B4.1 Adaptation to environment Flashcards
a habitat
where species live
a niche
a complete description of a species ecology
how are ecosystems formed
communities form the biotic part of an ecosystem while abiotic is non living part
interactions between these two form ecosystems
microhabitat
the occupied area within an ecosystem is extremely small
conditions within are likely to be very different from conditions in surrounding habitat
xerophytes
plants able to survive in water lacking environments
they are also able to survive in cold regions and windy areas
in which environment are plants susceptible to increased water loss
windy or hot due to increased evaporation or differences in water concentration between leaf and air
marram grass and its adaptations
is a xerophyte with rolled leads so the stomatas are on the inside. Makes the insides humid and reduces concentration gradient between air and tissue and evaporation is lowered
inner epidermis is hairy to trap water and limit air movement
features of mangrove swamps
found in tropical coastal areas with high rainfall and constant insolation
grow in saline and oxygen deficient environment
have limited productivty compared to other tropical ecosystems
aerial roots in mangroves
absorb oxygen directly from the air and survive when the forest floods.
also creates stability
how are mangroves adapted to salinity
have adaptations to limit access of salt and to remove it once present in the plant
limiting biotic factors
include interactions between organisms
limiting abiotic factors
physical components of the environments
limiting factors in plants
light water nutrients carbon dioxide and temperature
limiting factors in animals
includes food space mates and water
limits of tolerance
critical minimal and critical maximum limits are a species or population limits of tolerance
range of tolerance
the range between the limits of environmental factors within which species can survive
optimum zone of tolerance
conditions that favour maximum fitness, growth, abundance and survival
zones of stress
on either side of the optimal zone, where fewer individuals occur and survival is lower
zones of intolerance
none of the organisms can survive
pompeii worm
lives in deap sea hydrothermal vents, one of the hottest areas on earth
live in tubes to protect bodies and also live very deep in high pressures
it s a thermophilic species that have limits of tolerance
also have bacteria that helps them be resistant
halophytes
plants that can grow in soil or water of high salinity
glycophytes
plants that are not salt tolerant
transects
arbitrary lines through a habitat
used to study the distribution of animals and plants along environmental gradients
quadrats
used to sample plants algae and other immobile organisms along a transection
a line transect
made by placing a tape measure in the direction of the gradient
belt transect
a band of chosen width placed along the gradient
continuous transect
when the whole transect is sampled
interrupted transects
when samples are taken at equa points along the gradient
why is the shore an area of great diversity
due to tide and other factors
almost all species are of marine origin
exposure as an abiotic factor
influences the distribution of organisms on the seashore
brings the threat od drying out and wider extremes of temperature than those experienced during submission
reef building corals and zooxanthellae
they have a symbiotic relationship with the unicellular algae zooxanthellae
why do coral reefs occur quite close to air
since the algae requires sunlight
what can temperature increase do to choral reef
corals live at the uppermost boundary of their temperature tolerance and even 1 degree increase can cause the algae to leave
what happens to coral reef when zooxanthellae leaves
known as bleaching because the coral is white and there is no algae to produce glucose causing coral to starve
what other factors contribute to the destruction of coral reefs
increasing carbon dioxide makes water more acidic but coral reefs are basic
sea levels rising can cause less sunlight to reach the coral so lower rate of photosynthesis
what factors affect the type of ecosystem that develops
temperature
precipitation
insolation
what elements of climate can affect ecosystem
air pressure, humidity, cloudiness and wind
what are biomes
groups of ecosystems that share similar abiotic conditions and thus develop similar communities through convergent evolution
a climograph
a graphical model that shows the relationship between temperature, precipitation, and ecosystem type
they show the likely ecosystem found under certain conditions
what is productivity
rate of storage of energy in plant biomass through photosynthesis
tropical rainforest features
highest productivty
found between the tropics
rainfall is high, insolation constant and temperatures warm
complex structures with number of layers
temperate ecosystems features
vary from evergreen forests to grasslands
highly productive for part of the year
seasonal variation varies sunlight and limits overall productivity
rainfall and temperature are also seasonal, reduced productivity means less energy
taiga
coniferous forests consisting of pines
found near artic circle
extreme cold and harsh winds with low rate of precipitation
short growing season
summers are short and temp below 0
snow cover reflects solar radiation and increases cooling
grassland features
found on every continent
develop where there is not enough precipitation to support forests, but enough to prevent deserts
wide diversity of grass but low productivity
wildly fluctuating temperatues limits survival of organisms
rate of water usually in balance with rate of evaporation
tundra features
found in colder ecosystems where water is ice and not available to plants, reducing productivity
highly stressful with low temp and rainfall
only moss and liches able to survive
insolation is low and temperatures are low most of the year, affecting photosynthesis, respiration and decomposition
soil can also be frozen
only summers allow for plant growth due to constant sunlight
hot desert features
high average temperatures and very low rainfall which can be unevenly distributed
lack of water limits photosynthesis and rates of productivity are low
temperatures at night also drop making survival difficult
three methods used to live in a hot desert
expire
evade
endure
camel features and adaptations
can tolerate high body temperatures
thick fur for shade and thin fur for easy heat loss
increased SA for heat loss
large flat feet to reduce pressure on sand
fat in hump can be converted to water
slit nostrils and eyelashes help to keep the sand out of eyes and noses
cacti features and adaptations
no leaves and photosynthesis occurs in stem to reduce SA
Reduce SA to limit water loss through transpiration
thick waxy cuticle to prevent water loss
able to store water and covered with needles for protection
widespread root systems ensure maximum water absorption
scorpions features and adaptations
nocturnal arthropods to avoid hot daytime
have wide range of prey and venemous stings
ambush prey to save energy
exoskeleton gives protection and prevents water loss
low food and water needs
able to detect sand movement
kangaroo rats
hides in burrow during daylight
can survive without access to drinking water
excrete extremely concentrated urine and produce no sweat
pitcher plants features and adaptaions
carnivourous
found in canopy or areas with nutrient poor soils
can photosynthesize but lack other nutrient
they catch and digest insects
large ones uses the faeces of small mammals as source of nourishment
flying lizards features and adaptations
developed adaptation to glide from tree to tree
floor has many predators and being on the tree allows them to avoid
folds of skin act as wings when stretched tight
gibbons features and adaptations
elongated forearms to help them swing tree to tree
hook like fingers and highly mobile shoulder joints to help with swinging
never have to descend to floor
orchid mantis features and adaptations
mimics look of orchid
legs resemble flower petals
attracts pollinators and uses forelimbs to kill prey
young resemble the unopened buds to a flowering tree species
