Adaptation to Environment

Habitat

place where organism lives

Species

group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring

Population

group of organisms of same species who live in the same area at the same time

Community

a group of populations living and interacting with each other in an area

Ecosystem

a community and its abiotic environment

abiotic factors

• non-living factors that affect organisms within their habitat

  • e.g. light, temp, water, soil

Marram Grass

• xerophyte — group of plants adapted to survive in dry conditions

  • dry air — steep concentration gradient

Coral Reef Formation

• result of symbiotic relationship between coral polyp and zooxanthellae algae

  • polyp provides shelter & protection

  • algae carry out photosynthesis and produce carbon compounds(carbs)

    • healthy — secretes calcium carbonate

Coral Reef Limitations

• water depth

• pH

• salinity(salt concentration)

• water clarity

• temperature

Water depth

• corals only grow at shallow depths where light can penetrate water — high enough levels for zooxanthellae to photosynthesize

pH

• coral needs carbonate ions to build calcium carbonate

• H+ ions are present at lower pH levels

• increased CO2 released from bunring of fossil fuels dissolves in oceans and lower pH of water — reducing coral growth

Salinity

• coral needs salty water(marine animals) to survive

• freshwater run-off from land can reduce salt concentrations & limit coral growth

Water clarity

• must be good for light to penetrate through water

• sediment from land run-off and water pollution can reduce water clarity and limit coral growth

Temperature

• corals survive in narrow range(20C - 28C)

• too hot leads to stressed corals: bleached coral

Biome

A large geographical area that contains communities adapted to living in those environments

• occur over large geographical areas

  • e.g. temperate rainforest, tropical rainforest, tundra, grassland

• distribution is affefted by abiotic factors

Determinants

• average temperatures and rainfall patterns determine biomes

• biome development — plotted on climograph

  • animal grazing and soil type are potential other factors

Ecosystem

• community and its abiotic environment

Tropical forest

• nutrient poor soil due to lack of seasonal leaf fall

• layers of vegetation

  • e.g. canopy & undercanopy

• highly productive

  • i.e. high levels of photosynthesis

• high levels of biodiversity

• temp: 20-25C

Temperate forest

• seasonal, but no extremes temperatures

• fertile soil due to leaf fall each autumn

• dominant decidous trees

• productive during part of the year

• high levels of biodiversity

Taiga

• very cold winters with high precipitation(in form of snow)

• temp : -40-20C

• dominant coniferous trees

• low productivity

• a small number of well-adapted species

Grassland

• semi-arid/annual temp varies between -20 and 30C

• dry and wet seasons

• dominant grasses

• lack of trees due to low water

• grazing animals and few predators

Tundra

• cold temp and low precipitation

• dark winter periods and frozen soil

• not enough water,light or wamrth for tree growth

• hibernating or migrating animal species

Desert

• very low precipitations — hot days, cold nights

• sparse vegetation & burrowing animals active during night

Adaptations

• traits or characteristics that increase survival chances in a specific environment

  • occur due to natural selection

Marram Grass

• xerophyte — plants adapted to survive in dry conditions

  • dry air —steeper concentration gradient — water ecaporates quickly

  • raise humidity of air surrounding leaf — reducing the steep concentration gradient

Mangrove swamps

• tropical, coastal habitats that are frequently submerged in sea water

• abiotic factors

  • high salinity

  • low fresh water availability

  • low oxygen availability(underwater)

Mangrove Trees

• grow with roots submerged in sea water

  • unable to take oxygen for respiration

  • surrounding salty water— fresh water is low

  • risk of mangrove roots losing water

Mangrove Adaptations

• aerial root system — helps deal with low oxygen levels —parts above roots take in oxygen for respiration

  • prop roots provide stability in unstable oil

  • prop roots have underwater networks of roots — provide crucial shelter for marine animals

• red mangroves — do not allow entry of salt into water-transport systems

• black mangroves — take salt water into their cells and excrete ecess salt

Kangaroo Rat

• small rodents found in hot deserts

• spend daylight hours in underground burrows — behavioural adaptatione allows them to avoid the high daytime temp

• able to extract enough water to survive from their diet & can produce highly concentrated urine — go withou drinking water for extended period

Saguaro Cactus

• native to hot deserts of North America — adapted for survival in dry conditions

  • thick waxy cuticle to reduce water loss by evaporation

  • spines instead of leaves — reduces surface area — water can be lost by transpiration — reducing grazing

  • cells in stem can expand to take on and store water

• deep tap root — enables access to water deep under the ground

• shallow surface roots — allows fast absorption of any water from rainfall

Kapok Tree

• rapid growth allows tree to outcompete other species by growing tall very quicklly

  • height allows them to absorb enough sunlight

• wide buttress roots — provide a sturdy base to suport trees during rapid growth

Orchid Mantis

• insect found in tropical rainforests

• mimicry of orchid flowers — enables it to attract insect pollinators — prey

• male mantis camouflages amongst stems and branches of plants