B4.1 Adaptations To Environment Flashcards
Habitat definition
the place in which a community, population or organism lives
species
a group of organisms that can potentially interbred to produce fertile offspring
niche
complete description of a species ecology
population
group of individuals of the same species
community
all populations of different species living together and interaction with eachother
biotic
all living organisms
abiotic
non living things in a ecosystem - rocks water light
ecosystem
formed by the interaction between communities ad abiotic environment
environment
external surroundings that can influence survival and development on an organism, population or community
microhabitat
small scale habitat that differs in abiotic and biotic factors from the surrounding habitat
what is marram grass
xerophyte
what is a xerophyte
group of plants that can survive in dry areas by having features that prevent water loss
why are plants susceptible to increased water loss in windy or hot environments
- increased evaporation
- differences in water concentration between leaf tissues and air
what features does marram have to prevent water loss
rolled leaf with stomata on inside so that water that evaporates makes the leaf saturated
inner epidermis folded and with hair to trap water vapour - hair also limits movement
outer epidermis - thick and waxy to prevent loss from outside of leaf
features of mangrove swamps
found in tropical coastal areas
high rainfalls
solar radiation constant throughout year
grow in a saline and oxygen deficient environment
harsh environment limits productivity
adaptations of mangrove swamps - root
roots are generally submerged underwater so that have less oxygen
instead they have aerials roots - absorbs oxygen directly from air
stilt roots give stability
adaptations of mangrove swamps - pneumatophores
are roots which grow vertically from ground
act like snorkels
have pores - lenticels - oxygen absorption occurs
contains hydrophobic substances so water can’t flood root when underwater
adaptations of mangrove swamps - salt
root membrane prevent salt when water enters
limiting factors
variables that -
* slows life processes
* stops a population from growing
* is available in excess
what are limiting biotic factors
interactions between organisms
eg. competition or predation
what are limiting abiotic factors
physical components of the environment like pH, rainfall, humidity, temperature etc
limiting factors in plants
light water nutrients Co2 temperature
limits of tolerance
upper and lower limits to the range of particular environmental factors within which an organisms can survive
range of tolerance
range between critical minimum and critical maximum limits of environmental factors affecting an organism
what does the graph of tolerance represent
the frequency at which individuals of species are found under a range of environmental factors
optimum zone of tolerance
is the optimal range on graph
- conditions that favour maximum fitness, growth, abundance, survival
- reproductive success
zones of stress
fewer individuals and survival is lower
unable to reproduce
zones of intolerance
- tolerance limits exist for all importance environmental factors
- nothing can survive here
transects
arbitrary line through a habitat selected to systematically sample the community
line transect
tape is laid out in direction of environmental gradient and all organisms towering the tape are recorded
quantitative data
belt transect
all organisms within a band, usually between 0.5m and 1m are sampled along an environmental gradient
continuous transect
all transect sample
interrupted transect
samples are taken at points of equal distance along gradient
what is exposure
it is an abiotic factor
brings threat of dying out and more extremes of temperature than those during submersion
what are coral reefs
marine ecosystem
tropical coral reefs - warm sea and sunlight
reef building corals need a narrow temperature range 23-29 degrees c
zooxanthehae
is an organism that has a symbiotic relationship with the corals
symbiotic
close and long term biological interactions between 2 different biological organisms
what are limiting factors to coral reefs
temperature and light
even if it increases by 1 degree, it can stress the zooxanthehae causing algae to leave the coral
what is bleaching
when there are lots of zooxanthehae causing the corals to starve and not having enough algae to make glucose
due to temperatures and light - depth
how is co2 a limiting factor to coral reefs
lowers pH - more acidic
causes ocean acidification
coral reefs are basic and when
burning of fossil fuels results in co2 reacting with water - forms hydrogen carbonate and hydrogen ions
reduced calcification rates -destruction of existing reefs
all limiting factors to coral reefs
water depth - light passing
pH - acidity
salinity - saltiness to avoid osmotic problem
clarity - light passing
temperature - bleaching
biome
groups of ecosystems with similar abiotic conditions and communities, defined by climate and dominant plant species
what are the abiotic factors that determine terrestrial biome distribution
temperature
precipitation
isolation
air pressure
humidity
cloudiness
wind
climatograph
graphical model that shows the relationship between temperature, precipitation and ecosystem type
isolation
amount of sunlight
productivity
rate of storage of energy in plants biomass through photosynthesis
features of tropical rainforests
little variation in sunlight and temp - year round growth
many layers of trees - emergent to ground level
why do tropical rainforests have high productivity
highest productivity as the rainfall is high, isolation is constant and temperature is warm
features of temperate forests
deciduous and every green forests - grasslands
highly productive for part of the year where there is sunlight
winters and rainfall is also seasonal
why do temperate forests have lower productivity thank tropical rainforests
less stored chemical energy
rainfall is only sufficient to make forest but not enough to have high productivity
seasons
features for tiaga forests
northern coniferous forests
pine trees
near artic circle
worlds largest land biome
climate for tiaga forests
cold, harsh, low rainfall, short growing season
serve winters can last till 6 months
short summers 50-100 days
what is the effect of snow in tiaga forests
reflects incoming solar radiation and increases cooling
features of grasslands
16% of earths surface
not enough rain but enough to form deserts
wide diversity and low productivity
what limits survival in grasslands
widely fluctuating temperatures - plants and animals harder to live
mixing of cold polar air with warm southern winds
features of tundra
colder ecosystems in northern hemisphere
northern polar regions
low isolation
winter temp -50
productivity in tundra
very Low because water becomes ice and is not available to plants or animals
days are short - no sunlight
soil permanently frozen so nutrients are limited
features of hot deserts
high average temperatures and low rainfalls
20-30% of land surface
dry airs
productivity in hot deserts
low because lack of water limits photosynthesis
rate of productivity is low
expire meaning
conditions too extreme - parent organisms die but leave behind tough seeds or eggs
evade meaning
avoid extreme temp by changing activity from day to eight or form above ground to below
endure meaning
fatty deposits - respiratory substrate, releasing water. can be stored in roots stems and leaves
adaptations of camels
tolerate body temp till 42
thick fur for shade on top
long neck and legs to increase surface area for heat loss
large flat feet - reduce pressure
loose very less water in pee and sweat
slit like nostrils - close to keep sand out
2 rows of eyelashes to keep sand out of eyes and nose
adaptations of cacti
modified leaves - stops animals from eating
photosynthesis in stem to reduce surface area
thick waxy cuticle to prevent water loss
shallow wide spread roots - to absorb rainfall dast
deep roots to reach water beneath surface
adaptations of scorpions
active at night to avoid day time heat and conserve energy
wide range of prey and wait for it to come near them
exoskeletons to protect and prevent water los
can detect vibration of sand by other animals
adaptations of kangaroo rats
can live without water
hide in burrows in day
excrete extremely concentrated urine and no sweat
adaptations of pitcher plants
carnivores plants so they can get nutrition like nitrogen from insects that the soil lacks
secrete digestive enzymes
cup shaped leaves and downwards pointing spines to prevent insects from escaping
can photosynthesis for glucose
adaptations of flying lizards
glide from tree to tree to save energy and evade predators on the floor
folds of skin that open when stretched to glide
adaptations of gibbons
elongated forearms to help them jump from tree to see
hook like fingers and high mobility in shoulders
very rarely descend to floor
adaptations of orchid mantis
mimicry of orchid flower
attracts pollinators to its flower like structure and uses forelimbs to attack and kill prey
