[Part 2]- B15- Adaptations, interdependence and competition 🦁 🆚 🐆

Question 1

What is a structural adaptation?

Hint: shape or structure

Answer 1

• structural adaptions, are adaptions of body shape or body structure.
• these are features of an organism’s body structure- such as shape or colour.

Question 2

What is a functional adaptation?

Hint: processes such as metabolism

Answer 2

• A functional adaptation, is an adaptation to the body functions of an organism.
• these are things that go on inside an organism’s body, that can be related to processes such as reproduction and metabolism.

Question 3

What is a behavioural adaptation?

Answer 3

• a behavioural adaptation is an adaptation, to the animals lifestyle or behaviour
• this is an adaptation, in the way organisms behave.

Question 4

What’s an extremophile?

Hint: adopted

Answer 4

• an extremophile, is an organism that is adapted to live in very extreme conditions.

Question 5

Why do species rely on each other?

Hint: same space, resources

Answer 5

• all organisms in an ecosystem depend upon each other:
• this is because, different species often inhabit the same spaces and share, or compete for the same resources.

Question 6

Describe what a stable community is

Answer 6

• A stable community, is one where all the species and environmental factors are in balance so that population sizes remain fairly constant.
• For example, a tropical rainforest is a stable community because it promotes diversity, by allowing plants and animals to interact all year round, without needing to develop protection against cold or the frost.

Question 7

Why is interdependence important, in maintaining a stable community ?

Hint: depend, otherwise it can affect…

Answer 7

• it’s important in maintaining a stable community because, all organisms in an ecosystem depend upon each other.
• and if the population of one organism rises or falls, then this can affect the rest of the ecosystem.

Question 8

What’s the function of a transect ?

Hint: abudance, pathway

Answer 8

• the function of a transect, is to study the distribution and abundance of organisms along a line or pathway

Question 9

What’s the function of a quadrat ?

Hint: a particular area

Answer 9

• the function of a quadrat is to study the distribution and abundance of [small] organisms in a particular area

Question 10

What’s the difference between the function of a transect 🆚 the function of a quadrat ?

Hint: organisms

Answer 10

• the function of a transect, is to study the distribution and abundance of organisms along a line or pathway
• ; the function of a quadrat, is study the distribution and abundance of [small] organisms in a particular area

Question 11

Describe in detail how to measure the pH and water content of soil. 🧪

Hint: meter, push into the soil,

Answer 11

• The pH of soil can be measured using a soil pH meter.
• a probe is pushed into the soil and the reading is displayed on its screen.
• ; you need to make sure, the probe is dry and clean before use. Also keep the probe at a consistent depth.
• [or the soil samples and put it into universal indicator, and add barium sulphate to the soil- a white, crystaline chemical compound.
• this would cause the solution to go cloudy, showing the colour= pH can be determined]

Question 12

Describe in detail how to measure the water content of soil. 🍶

Answer 12

• soil water content can be measured by weighing the fresh soil sample, drying the sample and then weighing the dry soil.
• The difference between the two figures is the soil moisture content.
• ; It can be expressed as a percentage of the mass of the fresh soil sample.

Question 13

When finding the water content of soil, how can the soil be dried ? 🍶 [5]

Answer 13

to dry the soil:

• Find the mass of a heat resistant crucible.
• and Half fill the crucible with soil from the soil sample and then weigh it again.
• Place the crucible in an oven at a temperature just above the boiling point of water (ideally around 105°C) until it is dry.
• Now record the weight of the crucible and dry soil.
• Find the difference between the dried soil and the fresh soil= use this to calculate the % moisture content of the fresh soil.

Question 14

Explain a tactic, that helps animals compete for resources. 🦚🦁

Answer 14

• animals can compete for a mate.
• Some male animals [peacocks] will display to attract a mate.
• The most attractive male wins as the female [peahen] sees him as the fittest, therefore she will want her offspring to take after him
• to compete for territory, are vicious and have manes to make them look more scary – only males will have them.

Question 15

What is inter-specific competition ? Give an examples this. 🌾

Answer 15

• inter-specific competition, is the competition between individuals of different species.
• For examples, Poppies in a wheat field

Question 16

Explain an example of inter-specific competition 🌱

Answer 16

• In winter, different species will compete for the same food supply.
• and Most of these competitors are able to reproduce quickly and
  produce large numbers of seeds.
• Their seeds will germinate quickly
  in poor soil.
• and because their growth is very quick, they will flower and seed before other plants.
• [; Often they are resistant to herbicides, and are often inedible to grazers.]

Question 17

What is intra- specific competition ? Give an example of this 🐦🪽

Answer 17

• intra-specific competiton, is competition between individuals of the same species.
• For example, lesser-backed seagulls could compete for food

Question 18

What can you tell me about how intra-specific competition is caused ?

Answer 18

• This type of competition is density-dependent.
• since as the population density increases, a greater proportion of the population fails to survive.
• and Living organisms tend to produce far more offspring than a habitat can support, leading to overproduction
• Overproduction leads to intra-specific competition.

Question 19

What is the difference between inter-specific competition 🆚 intra-specific competition ?

Answer 19

• inter-specific competition, is the competition between individuals of different species.
• ; intra-specific competiton, is competition between individuals of the same species.

Question 20

Suggest and explain how animals are adapted, to compete for resources

Answer 20

• some animals have evolved [and adapted] to have an innate or natural drive to reproduce.
• which is needed because animals within a species compete for mates, so they can pass on their genes to their offspring.

Question 20

Explain an example, of how an animal has adapted to compete for resources 🦌

Answer 20

• each year, at the start of the mating season red deers group together.
• Large male deers will fight with each other by locking antlers and pushing hard, which is called a rut.
• this can result in serious injury or death, ; this benefits the red deer population because, only the strongest will pass on their genes to the next generation.

Question 21

Give an example, of how species rely on each other

Answer 21

• for example, rabbits rely on dandelions for food and foxes will then rely on the rabbits for food.

Question 22

What does interdependence mean ?

Answer 22

• interdependence means all organisms that live in an ecosystem depend upon each other, in order to survive.
• this could be for: food, protection or shelter.