B16-Adaptation

Question 1

Define community

Answer 1

A group of interdependent organisms that are made of different species

Question 2

Define ecosystem

Answer 2

The interaction of a community with the abiotic parts of the environment

Question 3

What are abiotic factors? State 2 examples

Answer 3

Non-living factors in an environment eg light intensity, soil pH, wind, humidity and temperature

Question 4

What are biotic factors? State 2 examples

Answer 4

Living factors in an environment eg predators, competitors, pathogens/microorganisms

Question 5

Define population

Answer 5

A group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time

Question 6

What is interdependence?

Answer 6

A relationship that describes how all species within a community depend on each other to survive

Question 7

What is meant by a stable community?

Answer 7

Where all the species and environmental factors are in balance, hence population sizes remain fairly constant

Question 8

A disease causes large areas of trees to die, is their death cause by an abiotic or biotic factor?

Answer 8

Biotic because diseases are caused by pathogens which are living beings

Question 9

Briefly explain why low light intensity may decrease animal populations

Answer 9

Less light, less photosynthesis by plants–>poor plant growth–>less plant available for animals to eat–>less herbivores grow and survive–>further affects higher levels in the food chain

Question 10

State 3 biotic factors

Answer 10

New pathogens, new predators, new competitors, food availability

Question 11

State an equipment that is commonly used to investigate a population of plants in a particular area

Answer 11

Quadrat

Question 12

What is quanititative sampling?

Answer 12

A technique to record and estimate the number of organisms in a particular area

Question 13

How can the distribution of a species be measured?

Answer 13

Sampling along a transect

Question 14

State a difference between quantitative sampling and transect sampling

Answer 14

Quantitative sampling takes samples at random coordinates, transect sampling takes samples at specific intervals along the line(not random)

Question 15

What are the 3 things that animals compete for?

Answer 15

Food, mates, territory

Question 16

Give 1 characteristic of a lion that makes it a good competitor

Answer 16

Sharp teeth/claws

Question 17

Give 1 characteristic of a deer that makes it a good competitor

Answer 17

Horns/antlers

Question 18

Give 1 characteristic of a peakcock that makes it a good competitor and state what it is competing for using this trait

Answer 18

Behaviour(eg mating dance), attractive, colourful feathers to attract mate

Question 19

Tigers urinating on trees is a behaviour adaption to compete for?

Answer 19

Territory

Question 20

Wasps building nests is a behavious adaptation to compete for?

Answer 20

Shelter/habitat

Question 21

Owls’ sharp hearing is an adaptation to compete for?

Answer 21

Food

Question 22

What are the 4 things that plants compete for?

Answer 22

Light, space, water, mineral ions

Question 23

Some small plants in woodlands grow only in winter and dies before spring comes-suggest why this happens

Answer 23

To avoid competition for sunlight when large trees grow leaves block out sunlight in spring/summer

Question 24

Suggest why plants may have different root depths

Answer 24

To avoid competition for water and/or mineral ions at the same soil depth

Question 25

Suggest why seed dispersal is considered an adaptation to avoid competition

Answer 25

Seed is carried far away instead of landing right next to parents plant, so offspring plant doesn't compete with parents plant

Question 26

Cactus' long roots is a feature to help compete for..?

Answer 26

Water

Question 27

Large flowers are a feature to help compete for..?

Answer 27

(attract) Pollinators

Question 28

Weeds' rapid growth in height is a feature to help compete for?

Answer 28

Light

Question 29

What are extremophiles?

Answer 29

(micro)organisms that live in environments that are very extreme eg high temp, pressure, salt conc

Question 30

Which domain tends to include most extremophiles?

Answer 30

Archea

Question 31

State the specific name given to extremophiles that are adapted to live in high temperatures

Answer 31

Thermophiles

Question 32

Suggest one adaptation that thermophiles have to help them live in high temperatures

Answer 32

Special enzymes with higher optimal temp(don't denature at high temp)/speically structured cell membrane and/or cell wall

Question 33

Suggest 1 adaptation that halophiles have to help them survive in salty areas

Answer 33

Special cytoplasm to prevent water loss by osmosis/special cell membrane/wall

Question 34

For animals that living in cold climates, would they have adaptations to increase or decrease their SA: V ratio?

Answer 34

Decrease

Question 35

Why do animals that live in hot climates adapt to have a high SA: V ratio?

Answer 35

Increase heat loss

Question 36

State an adaptation that polar bears have to survive in cold climates

Answer 36

More insulation(thick fat layer+fur)

Question 37

Give a behavioural adaptation of penguins

Answer 37

Huddling

Question 38

Apart from their humps, give 1 other adaptation of camels to help them reduce water loss

Answer 38

Specially adapted kidneys/very little sweating

Question 39

Artic foxes' fur coat changes from grey to white during winter-suggest 2 reasons why

Answer 39

Reduce heat loss by raditation+better camouflage in the snow

Question 40

What is the major way in which plants lose water in hot, dry conditions?

Answer 40

Transpiration

Question 41

Why do plants in dry and hot conditions have curled leaves?

Answer 41

Traps moist air-->reduce water vapour conc gradient-->reduce transpiration

Question 42

Why do some plants have thorns?

Answer 42

Prevent predation by herbivores

Question 43

Why do some plants have long roots?

Answer 43

Increase water uptake

Question 44

Why do cacti have swollen stems?

Answer 44

Store water

Question 45

Why do cacti have spine-like leaves?

Answer 45

Reduce SA-->reduce water loss