Excursion Flashcards
An example of a physiological adaptation
Snails leaving a chemical trail to return home
Physiological adaptation
Chemical changes within the organism eg. Hormones
An example of a structural adaptation
Changes to the anatomy/formation of an organism
Example of a structural adaptation
Shell on a snail
Behavioural adaptation
Changes to an organisms daily activities/actions
Example of a behavioural adaptation
Animals clustering together
Indicator organisms
A particular species or group of species which are often associated with a zone
Supra-littoral zone
The area of the rocky shore that is the highest and extends from above the range of the nodilittorina species down to the barnacles
Littoral zone
The area of the Rocky sure which roughly falls between the high and low water marks, the area between the highest barnacles and the higher kelps.
Sub-littoral zone
The area of the Rocky shore which is below the littoral zone and is characterised by the presence kelp.
Why would a species inhabit an area higher up the shore?
To avoid predators
Too crowded or too much competition down below
Maybe wave action is too strong.
Adaptations to overcome desiccation include:
- Hard external coverings
- Operculum (the trap door closing a snail shell)
- Clumping together
- Seeking shelter (shade, algal masses, gutters and rock pools)
Adaptations to prevent being swept away include:
- Holdfasts
- Passive resistance (round shape allows water to wash over)
- Cementing exoskeleton to rock surface
- muscular feet
- Streamline shape
- Shelter: algal masses, gutters and rock pools
Reproduction
- shed eggs and sperm into the water
- internal fertilisation, then shed them into the sea
- lay eggs attached to the rock surface, in sacs or egg masses
What are the most significant factors contributing to the desiccation of organisms found it intertidal areas?
Exposure to the air environment as a result of a receding tide, wind, air temperature, exposure to the sun, humidity, wave splash and spray.
Which surface of the Rocky Shore has the most exposure to the sun and which has the least?
The North has most exposure in the south has least.
What are the abiotic factors of the Rocky Shore?
Rocks, tide, oxygen levels in the ocean, temperature, pH levels, UV radiation, substrates, wind, wave action.
What are the biotic factors of the Rocky Shore platform?
Competition for food, space, mates and shelter. Predation.
Transect
A line across a habitat or part of a habitat that records the population of organisms at regular intervals of the transect.
Quadratic
A small area placed along a transect that can be used to measure the number of a particular species of organisms within that space. (Population density)
What is a Ramsar wetland? Or why is swan bay an important national park?
A stop off point for migratory birds.
What are the difference between swan bay and rocky shore?
Different: wave action, wind, temp & producers
What are the main producers of the rocky shore?
Green algae, lichen, kelp, neptunes necklace, red turf algae
What are the main producers of swan bay?
Phytoplankton, micro algae, sea grass
