Science - Adaptations Unit

Question 1

Define the 3 types of adaptations

Answer 1

• Functional- how an organism works – you might not be able to see this adaptation e.g. ability to reabsorb lots of water in the kidneys.
• Structural-how an organism is “built” e.g. wings/feathers
• Behavioural-a type of behaviour that helps an organism to survive in it’s environment e.g. migration.

Question 2

What are some limiting factors for population growth?

Answer 2

Biotic:
- Predators
- Disease
- Competition
Abiotic:
- Light
- pH
- Water availability (may be there but frozen)
- Oxygen
- Humidity
- Temperature

Question 3

Define Emigration

Answer 3

The act of leaving a country to settle permanently in another.

Question 4

Define Immigration

Answer 4

The action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country.

Question 5

What does a pyramid of biomass show?

Answer 5

The dried mass of the organisms.

Question 6

Why does the number of organisms decrease as you go up the food chain?

Answer 6

Any five from:
- the amount of energy (in the biomass of organisms) is
reduced at each
- all of prey organism is not consumed
- energy is ‘lost’ as the organisms’ waste materials
- energy is transferred / lost during respiration
- energy is transferred / lost as movement (kinetic energy)
- energy is transferred / lost as heat (thermal energy)
- energy is transferred / lost to the surroundings
- the only energy transferred to a higher level is that which the
organisms have used in growing

Question 7

What is the calculation for efficiency?

Answer 7

Efficiency = Biomass transferred to the next trophic level divided by Biomass available at previous trophic level multiplied by 100