Adaptation

Question 1

What is an adaptation?

Answer 1

Changes in the body to fit a location

Question 2

How have desert animals generally adapted?

Answer 2

To save water and keep cool

Question 3

4 ways desert aniamls have adapted?

Answer 3

• Large surface area compared to volume
• Efficient with water
• Good in hot conditions
• Camoflage

Question 4

Explain how having a large surface area compared to volcume is an adaptation?

Answer 4

This lets desert animals lose more body heat - which helps to stop them overheating

Question 5

Explain how desert animals are adapted to be efficient with water?

Answer 5

• Desert animals loose less water by producing small amounts of concentrated urine
• They also make very little sweat. Camels are able to do this by tolerating big changed in body temperature, while kangaroo rats live in burrows underground where it’s cool

Question 6

Explain how desert animals are adapted to begood in hot conditions?

Answer 6

Desert animals have very thin layers of body fat and a thin coat to help them lose body heat

eg Camels keep nearly all their fat in their humps

Question 7

Explain why desert animals are adapted to have camoflage?

Answer 7

A sandy colour gives them good camoflage - to help them avoid predators or sneak up on prey

Question 8

How are arctic animals generally adapted?

Answer 8

To reduce heat loss

Question 9

3 ways in which arctic animals are adapted?

Answer 9

• Small surace area compared to volume
• Well insulated
• Camoflage

Question 10

Explain why arctic animals are adapted to have a small surface area compared to volume?

Answer 10

Animals living in cold conditions have a compact (rounded) shape to keep their surface area to a minimun - this reduces heat loss

Question 11

Explain why arctic animals are adapted to be well insulated?

Answer 11

• They also have a thick layer of blubber for insulation - this also acts as an energy store when food is scarce
• Thick hairy coats keep body heat in, and greasy fur sheds water (this prevents cooling due to evaporation)

Polar bear; hollow strands of fur which trap air for insulation

Question 12

How are desert plants generally adapted?

Answer 12

To having little water

Question 13

In what 3 ways are desert plants adapted?

Answer 13

• Small surface area compared to volume
• Water storage tissues
• Maximising water absorbtion

Question 14

Explain how desert plants are adapted to have a small surface area compared to volume?

Answer 14

• Plants lose water vapour from the surface of their leaves

Cacti have spines instead of leaves - to reduce water loss

• They also have a small surface area compared to their size (about 1000 times smaller surface area than normal plants) which also reduces water loss

Question 15

Explain how desert plants are adapted: water storage tissues?

Answer 15

Eg a cactus stored water in its thick stem

Question 16

Explain how desert plants are adapted: Maximising water absorbtion?

Answer 16

Some cacti have shallow but extensive roots to absorb water quickly over a large area

Others have deep roots to access underground water

Question 17

Ways plants and animals are adapted to deter predators?

Answer 17

Some plants and animals have armour - like roses (thorns), cacti (sharp spines) and tortoises (shells)

Others produce poisons - like bee’s, poison ivy, poison dart frog

Warning colours to scare of predators - wasps, some snakes

Question 18

What sort of adaptations do microorganisms have?

Answer 18

Ones which mean they can live in a wide range of environments

Question 19

What is an extemophile?

Answer 19

A microorganism that are adapted to live in extreme conditions (eg acidic conditions, hot volcanic vents, very salty lakes, high pressure on the sea bed)