B16-Adaptation Flashcards
Define community
A group of interdependent organisms that are made of different species
Define ecosystem
The interaction of a community with the abiotic parts of the environment
What are abiotic factors? State 2 examples
Non-living factors in an environment eg light intensity, soil pH, wind, humidity and temperature
What are biotic factors? State 2 examples
Living factors in an environment eg predators, competitors, pathogens/microorganisms
Define population
A group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time
What is interdependence?
A relationship that describes how all species within a community depend on each other to survive
What is meant by a stable community?
Where all the species and environmental factors are in balance, hence population sizes remain fairly constant
A disease causes large areas of trees to die, is their death cause by an abiotic or biotic factor?
Biotic because diseases are caused by pathogens which are living beings
Briefly explain why low light intensity may decrease animal populations
Less light, less photosynthesis by plants–>poor plant growth–>less plant available for animals to eat–>less herbivores grow and survive–>further affects higher levels in the food chain
State 3 biotic factors
New pathogens, new predators, new competitors, food availability
State an equipment that is commonly used to investigate a population of plants in a particular area
Quadrat
What is quanititative sampling?
A technique to record and estimate the number of organisms in a particular area
How can the distribution of a species be measured?
Sampling along a transect
State a difference between quantitative sampling and transect sampling
Quantitative sampling takes samples at random coordinates, transect sampling takes samples at specific intervals along the line(not random)
What are the 3 things that animals compete for?
Food, mates, territory
Give 1 characteristic of a lion that makes it a good competitor
Sharp teeth/claws
Give 1 characteristic of a deer that makes it a good competitor
Horns/antlers
Give 1 characteristic of a peakcock that makes it a good competitor and state what it is competing for using this trait
Behaviour(eg mating dance), attractive, colourful feathers to attract mate
Tigers urinating on trees is a behaviour adaption to compete for?
Territory
Wasps building nests is a behavious adaptation to compete for?
Shelter/habitat
Owls’ sharp hearing is an adaptation to compete for?
Food
What are the 4 things that plants compete for?
Light, space, water, mineral ions
Some small plants in woodlands grow only in winter and dies before spring comes-suggest why this happens
To avoid competition for sunlight when large trees grow leaves block out sunlight in spring/summer
Suggest why plants may have different root depths
To avoid competition for water and/or mineral ions at the same soil depth
Suggest why seed dispersal is considered an adaptation to avoid competition
Seed is carried far away instead of landing right next to parents plant, so offspring plant doesn’t compete with parents plant
Cactus’ long roots is a feature to help compete for..?
Water
Large flowers are a feature to help compete for..?
(attract) Pollinators
Weeds’ rapid growth in height is a feature to help compete for?
Light
What are extremophiles?
(micro)organisms that live in environments that are very extreme eg high temp, pressure, salt conc
Which domain tends to include most extremophiles?
Archea
State the specific name given to extremophiles that are adapted to live in high temperatures
Thermophiles
Suggest one adaptation that thermophiles have to help them live in high temperatures
Special enzymes with higher optimal temp(don’t denature at high temp)/speically structured cell membrane and/or cell wall
Suggest 1 adaptation that halophiles have to help them survive in salty areas
Special cytoplasm to prevent water loss by osmosis/special cell membrane/wall
For animals that living in cold climates, would they have adaptations to increase or decrease their SA: V ratio?
Decrease
Why do animals that live in hot climates adapt to have a high SA: V ratio?
Increase heat loss
State an adaptation that polar bears have to survive in cold climates
More insulation(thick fat layer+fur)
Give a behavioural adaptation of penguins
Huddling
Apart from their humps, give 1 other adaptation of camels to help them reduce water loss
Specially adapted kidneys/very little sweating
Artic foxes’ fur coat changes from grey to white during winter-suggest 2 reasons why
Reduce heat loss by raditation+better camouflage in the snow
What is the major way in which plants lose water in hot, dry conditions?
Transpiration
Why do plants in dry and hot conditions have curled leaves?
Traps moist air–>reduce water vapour conc gradient–>reduce transpiration
Why do some plants have thorns?
Prevent predation by herbivores
Why do some plants have long roots?
Increase water uptake
Why do cacti have swollen stems?
Store water
Why do cacti have spine-like leaves?
Reduce SA–>reduce water loss
