b16 - adaptations, interdependence and competition

Question 1

why do organisms require materials from their surroundings?

Answer 1

to survive and reproduce

Question 2

define a complex community

Answer 2

• where organisms live
• contains populations of different species from all the kingdoms

Question 3

define an ecosystem

Answer 3

interaction of a community of living organisms (biotic factors) with the non living (abiotic) elements of their environment

Question 4

what is the role of the Sun?

Answer 4

a source of energy for an ecosystem

Question 5

give the name of three substances recycled through an ecosystem

Answer 5

carbon, nitrogen and water

Question 6

give examples of animals and plants being interdependent

Answer 6

• animals and plants are interdependence
• plants produce food
• animals eat plants and other animals
• animals pollinate plants and disperse seeds
• animals use plant material for nests and shelters
• plants use animal waste to obtain nutrients

Question 7

what do organisms compete for?

Answer 7

resources both within their species and with populations of other species

Question 8

define interdependence

Answer 8

if one species is removed from a community, it can affect a whole community

Question 9

define a stable community

Answer 9

all species and environmental factors are in balance so that population sizes remain fairly constant

Question 10

give three examples of stable communities

Answer 10

1) tropical rainforests
2) mature oak woodlands
3) mature coral reefs

Question 11

give seven examples of abiotic factors that effect communities of organisms

Answer 11

1) light intensity - more light increases photosynthesis
2) temperature
3) moisture levels - fresh water
4) soil pH and mineral content - too acidic, leaves turn brown
5) wind intensity and direction - affects shape of community
6) carbon dioxide levels for plants
7) availability of oxygen for aquatic animals

Question 12

define abiotic

Answer 12

not living

Question 13

define biotic

Answer 13

living

Question 14

give five examples of biotic factors that effect communities of organisms

Answer 14

1) availability of food
2) new predators arriving
3) new pathogens
4) new competitors
5) interspecific competition - competitions between diff species

Question 15

define quantitative data

Answer 15

used to describe how physical factors affect distribution

Question 16

define distribution

Answer 16

where organisms live in an environment

Question 17

define abundance

Answer 17

how many organisms live in a certain environment

Question 18

how can quantitative date be obtained?

Answer 18

random quantitative sampling using a quadrat or sampling along a transect

Question 19

define a quadrat

Answer 19

a square frame of metal or wood which might be subdivided into a group

Question 20

how is a quadrat used?

Answer 20

• place several quadrats randomly on a field and count number of particular plant or animal.
• used to estimate the number of, e/g, daisies in a whole field
• results given in mean per square metre

Question 21

define a transect

Answer 21

• a line is marked between two points
• a quadrat is placed every five metres along the line and organisms are counted inside
• physical factors could also be measured at each quadrat point

Question 22

what is the point of a transect?

Answer 22

to see a change in species distribution in a line from A to B

Question 23

what do animals compete for?

Answer 23

water, food, space, mates, breeding sites

Question 24

what must an animals territory be large enough for?

Answer 24

• for it to find water and food
• to have space for breeding

Question 25

what do predators compete with eachother for?

Answer 25

prey

Question 26

why should predators and prey be camouflaged?

Answer 26

so they are less easy to see

Question 27

give an example of an adaptation in an animal?

Answer 27

caterpillars may be poisonous and have warning colours so they are not eaten.

Question 28

what do plants compete for?

Answer 28

light, water, mineral ions, space

Question 29

why do some smaller plants (e.g snowdrops) flower before the trees are in leaf?

Answer 29

to ensure they get enough light, space, water and mineral ions

Question 30

why do some plants grow deep roots?

Answer 30

to reach underground water better than those with shallow roots

Question 31

why do some plants spread their seeds over a wide area?

Answer 31

- so they don't compete with themselves

Question 32

give two ways in which plants spread their seeds

Answer 32

- some plants use animals to spread their fruits and seeds - some plants use the wind (e.g sycamore) or mini explosions (e.g broom) to spread seeds

Question 33

how can you investigate competition in plants?

Answer 33

- set up two trays of cress seeds, one crowded one spread out - keep other conditions identical - record differences in growth after a few days

Question 34

define adaptations

Answer 34

special features of organisms which allow organisms to survive in extreme conditions

Question 35

how are plants adapted?

Answer 35

to obtain light and other materials efficiently in order to make food by photosynthesis

Question 36

how are animals adapted to diet?

Answer 36

mouthparts adapted to whether they are carnivore or herbivore

Question 37

what temperatures do most organisms need to live?

Answer 37

below 40 degrees

Question 38

define extremophiles

Answer 38

organisms , usually microorganisms, adapted to live in conditions where most enzymes do not work because they would denature

Question 39

what kind of things could adaptations be?

Answer 39

- could be structural, e.g shape and colour of organism - behavioural, e.g migration - functional, e.g antifreeze in cells

Question 40

what adaptations do animals in cold climates have?

Answer 40

- thick fur - blubber under skin - some animals in arctic are white in winter and brown in summer so they are camouflaged

Question 41

why can bigger animals conserve energy more easily, but it is harder for them to cool down?

Answer 41

due to a lower surface area : volume ratio than smaller animals

Question 42

how are animals adapted in hot, dry conditions?

Answer 42

- adapted to conserve water and control temperature - may hunt or feed at night so they remain cool during day

Question 43

how do plants lose water?

Answer 43

lost as water vapour through stomata in the leaves

Question 44

how can plants be collected in a dry environment?

Answer 44

an extensive root system

Question 45

how is a plant adapted to conserve water?

Answer 45

- has small or waxy leaves - may have a swollen stem to store water