Unit 1B - Environment And Evolution Flashcards
Why have desert animals adapted?
To save water and keep cool
Organisms can survive in many different environments because they have?
Adapted
What four ways have desert animals adapted?
- ) large surface area compared to volume
- ) efficient with water
- ) good in hot conditions
- ) camouflage
How does a large surface area compared to volume make an animal adapted for the desert?
It lets the desert animals lose more body heat which helps them to stop overheating
How are desert animals efficient with water?
They lose less water by producing small amounts of concentrated urine, and by making very little sweat
How are desert animals adapted to be good in hot conditions?
Thin layers of body fat and a thin coat to help them lose body heat
How and why are desert animals camouflaged?
They are usually a sandy colour to give them a good camouflage, this is to help them avoid predators or sneak up on prey
What are arctic animals adapted for?
To reduce heat loss
What three ways are arctic animals adapted to reduce heat loss?
- ) small surface area compared to volume
- ) well insulated
- ) camouflage
Why are arctic animals adapted so they have a small surface area compared to volume?
To reduce heat loss
How are arctic animals well insulated?
They have a thick layer of blubber for insulation, thick hairy coats keep body heat in, and greasy fur sheds water preventing cooling due to evaporation?
Other than as insulation what else is blubber for in arctic animals?
Acts as an energy store when food is scarce
How and why are arctic animals camouflaged?
They have white fur to camouflage with the snow, this is to avoid predators or to sneak up on prey
What are desert plants adapted for?
Having little water
What three ways are desert plants adapted to survive on only a little bit of water?
- ) small surface area compared to volume
- ) water storage tissues
- ) maximise water absorption
Why are desert plants adapted to have a small surface area compared to volume?
Plants lose water vapour from the surface of their leaves and so a smaller surfaces area means less water lost
Why do cacti have spines instead of leaves?
To reduce their surface area, which reduces water loss
How do desert plants maximise water absorption?
Some have shallow but long roots to absorb water quickly over a large area, others have deep roots to access underground water
What three ways are some plants and animals adapted to deter predators, give an example of an animal or plant with each?
- ) some plants and animals have armour - roses and tortoises
- ) others produce poisons - bees and poison ivy
- ) others have warning colours to scare off predators - wasps
What is an extremophile?
Microorganisms that have adapted to live in seriously extreme conditions like super hot volcanic vents, in very salty lakes or at high pressure on the sea bed
What are microorganism called that are adapted to live in extreme environments?
Extremophiles
What do plants need from their environment in order to survive and reproduce?
Light, space, water and minerals
What do animals need from their environment in order to survive and reproduce?
Space (territory), food, water and mates
The environment in which plants and animals live in changes all the time, what two factors is this due to?
Living on non living factors