extreme biology Flashcards
bacteria, animals, parasites, viruses
normal bacteria information
eg example, size, and doubling time
e-coli
2 micrometres
20 minutes doubling time
what limits growth rate in bacteria?
-varying ribosomal abundance
-translation time (around 7 minutes)
which two species are affected differently due to habitat fragmentation?
specialist species- can only survive in certain environmental conditions
generalist species- can adapt and survive in many environmental conditons
positives and negatives of linear features in habitat fragemntation?
positive-
-for carnivores allows for scavenge on road for dead carcasses
-restricted movement is reduced so allows for faster travel to forge further
negative-
-restrict movement
-mortality
-hunting easier
-stress
habitat placicity definition and example of animal?
definiton- species adapt to changes in environment eg to habitat fragmentation
animals - Tasmanian devil and quolls
how African elephants have evolutionary changed due to hunting/ harvesting?
height and tusk length is smaller In contemporary elephants-
which have an effect on foraging for males leading to smaller in size
3 options species can do to adapt to climate change and examples?
as species are going at a rate 10 000x slower to adapt to climate change
1) species move to better environments - this may impact ice obligate species who depend on ice cover environments to survive eg polar bears. ice associated species is not as significant eg seals. seasonally migrants move to different habitats eg orcas, dolphins
2) genetic composition-
eg. the colour in springbok- have a black coat reduces metabolic costs when it is cooler so don’t need to use energy to stay warm.
3)phenotypic placicity-
eg. soay sheep- winters are milder so sheep decrease body size so less reliant on fat stores. therefore smaller sheep survive better due to limited fat stores.
brief description on how malaria forms?
300 million people suffer.
takes 10-21 days for plasmodium to develop in the FAM. the warmer the temperature the faster the development. average lifespan of a mosquito is 14 days.
how toxoplasmosis occurs and the effects of it?
occurs in cats and sheds as oocysts in feaces. livestock can become infected. humans can catch it from the consumption of undercooked meat
- associated with more risky behaviour
3 types of animal migration and the first evidence migration occurred?
obligate annual migration-
follows an annual schedule to breed, feed or escape harsh temperatures.
irruptive migration-
unpredictable movements to environmental changes or food shortages.
partial migration-
part of the population migrates and the rest remains. the pattern is annual due to age, sex. food, habitat quality.
evidence- 1822 arrow stock was caught in Germany with a African spear buried in its throat.
different mechanisms/ physiology animals carry out to protect themselves from the cold
subnivean zone- small animals live under insulating layers of snow
conserving heat through blubber
heat exchangers eg endotherms (shark)=
-counter current heat exchangers = warm and cold blood in different directions in gills and kidney
regional fine tuning= round body to minimise heat loss
different ways animals save energy
endotherms can regulate internal body temperatures.
torpor- shorter periods of inactivity
hibernation- long periods of reduced body temperature and metabolism
how darling beetles and thermophilic scavengers have evolved to manage the heat?
beetles- evolved to access water in the desert by the surface of their wings turning fog particles into droplets
thermophilic scavengers- minimise heat build up due to their reflective hairs. feed on victims of extreme heat during the day
how polar bears have evolved to the cold?
-small surface area to body ratio
-white translucent fur and water repellent
-thick fat, which fat metabolism acts as a water source
- closable nostrils- to prevent water entering
