Chapter 16 - Adaptations, interdependence + competition.

Question 1

Define Habitat

Answer 1

The place where an organism lives.

Question 2

Define Population

Answer 2

All the organisms of the same species living together in a habitat.

Question 3

Define Community

Answer 3

All the populations of different species living together in a habitat.

Question 4

Define Biotic factor

Answer 4

Living factors of an ecosystem.

Question 5

Define Abiotic factor

Answer 5

Non-living factors of an ecosystem.

Question 6

Define Ecosystem

Answer 6

The interaction of a community of living organisms (biotic elements) with the non-living parts (abiotic elements) with their environment.

Question 7

Define Interdependence

Answer 7

The dependence of different organisms on each other for survival.

Question 8

State 5 examples of Interdependence

Answer 8

• Plants depending on animals for seed dispersal (through faeces).
• Plants depending on animals for nutrients (from faeces).
• Plants depending on bees for pollination.
• Animals depending on plants (e.g trees) for shelter.
• Animals depending on plants for food.

Question 9

In an ecosystem, what is the source of energy and how is it transferred through an ecosystem?

Answer 9

The source of energy is the Sun. It is transferred through an ecosystem as one organism eats another.

(Link to food chains in B17).

Question 10

State 5 examples of interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem.

Answer 10

• Herbivores depending on plants for food.
• Animals depending on plants for shelter.
• Plants depending on herbivores for seed dispersal through faeces.
• Plants depending on animals for nutrients, from decay and faeces.
• Plants depending on bees for pollination.

Question 11

State why Interdependence is important - linking it to the increase or decrease of species and the consequence.

Answer 11

• Interdependence is important for the survival of organisms.
• To survive and reproduce, organisms require a supply of materials from their surroundings, and from the other organisms living there.
• If there is an increase or decrease in abiotic or biotic factors the number of species in a population will also be affected.

Question 12

What is meant by a ‘Stable community’?

Answer 12

A community where the abiotic factors and biotic factors are in balance, so the population sizes remain fairly constant.

Question 13

State the main effect of a stable community on population size.

Answer 13

• Population sizes of each species remains fairly constant.

Question 14

Give three examples of stable communities.

Answer 14

• Wooded Oaklands
• Coral reef
• Tropical rainforest

Question 15

State the levels of organisation in an ecosystem.

Answer 15

(smallest - largest)

• Individual organism.
• Population.
• Community.
• Ecosystem.

Question 16

Define competition.

Answer 16

When organisms compete with each other for the same resources.

Question 17

Give 4 resources that ANIMALS compete for and why.

Answer 17

• Mates (reproduction)
• Food (survival, to reproduce)
• Territory (to reproduce, to keep and protect other resources they may have competed for, habitat)
• Water (survival, reproduction)

Question 18

Give 4 resources that plants compete for and why.

Answer 18

• Nutrients/Mineral ions (energy survival, to produce healthy seeds for reproduction).
• Water (survival - photosynthesis to make food, to keep their tissues rigid).
• Space (for growth, need enough space for roots to absorb water + mineral ions, and also for leaves to absorb sunlight)
• Light (needed for photosynthesis to make food to survive).

Question 19

State 3 factors that make an animal a successful competitor.

Answer 19

• Ability to breed successfully.
• Good fitness and healthy.
• Well adapted to finding food.

Question 20

State a reason why ANIMALS may avoid competition with OTHER species.

Answer 20

• They may not know the other species weaknesses.

Question 21

State a way at which animals may avoid competition with OTHER species.

Answer 21

• By eating different foods to them, (so they don’t have to compete with them for food).

Question 22

State why parent plants may be in direct competition with their offspring.

Answer 22

research.

Question 23

State 4 way that plants are adapted to cope with competition

Answer 23

• Some plants (near trees e.g in woodlands) may flower earlier on in the year, while tree branches are bare, allowing their leaves to capture more sunlight.
• Different sized roots - some shallower roots, to absorb mineral ions + water from soil surface, some roots that go deeper, to absorb mineral ions from deeper parts of the soil.

Question 24

State why plants avoid direct competition with their SEEDLINGS.

Question 25

State and explain the three main factors that plants rely on for seed dispersal.

Question 26

State 2 adaptation plants may have for seed dispersal.

Question 27

Describe how you could investigate the effect of competition on plant growth.

Question 28

State and explain the biotic factors affecting a community.

Question 29

Define adaptation

Answer 29

Features that enable organisms to survive in an environment which it they normally live in.

Question 30

State and define the three categories that adaptations fall into.

Answer 30

• Behavioural adaptations, relating to how an organism behaves.
• Structural adaptations, relating to the shape or colour of an organism.
• Functional adaptations , relating to the biological process of an organism.

Question 31

Give 3 examples of structural adaptations.

Question 32

Give 2 examples of functional adaptations.

Question 33

Give 3 examples of behavioural adaptations.

Question 34

What are the 2 main reasons for adaptations in plants and animals?

Answer 34

• Food ; (photosynthesis in plants to produce food + Looking and eating food in animals)
• Reproduction ; (through pollination in plants + Courting/attracting mates in animals)

Question 35

How can you tell what a mammal eats?

Answer 35

Looking at the shape of it teeth.

Question 36

What are the features of the teeth of a carnivore and why?

Answer 36

Sharper and more defined, for eating and tearing meat.

Question 37

What are the features of the teeth of a herbivore and why?

Answer 37

Strong flat molars, teeth that are made for grinding plants.

Question 38

Define extremophile.

Answer 38

Organisms that live in environments that are very extreme.

Question 39

State 3 conditions that extremophiles are adapted to living in.

Answer 39

• High pressures.
• High temperatures.
• High salt concentration.

Question 40

Give an example of an extremophile.

Answer 40

Bacteria which live in deep sea vents, where there are high pressures and high temperature.

Question 41

State why a stable community is important.

Question 42

Define intraspecific competition.

Answer 42

Competition between organisms of the same species, for a common resource.

Question 43

Define interspecific competition.

Answer 43

Competition between organisms of different species, for a common resource.