Extreme biology Flashcards
What is an extremophiles?
An organism which lives in an extreme environemnt, which is not suitable to other organism.
Give examples of extreme bacterial habitats.
larger/ smaller in size// temperature tolerant // withstand acidity
Why do physical parameters affect biological processes?
reduced energy production// enzymes become denatured meaning chemical reactions cannot take place
What are some anthropogenically uses for extremophile research?
Thermophiles are used in industry due to their increased iron units making them resistant to high temperatures (e.g. Taq enzyme in PCR).
What are some categories of bacteria which are not seen as extremophiles?
fast/ slow growing/ large and small
What limits growth rate of a bacteria?
variation in ribosomal abundance and translation time.
What are aerotolerant bacteria ?
Bacteria which can survive in conditions with no water may be through spore formation and increased water retention though modifications of the cell membrane
What is a parasit?
An organism which lives in an organism of another species and benefits by deriving nutrients at the others expense.
What is an example of human adaptation in response to parasites?
for malaria - use mosquito nets and vaccinate
What environmental condition may change parasitise?
Global warming - increases the spread of malaria as mosquitos (the vector) thrive in warmer climates and there development cycle becomes faster
What is a biome?
an ecosystem which has specific characteristics and is usually determined by the dominant species
What is the two main ways animals behave to overcome changes to their biome?
migration and sheltering
What is the 3 main types of migarton?
Obligate- occurs yearly to the same place// irruptive - an opportunistic movement determined by local conditions// partial - some individuals within the species migrate and others stay
Give an example of partial migration?
Blue tits- chicks and vulnerable individuals migrate in the winter to prevent damage due to a change in temperature// the males stay to protect the habitat
What is the subnivean zone?
habitat located underneath the snow- usually around 0 degrees - it i s a place of hibernation as the ground releases residual heat
Name some examples of how animals conserve heat?
fur/ blubber/ counter-current heat exchange / regional fine-tuning 9extremities remain at a lower body temperature / hibernation/
Why do seasonal changes occur?
The earth is on a tilt, which means different areas of the earth experience higher and lower temperatures, due to the amuont of solar raditaion at different times of year
What is a Thermophilic scavenger?
live in hottest areas in world, burrow underground and go on short expeditions to eat the once living organism which have been killed by the extreme heat.
Give an example of an animal which has adapted to cope in extremely high temperatures
Darkling Beetles in Namibia have evolved to efficiently use little water by the surface of their cover wings (elytra) having a texture which turns fog particles into droplets
How have humans affected natural habitats?
habitat fragmentation/ hunting and harvesting/ climate change and pollution
What are some positives of human induced linear features to an ecosystem?
Facilitates travel/ carnivores prey become trapped in areas / can scavenge for animals killed on road accidents
What are some negatives of linear features?
restricted natural movement/ increased mortality- hunting and car accidents/ visual and noise stimulants can be stressfull
Give an example of an animal which has adapted physiologically due to hunting
African elephants - now have smaller tusks as they are more likely to become poached therefore unable to survive and reproduce and pass on the large trunk allele
How do animals respond to climate change?
Shift in range distribution/ remain and adjust/ become extinct
What does phenotypic plasticity mean?
A single genotype gives rise to different phenotypes in different circumstances
Why do viruses have so many different genomes/shapes and host species?
makes the viruses more specific to certain host cells.
What is one classification system used for grouping viruses?
Baltimore classification - grouped 1-7 depending on the type of genome and what their gene translates into.
what is a virophage?
A virus which infects another virus
What are some uses of viruses ?
treat antibiotic resistance/ decreases the need for use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides
What is pressures?
amount of force applied to at a right angle to the surface of an object per unit area.
Give examples of extreme environments?
Deep underwater(high pressures)// in space//altitude (low pressure)
