[Bi] - Topic 8

Question 1

What is a habitat?

Answer 1

The place where individuals live.

Question 2

What is a population?

Answer 2

Groups of the same species of animals forming lots of individuals of the same species.

Question 3

What is a community?

Answer 3

All the populations of different organisms that live and interact with each other.

Question 4

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 4

All the communities and the environment in which they live.

Question 5

What is a stable community?

Answer 5

A community where all the species and environmental factors are in balance so population sizes remain fairly constant.

Question 6

What are abiotic factors?

Answer 6

Non-living factors that can affect population size and/or distribution.

Question 7

What are biotic factors?

Answer 7

Living factors that can affect population size and/or distribution.

Question 8

What are some examples of abiotic factors?

Answer 8

Light intensity
Temperature
Moisture levels
Soil pH
Wind speed
Oxygen availability
Carbon dioxide availability

Question 9

What are some examples of biotic factors?

Answer 9

Food supply
New pathogens or parasites
New predator
Competition

Question 10

What is an adaptation?

Answer 10

A special characteristic that allows an organism to survive in a particular environment

Question 11

What are the 3 examples of types of adaptations?

Answer 11

Morphology (physical appearance)
Physiology (internal systems)
Behaviour (something an organism does)

Question 12

What challenges occur in marine habitats?

Answer 12

Salty Water
Warm and cold water

Question 13

What are some examples of adaptations of marine animals?

Answer 13

Streamlined shape (morphology)
Gills have a large SA so that oxygen can be extracted from surrounding water (morphology)
Fins provide stability, power and control (morphology)
Lots of sharp teeth (morphology)
Camouflage ability (eg: silver colouring underneath a shark)

Question 14

What challenges occur in cold climates?

Answer 14

Temperatures: arctic winter can dip to -51°C; warmest month is between 10°C and 0°C
Often in permanent snow and ice

Question 15

What are some examples of adaptations of animals in cold climates?

Answer 15

Thick oily fur coats (keep warm)
White / May change colour in summer (camouflage)
Large furry feat (stopped from sinking in snow)
Layers of blubber under the skin (keep warm)
Small ears (keep warm)

Question 16

Where do animals lose heat from the most?

Answer 16

The body surfaces that are in contact with the surrounding air/water.

Question 17

Reducing the contact surface area of an animal…

Answer 17

…reduces heat loss

Question 18

Increasing the contact surface area of an animal…

Answer 18

…increases heat loss

Question 19

What challenges occur in hot desert climates?

Answer 19

Can reach 45-50°C during the day, and fall below 0°C during the night
Less than 25cm rain a year

Question 20

What are some examples of adaptations of animals in hot desert climates?

Answer 20

Large, thin ears (morphology)
Little body fat (morphology)
Thin, silky fur (morphology)
Long limbs to help spread the heat (morphology)
Often active at night (behaviour)

All to keep cool