B4.1 Adaptations to Environment Flashcards
Description of habitat
A habitat is the place where an organism lives, which could be both in terms of its geographical as well as its physical location within an ecoystem.
What is an example of a grass species adapted to sand dunes?
Lyme grass
What is an example of a tree species adapted to mangrove swamps?
Mangrove trees
What are the main challenges for plants growing in sand dunes?
Water conservation
Tolerance to high salt concentrations sand accumulation.
What are the main adaptations of Lyme grass (Leymus mollis) to sand dunes?
Thick waxy cuticle to reduce transpiration
Stomata in indentations to retain humid air
Leaves that roll up during droughts to create a humid chamber
Rhizomes (underground stems) that grow deep for water absorption
What are the main challenges for trees growing in mangrove swamps?
Waterlogged
anaerobic soil with high salt concentrations.
What are the adaptations of mangrove trees to swamp conditions?
Releasing extra salt through leaf glands
Waterproof root coating to block salt from entering
Shallow roots that stay near the surface to get oxygen
Special upright roots (pneumatophores) that take in oxygen from the air
Strong roots (stilt roots) that act like stilts to keep the tree stable in soft mud
Floating seeds that can travel in water to reach new places
Storing special substances (like mannitol) to help absorb water in salty conditions
Name abiotic factors affecting plant distribution
Temperature
water availability
light intensity
soil pH
soil salinity
mineral nutrients.
Give an example of an animal affected by abiotic variables.
Glanville Fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia) – its distribution is influenced by temperature and water availability.
Give an example of a plant affected by abiotic variables.
Alpine plants (e.g., Edelweiss) – adapted to low temperatures, high UV radiation, water scarcity, and frozen soil (permafrost).
How can the range of tolerance of a species be investigated?
By using transects
quadrats
mapping species distribution to correlate species presence with abiotic factors.
What is a line transect and how is it used?
A tape is laid along a gradient, and species touching the line are recorded to study changes in species distribution
What is a belt transect and how is it used?
Quadrats are placed along a transect to count how many organisms are in each, helping to study species distribution.
How do sensors help measure abiotic variables in field studies?
Sensors measure temperature, light intensity, and soil pH, allowing precise data collection to study species distribution.
What conditions are needed for coral reef formation?
depth: Less than 50 m, so enough light reaches corals.pH:
Above 7.8, allowing calcium carbonate deposition.
Salinity: Between 32–42 ppt to prevent osmotic stress
Clarity: Clear water, as turbidity blocks light
Temperature: 23–29°C, ensuring coral and zooxanthellae health.
What are the two main abiotic factors that determine biome distribution?
Temperature and rainfall.
How do temperature and rainfall influence biome distribution?
Different combinations of average annual temperature and annual precipitation lead to the development of specific biomes.
Which biomes occur in low temperatures and low rainfall?
Tundra and taiga (boreal forest).
Which biomes occur in high temperatures and high rainfall?
Tropical rainforest.
What type of graph is used to show biome distribution?
A biome distribution graph, with mean annual temperature on the x-axis and annual precipitation on the y-axis.
What are the climate conditions of the tropical forest biome?
temperature: High (20–30°C)
precipitation: High
Light Intensity: High
Seasonal Variation: Minimal
What are the climate conditions of the temperate forest biome?
Temperature: Medium (0–25°C)
precipitation: Medium to high
Light Intensity: Medium
Seasonal Variation: Warm summers, cold winters
What are the climate conditions of the taiga biome?
temperature: Low (−40°C to 20°C)
precipitation: Medium to high
Light Intensity: Medium to low
Seasonal Variation: Short summers, long cold winters
What are the climate conditions of the grassland biome?
Temperature: High/Medium (−20°C to 30°C)
precipitation: Medium
Light Intensity: High/Medium
Seasonal Variation: Dry and cold seasons
What are the climate conditions of the tundra biome?
temperature: Very low (−40°C to 18°C)
precipitation: Medium/Low
Light Intensity: Low
Seasonal Variation: Short summers, very cold winters
What are the climate conditions of the hot desert biome?
temperature: High (day) and cold (night
Precipitation: Very low
Light Intensity: High
Seasonal Variation: Minimal
What are the adaptations of the Saguaro cactus to desert life?
Wide-spreading roots to collect water up to 30 m away.
Deep tap roots to access underground water.
Thick, pleated stems for water storage and expansion.
Vertical stems to reduce sunlight exposure.
Thick waxy cuticle to reduce water loss.
Spines instead of leaves to limit transpiration and deter herbivores
What are the adaptations of the Fennec fox to desert life?
Burrows underground for a cool shelter.
Large ears to radiate heat and regulate body temperature.
Light-colored fur to reflect sunlight.
Thick fur on feet to protect against hot sand.
High breathing rate (panting) to cool down through evaporation.
What are the adaptations of the Blue Poison Dart Frog to rainforest life?
Bright blue skin as a warning signal (aposematism) to predators.
Toxic skin secretions to deter predators.
Sticky toe pads for climbing trees and leaves.
Small body size to navigate dense undergrowth.
Moist skin for respiration in humid environments.
What are the adaptations of the Philodendron to rainforest life?
Large leaves to capture limited sunlight under the canopy.
Waxy leaf surface to shed excess water.
Aerial roots to absorb moisture from humid air.
Climbing growth to reach higher light levels.
Toxin production to deter herbivores.
what are the names of the 4 adapted things to remeber
Philodendron
Poison Dart Frog
Fennec fox
Saguaro cactus
