Term3 Revision Test Flashcards
What is an adaptation?
A characteristic that helps a living organism survive in its environment .
Adaptations may occur when there is a change in the…..
Structural
Behavioral
Functional characteristics of the animal
What is a structural or physical adaptations
Special feature of the body eg beak of a bird adapted to eat certain food
What is an example of a behavioral adaptation
Desert animals going underground to rest where it is cooler to escape the heat of the day
Eg of functional adaptation
How body responds …eg sweat when hot to cool down..
Erica plant leaves are rolled under to reduce water loss
What are adaptations?
Are they passed on?
Adaptations are how the animal has adapted to fit in with its environment …either by chance or accident.
Yes is passed on
Differences in populations of animals are called
Variations
Describe how variations are passed on
If a variation causes an animal to survive better, it is more likely to stay alive, have young, and pass that trait on to its young . The animal that does not have that variation may not survive because it cannot get enough food. It will not reproduce. There will be more animals with the variation that allowed it to survive
What happens when there is a change in environment
Either the animal adapt or die
When there is no more of a certain species that species is
Extinct
Eg of extinct animal and why
Dodo flightless bird from Mauritius
No natural predators till sailors came
Ate eggs introduced rats and pigs
Dodo extinct
Adaptations in plants
Hot dry conditions - succulents have thick leaves to keep in moisture
Watery conditions - water lilies have breathing pores on top of leaves to allow more oxygen in
How is camel adapted to living in desert?
Thick eyelashes protect from sun and dust
Nostrils close to keep sand out
Hair lines ears to keep dust out
Hump on back is a fat store for when short on food
Thick fur provides insulation during cold nights in desert
Sand colored fur provides camouflage in desert
Broad flat pads under feet help camel spread weight on sand
How have polar bears adapted to live in Arctic?
Thick layer of body fat insulates against the cold
Large paws distribute weight on the ice and snow
Fur on bottom of paws provide insulation and grip
Sharp claws and feet allow them to catch their prey
Thick white fur insulation and camouflage
Small ears reduce losing body heat.
Predator adaptation
Shark and cheetahs have adapted to catch their prey
Cheeta adaptations
Good eyesight
Run very fast for short distances
Camouflaged
Strong claws and teeth to grip and tear prey
How have sharks adapted
Good sense of smell
Swim fast to catch prey
Steam,inked body shape and string tail to propel in water
Sharp teeth to hold prey and rip it by moving head side to side
Name some methods that animals use to avoid predators
Mimicry - looks like another animal eg poisonous butterfly
Camouflage
How are ecosystems destroyed by humans?
Human populations increase Use more resources Ecosystems are lost Species lose home and become extinct Biodiversity decreases Ecosystem balance becomes unbalanced
Activities by humans that reduce biodiversity
Replacing natural habitats that are quite diverse with one single crop- monoculture
Over harvesting of plants or animals
Using pesticides to kill eg mosquitos…also effects
Polluting the environment with gases
Introducing an alien species into an environment
What is conservation?
Wise management and use of natural resources that protects habitats and wildlife
What processes do natural ecosystems carry out
- Regulate the atmosphere and climate ( rainfall and temperature)
- filter and clean retaining water
- forms and improves quality of soil
- provides homes to animals and insects that pollinate
- recycling of wastes eg decomposes
- production of wood, food and fuel
What does sustainable use mean
Sustainable use means using resources in such a way that they are not depleted.( used up)
Eg not cutting down too many trees so that they don’t repopulate the area would mean depleting the resource.
Ho do environmentalist conserve ecosystems?
- They set apart large areas of land rich in biodiversity for conservation
- Make laws against poaching, against collecting wild plants and against clearing land.
What is alien vegetation
Plants that were introduced to an area from a different country of area . Does not belong there and changes the ecosystem
Why does alien vegetation often take over indigenous vegetation?
It is already adapted to the same climate eg plant from Australia introduced to South Africa, but doesn’t have any predators in South Africa, so it grows out of control taking over the local plants
How can we control alien vegetation?
Biological control- introducing the natural enemy of the plant to the Area . Need to do research as new animals change ecosystem.
Chemical control- poisons or pesticides - harms the environment and poisons enter soil
Mechanical control- burning cutting or uprooting the plant - very time consuming
A success is when a combination of all three is used and wood from the alien trees can be used to make firewood or furniture, creating jobs etc.
What are wetlands?
Marshes,
Flood plains
Estuaries
Lakes
What do wetlands do and why should they be protected?
Filter and clean water
Store water
Prevent flooding and soil erosion
Rich biodiversity - breeding ground for different animals
Grazing for farm animals
Recreation activities such as fishing and boating
Reeds used for thatching and weaving
How can individuals contribute to conservation
Recycling - means less waste, which means less landfills necessary - energy consumption reduced - less damage to environment - raw materials are saved.
Organic waste can be collected and used as fertilizers for gardens.
