants compete with each other

Answer 2

• Light
• Space
• Water
• Minerals from the soil

Question 3

Name four things for which animals compete with each other

Answer 3

• Territory
• Food
• Water
• Mates

Question 4

Define ‘adaptation’

Answer 4

A feature of the body which helps the organism to survive

Question 5

How are desert animals adapted to dry, hot conditions?

Answer 5

• Large surface area to volume ratio
• Efficient with water : concentrated urine, less sweat
• Thin layers of body fat
• Thin coat
• A sandy colour - camoflauge

Question 6

How are arctic animals adapted to cold conditions?

Answer 6

• Small surface area to volume ratio
• Thick layer of blubber for insulation (also acts as food source)
• Thick hairy coats
• Greasy fur sheds water to stop cooling by evaporation
• White fur - camoflauge

Question 7

How are desert plants adapted to little water?

Answer 7

• Small surface area to volume ratio
• Less leaves e.g cacti (leaves lose water)
• Water storage tissues
• Some have shallow but extensive roots to absorb water quickly over a large area at the surface
• Others have deep roots to access underground water

Question 8

How are plants/animals adapted to deter predators?

Answer 8

• Armour e.g thorns, sharp spines, shells
• Poison e.g bees, ivy
• Warning colours to ward them off

Question 9

What three conditions are extremophiles adapted to live in?

Answer 9

• High temperatures
• High pressures
• High levels of salt

Question 10

Name 4 living factors that cause environmental change.

Answer 10

• A change in the occurrence of infectious diseases
• A change in the predator number
• A change in the prey number/availability of food sources
• A change in the number/type of competitors

Question 11

Name 3 non living factors that cause environmental change.

Answer 11

• A change in the average temperature
• A change in the average rainfall
• A change in the level of air/water pollution

Question 12

Explain three ways environmental change can affect populations.

Answer 12

• Population size increases e.g more prey means more predators
• Population size decreases e.g pesticides, less nectar rich plants and more disease having a negative effect on bee population
• Population distribution changes e.g bird species distribution changing because of a rise in temperature.

Question 13

Name two types of living indicators used to measure environmental changes.

Answer 13

• Lichen

- Invertebrates e.g Larvae

Question 14

How are lichen used to measure environmental changes?

Answer 14

• Lichen can be used to monitor air pollution, the number and type in an area can show how clean the air is.
• Bushy lichens need very clean air, crusty lichens can survive more polluted air.

Question 15

How are invertebrates used to measure environmental changes?

Answer 15

• They can be used as water pollution indicators and indicators of the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water
• Mayfly larvae are very sensitive to these levels and their presence indicates clean water (clean water = less bacteria = less oxygen used up)
• Other invertebrate species e.g sludgeworms indicate high levels of water pollution

Question 16

Name four non-living indicators used to measure environmental change and how they are measured.

Answer 16

• Oxygen levels : dissolved oxygen meters in water
• Temperature : automatic weather stations containing thermometers
• Average yearly rainfall : rain gauges