B14b Communities and adaptations

Question 1

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 1

Interaction of a community of living organisms with the
non-living parts of their environment

Question 2

Name four things that plants compete for

Answer 2

Light
Mineral ions
Water
Space

Question 3

Name three things animals compete for

Answer 3

Food and water
Space (territory)
Mate

Question 4

What is interdependence?

Answer 4

Different species in an ecosystem depend on each other for resources, if one species is removed the community may be affected

Question 5

What is a stable community?

Answer 5

All the biotic and all the abiotic factors are balanced
so that population sizes remain relatively constant

Question 6

What are abiotic factors?

Answer 6

Non- living factors

Question 7

What are biotic factors?

Answer 7

Living factors

Question 8

State the abiotic factors that may affect an ecosystem

Answer 8

Light intensity
Temperature
Moisture
Soil pH and mineral content
Wind intensity and direction
Carbon dioxide level
Oxygen level

Question 9

Why might light intensity affect an ecosystem?

Answer 9

Different plant species may have different optimum light intensities for growth
Light is needed for photosynthesis

Plants provide all the food for the ecosystem

Question 10

Why might temperature affect an ecosystem?

Answer 10

Different species of plants and animals have different optimum temperatures for growth and survival

Question 11

How does soil pH affect an ecosystem?

Answer 11

Certain plans grow better in acids or alkaline soils.
Can affect the appearance of plant eg hydrangea flowers

Question 12

How does moisture level affect an ecosystem?

Answer 12

Many plants cannot survive in water logged soil as their roots cannot get oxygen for respiration
Some plants are adapted to live in high or low moisture areas

Question 13

How does wind intensity affect an ecosystem?

Answer 13

Determines how far seeds can be dispersed by the wind.
Increases transpiration rates
Can affect the growth pattern of plants

Question 14

How does soil mineral content affect an ecosystem?

Answer 14

Minerals are needed by plants to make amino acids and proteins
Animals gain their amino acids directly or indirectly from plants.

Question 15

How does carbon dioxide concentration affect an ecosystem?

Answer 15

Higher carbon dioxide concentration leads to more plant growth
Global warming and destruction of habitats

Question 16

How does oxygen concentration affect an ecosystem?

Answer 16

Aquatic animals cannot survive in areas wit low oxygen concentrations

Question 17

State the biotic factors that may affect an ecosystem

Answer 17

Food
New predators
New pathogen
Competition

Question 18

What are adaptations?

Answer 18

Features that enable organisms to survive in their environment

Question 19

Give three adpatations of the artic fox

Answer 19

Thick fur - reduces heat loss

White fur - camouflaged

Small ears - reduces heat loss, reduces surface area: volume ratio

Question 20

Why do elephants have large ears?

Answer 20

Large ears - increases heat loss

Question 21

Name the type of organisms that can live in extreme environments.

Answer 21

Extremophiles

Question 22

Give three examples of extreme environments

Answer 22

High temperature
High pressure
High salt concentrations

Question 23

State an example of where an extremophile bacteria can be found

Answer 23

Deep sea vents

Question 24

Define the term community

Answer 24

All the plants and animals living in an area

Question 25

Give the levels of organisation in an ecosystem

Answer 25

Individual, population, community ecosystem

Question 26

Define the term population

Answer 26

The individuals of the same species living in a habitat

Question 27

Within a community each species depends on other species for their food, shelter, pollination and seed dispersal.

What does this describe?

Answer 27

Interdependence

Question 28

Give three different types of adaptation

Answer 28

Structural

Behavioural

Functional