Biology 1b Flashcards
How has a polar bear evolved to stay warm ?
Thick layer if blubber for insulation
True or False - animals in the desert have a large surface area to volume ratio
True
What is another benefit of blubber ?
Acts as an energy store when food is scarce
How has the arctic fox evolved to avoid predators ?
Light fur to blend in with snow
Why do cacti have spines rather than leaves ?
- Plants lose water vapour from the surface of the leaves. Spines have a smaller surface area so less water is lost
- They deter predators as they are sharp
give two ways wasps deter predators
- Stinger
- Sting contains poisons
- Yellow and black coat signifies danger
What is an extremophile ?
A microorganism that can live in very extreme environments, like volcanic vents
What do plants compete for ?
Light
Space
Water
Minerals from soil
What do animals compete for ?
Space (territory)
Food
Water
Mates to reproduce with
What is a living factor ?
Disease
Predators
Prey or food sources
Competitors
What is a non-living factor ?
Temperature
Rainfall
Pollution - air or water
What is a living indicator of air pollution ?
Lichen
What is lichen an how does it show pollution ?
They are a moss like plant that grow on tree bark. Different species grow in different areas depending on the sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere.
What is a pollution indicator of water pollution ?
Mayfly lavae
How does mayfly larvae indicate water pollution ?
They are very sensitive to the concentration of dissolved oxygen in water - left by sewage. If you see mayfly larvae the water is clean
What is an example of a non-living indicator of environmental change ? How does it measure this ?
Satellites, it can measure snow and ice cover and sea temperature
What does a pyramid of biomass show ?
The mass of living material on each tropic level of a food chain
What is a tropic level ?
It is the word given for the different stages of the food chain