Reasons for Variety

Question 1

For deep-sea hydrothermal vent organisms what are the adaptations that match their environmental factors?

1. Little light
2. Extremely hot water
3. Acidic water, at high pressure and full of minerals
4. Low oxygen concentration in water

Answer 1

1. No eyes
2. Sense organs that detect dangerously high temperatures
3. Soft parts strengthened by iron scales
4. Haemoglobin to help take oxygen from water

Question 2

For polar organisms what are the adaptations that match their environmental factors?

1. White snow and ice
2. Very cold in the winter
3. Slippery ice

Answer 2

1. White fur for camouflage
2. To reduce the amount of heat leaving the body organisms may have
   - thick fur
   - extra fat below skin
   - bulky body
   - small ears
3. Wide feet with rough soles to help grip the ice

Question 3

What are the two types of variation?

Answer 3

• Discontinuous variation

- Continuous variation

Question 4

What type of variation is characteristics controlled by genes?

Answer 4

Discontinuous

Question 5

What type of variation is an aquired characteristic?

Answer 5

One that is changed by the environment

Question 6

What is continuous variation?

Answer 6

It is where a characteristic varies gradually and continuously between extremes, e.g. height or weight.

Question 7

What shape does a normal distribution curve have?

Answer 7

A bell shape

Question 8

What does the bell shape of a normal distribution curve show?

Answer 8

It shows that the most common variation lies between two extremes, with fewer individuals having variations that are near to each extreme.