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Biology unit 1/2 > Topic 6 Adaptations > Flashcards

Topic 6 Adaptations Flashcards

1
Q

What is an adaptation?

A

A genetically controlled structural, behavioural or physiological feature that enhances the survival of an organism in a particular environment.

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2
Q

What is a structural adaptation?

A

Physical feature of the organism

Fur feathers

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3
Q

What is a physiological adaptation?

A

A function the organism can perform to aid its survival.

Eg heat loss shivering

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4
Q

What is a behavioural adaptation?

A

Under an organisms conscious control
Grooming
Hunting in packs

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5
Q

What’s the tolerance range?

A

Type of condition where a group of organisms will be most comfortable. Out of the optimum range, organisms will struggle or in extreme conditions, undergo physiological stress.

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6
Q

What is a limiting factor?

A 
Any condition that approaches or exceeds the limits of an organism.
Abiotic factors (ph temperature) biotic (food)
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7
Q

What are the key environmental challenges of desert life?

A

Avoiding excess water loss which can result in dehydration

Avoiding overheating that can result in hypothermia

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8
Q

What are three structural adaptations of desert animals?

A
  1. Thick medulla, long loop of henle in the nephron maximises concentration of urine
  2. Have few sweat glands so that the loss of water through sweat is minimised
  3. Desert animals have fat stores concentrated in one area of the body. Eg tails in marsupial mammals and humps in camels
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9
Q

What are 3 physiological adaptations of desert animals?

A
  1. Reduction in glomerular filtration, less fluid leaves the blood and enters the kidney tubules
  2. Increase in tubular reabsorption, more fluid is reabsorbed from the kidney tubules and returned to the blood…loop of henle
  3. Dry faeces reduces water loss
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10
Q

What is a behavioural adaptation of desert animals?

A

Shelter during the day in shade and being active at night when it’s cooler which assists in water conservation.

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11
Q

What are the features of a mesophyte leaf? Temperate environment

A 
Waxy cuticle: impermeable to h20
Upper epidermis: protection from mechanical damage from insects
Xylem: transport of h2o and minerals
Intracellular spaces: movement of gases
Stomata: gas exchange and transpiration
Palisade cells: photosynthesis
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12
Q

What are the feature of hydrophyte leaves (aquatic environments)?

A

Availability of gases, not water is the main problem.
STOMATA- on top of leaf to ensure CO2 enters the plant. CO2 can also be obtained from water.
SCLEREIDS- supportive structure
WATER- can move through epidermal cells
LARGE INTRACELLULAR SPACES- efficient diffusion of gas
REDUCED VASCULAR STRUCTURE- obtaining h2O is not a problem

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13
Q

What are the features of xerophyte leaves (hot and dry environments)?

A

Water conservation is a priority
THICK CUTICLE- reduce water loss
THICK EPIDERMAL LAYER- reduces water loss
PIT- increase humidity of chamber which reduces rate of diffusion of H2O
GUARD CELLS- sunken in pits
HAIR- traps H2O within the leaf, reduces air currents
Thorns found around cactus are modified leaves

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14
Q

How are eucalyptus leaves adapted for desert environments?

A

Vertical leaves reduce the amount of sun that hits them, reduce temp and less water loss through transpiration

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15
Q

What are five ways in which animals adapt to cold environments?

A

Antifreeze, insulating layers, hibernation, countercurrent exchange and behavioural huddling.

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16
Q

How do antifreeze substances help organisms in cold environments?

A

Living things produce antifreeze substances such as glycerol, amino acids and sugars, or mixtures of these substances are released into their body fluids, which lowers its freezing point to well below that of the surrounding water temperature. This means bodily fluids stay liquid

17
Q

How do insulating layers help organisms in cold environments?

A

Birds and mammals are endothermic organisms. They can regulate their own body temperature. This is done through cellular respiration, where chemical energy in food is converted to heat energy. This heat is trapped by a layer of fat under the skin (blubber in marine mammals), thick fur in mammals and a layer of feathers in birds, preventing heat loss.

18
Q

How does hibernation help organisms in cold environments?

A

When mammals hibernate their heartbeat slows down considerably and their breathing rate drops. Body metabolism is reduced, dropping body temperature. Hibernation and the reduced metabolic rate for periods means that the amount of food required by an animal is reduced.

19
Q

How does huddling help organisms in cold environments?

A

When animals huddle together, particularly mammals and bird, they are reducing the amount of surface area that is exposed to the open air, thereby reducing heat loss by radiation and convection.

20
Q

How does countercurrent exchange help animals in cold environments?

A

Whales dolphins and penguins use a countercurrent exchange system. This is a fine network of vascular tissue within the fins and tail flukes of whales and dolphins, and penguins. An out going artery is paired with an incoming vein. Blood coming from the body core to the skin is warm. Blood flowing from the skin back to the body core has been cooled. In the exchange system, heat n the blood coming from the core flows to the blood returning from the skin, warming it. Blood moving out to the skin is cooled, reducing loss of heat.

21
Q

What is biomimicry?

A

The practise of learning from and being inspired by natures best ideas to achieve technological advances, expressed in new designs, products and processes.

22
Q

What is the internal environment?

A

The fluid surrounding living cells within a multicellular organisms.

23
Q

What variables need to be maintained within the body?

A 
Temperature
Blood glucose
Water
Ions
Ph
Blood pressure
Urea concentration
24
Q

What is a negative feedback system?

A

A process in which the body senses a change in a variable and activates mechanisms to reverse the change so that internal conditions within the body are maintained within narrow limits.

25
Q

What are the components of the stimulus response model?

A

Stimulus. Change increase or decreasing the level of an internal variable.
Receptor. Structure that detects the change and sends information to the control centre.
Control centre. Evaluates the change against the set point for the variable and sense signals to the effector about the condition needed.
Effector. Adjusts output to make required connection
Response. Corrective action

26
Q

What are the physical processes of heat gain or loss?

A

RADIATION- heat transferred from warmer to cooler object
CONVECTION- heat transfer resulting from mass movement of air
CONDUCTION- heat transfer by immediate physical contact
EVAPORATION- conversion of liquid water to vapour, heat loss.

Biology unit 1/2 (18 decks)

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