B16 - Adaptations + interdependence + competition Flashcards
B16 - Describe the characteristics of a stable community.
Relatively constant environmental factors, number of species and population sizes.
Lots of different species - diverse.
If the environment changes slightly, the community can recover.
When a large, stable community is lost, it is hard to replace.
B16 - What is meant by interdependence?
The dependence of two or more people or things on each other?
B16 - What abiotic factors can affect organisms within a community?
Abiotic = a non-living component that affects organisms within a community eg.
Light intensity,
temperature,
soil pH,
mineral content,
moisture levels,
wind intensity,
oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations.
B16 - What biotic factors can affect organisms within a community?
Biotic = a living component that affects organisms within a community.
Food availability, pathogens/parasites, predators and competition.
B16 - What things do animals compete for?
Food
Territory
Mates
B16 - What are the two types of competition?
Interspecific competition: Competition between animals of different species.
Intraspecific competition: Competition between animals of the same species.
B16 - What things do plants compete for?
Light
Water
Nutrients
Space
B16 - What is meant by an extremophile?
Organisms that can survive and reproduce in extreme conditions.
These extreme conditions include very high temperatures, high concentration of salt in water and high pressures.
Most extremophiles are microorganisms.
B16 - Explain the adaptations that allow extremophiles to survive in hot and salty environments.
Hot: specially adapted enzymes that do not denature at these high temperatures.
Salty: adaptations in the cytoplasm so that water doesn’t move out of their cells by osmosis.
B16 - Describe the three types of adaptation.
Structural – physical features of the organism.
Behavioural – behaviours exhibited by animals that help them to survive.
Functional – related to processes like reproduction and metabolism
B16 - Explain how plants living in hot climates are adapted to their environment.
Small surface area to reduce water loss.
Curled leaves to reduce water loss.
Few stomata to reduce water loss.
Fleshy leaves to store water.
Widespread root systems to collect water.
B16 - Describe and explain how animals are adapted to survive in cold climates.
White fur = provides camouflage.
Large paws = increase stability on uneven ground.
Small ears = reduces heat loss.
Thick blubber = provides insulation.
Thick fur = provides insulation.
B16 - Describe and explain how animals are adapted to survive in hot climates.
Sand coloured fur = provides camouflage.
Concentrated urine = reduces water loss/need to drink.
Large ears = increases heat loss.
Nocturnal behaviours = animals active at cooler
temperatures - reduces exertion
Large surface area to volume ratio = increases heat loss.
B16 - Describe a method used to investigate a population.
Use a quadrat to randomly sample an area.
Throw the quadrat over your shoulder.
When it lands, count the types of species and the number of individual organisms of each species.
Record this information in a table.
Throw the quadrat at random again and repeat the process until you have sampled 10 quadrats
B16 - Describe how to use a line transect to sample a habitat.
A transect is a line such as a tape measure, layed on the ground across a habitat.
We use it to see how the populations of organisms change as we move across a habitat (further along the tape measure).
A quadrat is used at different intervals along the line to sample the populations
