B1.4 Interdependence And Adaptation Flashcards
What is survival?
- To survive, organisms require a supply of materials from their surroundings and from the other living organisms there.
- Organisms live, grow and reproduce in places where, and at time when, conditions are suitable.
What is competition?
- Animals and plants have to compete for limited resources.
* The best adapted animals or plants will win and survive.
What do animals compete with each other for?
- Water.
- Food.
- Mates.
- Territory.
What do plants compete with each other for?
- Light.
- Water (from the soil).
- Minerals and nutrients (from the soil).
- Space.
What are adaptions?
•A feature or behaviour organisms have which enable them to survive in conditions in which they normally live.
How do organisms make use of their resources in a habitat to survive and increase in numbers?
Animals:
•To be able to obtain certain foods better.
•To make it more difficult to be caught by predators.
•To survive extreme climates e.g. arctic or desert.
Plants:
•To lose water vapour from the surfaces of their leaves (it is essential that they have adaptions that minimise this).
What are extrememophiles?
Organisms that live in extreme environments.
•Some may tolerate high levels of salt, temperature or pressure.
•Different features allow animals and plants to cope in their environment.
E.g. poison, camouflage.
What are extreme animals?
Animals adapted for survival in in dry and arctic environments by means of: •Changes to surface area. •Thickness of insulating coat. •Amount of body fat. •Camouflage.
What are some examples of extreme animals?
- Camel (desert).
* Polar Bear (arctic).
How have camels adapted to the desert environment?
10 features
- Can go without food and water for 3 to 4 days.
- Fat is stored in the hump: provides long term food reserve and supply of metabolic water.
- Fat is not distributed around the body; reduces insulation, allowing more heat loss.
- Large surface area to volume ratio- they are tall and thin, increasing heat loss by radiation.
- Long eyelashes and furry ears prevent sand and dust getting in.
- They have a very varied diet (bones, thorns plants…)
- Wide spread out feet, so body weight is shifted while travelling on sand.
- Nostrils can close during sandstorms.
- Little water is lost through sweating and by producing small amounts of concentrated urine.
- Sandy colour acts as a camouflage.
How have polar bears adapted to the arctic environment?
8 features
- Has thick fur and fat beneath its skin to insulate it.
- Large furry feet helps to distribute weight as they walk on thin ice. They act as good paddles and snow shoes.
- They are white which camouflages them in the snow and helps them to hunt.
- They are compact in shape, reducing their surface area to volume ratio; this reduces heat loss by radiation.
- Has small ears and a small body surface area to volume ratio to reduce heat loss.
- The eyes have brown irises to reduce sun reflection.
- Black skin is a good absorber of heat.
- White greasy fur repels water an acts as camouflage.
What are extreme plants?
•Plants that may be adapted to survive in dry environments.
By means of:
•Changes to surface area, especially leaves.
•Water-storage tissues.
•Extensive root systems.
How do animals in dry climates adapt to the environment?
- To keep themselves cool to survive.
* To cope with the lack of water.
What is migration?
•The seasonal movement of animals from one region to another.
Why do birds migrate?
- Food (fewer insects and berries in colder areas).
* Shelter from the cold.
What other adaptations can animals have?
Poison:
•As defence/protection from predators.
•To kill or paralyse prey.
Bright colourings:
•Deters predators from attacking them.
•Acts as a warning sign.
Mimicry (adapting to look like a dangerous species):
•As a waring sign.
E.g. A hoverfly has yellow and black bands on their bodies resembling bees and wasps, but are stingless.
