Unit 7: Organisms and their Environment (PART 1) Y9

biological (Biotic) environment

all the organisms in the habitat

saline marshlands

filled with slightly salty water during winter

sand dunes

rare habitats in the Maltese islands which are close to beaches

coastal habitat

coastal zone is known as the area between the land and the water. Low rocky coast and high and low cliffs : Merill, Widnet il-Bahar

protected species

organisms which are defended from trouble and harm : Sigra tal-Gharghar u Merill

reptile

scaly, waterproof skin which enables them to live in the desert

low humidity

air is dry, transpiration is fast

prey adaptations

running/swimming/flying faster large groups, camouflage, tasting horrible, shock tactics : Eyed Hawkmoth

parasitism

a parasite is an organism which lives in a close association with another organism, called its host. The parasite usually harms the host

Camel adaptations

- A camel has big, flat feet to reduce the tendency of sinking.

- Long lengs to stay away from the hottest air

- A camel's hump is where fat is stored.

- A camel has no layer of fat under the skin.

- A camel can go at least two weeks without water.

- A camel can drink large amounts of water in one go.

- A camel has closable nostrils and long eyelashes to keep out wind-blown sand

- loses little water

- stomach holds water

- survives without water for 6-8 days

habitat

Place where an organism lives

community

refers to all plants and animals leaving in a habitat

population

the number of organisms of a given species within a defined habitat

environment

refers to conditions which exist in a habitat that can influence an organism

physical (abiotic) environment

Anything not alive

Ecosystem

refers to the community of organisms in a habitat together with the non-living parts of the environment

Woodland

the most typical vegetation of the Mediterranean;. It is dominated by hard leaved ever green trees and shrubs such as Aleppo pine trees and Oak trees. Buskett is the only locality in Malta which represents a mature woodland ecosystem

maquis

characterized by small trees and large shrubs such as Carob,Olive and Lentisk together with climbers such as Ivy

Garigue

ecosystem which develops on large expanses of limestone bearing numerous depressions and fissures: Mediterranean Thyme and Mediterranean Heath

steppe

derived from maquis and garigue which have been degraded through fire and grazing such as herbaceous plants like grasses and legumes

niche

the way in which an organism lives its life in

biosphere

globsal sum of all ecosystem

biodiversity

the variation of life forms within a given ecosystem

conservation

to protect and manage carefully

endangered species

organisms which are at risk of becoming extinct due to changing of environmental conditions, predation or either few in number. weasels, sea turtles

rare species

a group of organisms that are very uncommon : qabru

extinct

no more living species are found : Maltese Hippo

endemic species

organisms which are only found in one country : Maltese WALL lizard, maltese spurge, widnet il-bahar, qabru

indigenous species

indigeno means native

organisms which are found naturally in one or a number of countries : Aleppo pines trees , carob trees

Alien/Introduced species

organisms which people have brought to a country where it did not live naturally before

abiotic factors

temperature, water, sunlight, wind, humidity

Decidious

A plant that sheds its leaves during a particular season

Tranpiration

evaporation of water from the leaves of plants

high humidity

more moisture. transpiration is slow

biotic factors

competition, predator and prey relationship , parasitism, mutualism, commensalism

competition

organisms frequently compete for such comodities like food, light,water, shelter, mate, or breeding site

interspecific competition

competition between members of different species of organisms

what does competition between same species mean?

intraspecific competition means that only the "best" genes are passed onto the next generation. There is a struggle for existence leading up to the "survival of the fittest"

Why do weeds compete with other plants?

for water, light and space ( interspecific)

predator-prey cycle

1. prey has plenty of food so it breeds and increases in number

2. predators have a lot of prey to eat on so they breed and increase in number

3. the prey start to decrease because the predators are eating them all

4. predators start to starve and die. They decrease in number

5. With fewer predators, more prey survive so now they breed and increase and the cycle continues...

predator adaptation

fast running, swimming, or flying with sharp teeth, beak or claws

Hare adaptations

large ears to listen for trouble

eyes on the side for a wide field of view

long, strong back legs

endoparasite example

blood fluke, tapeworm

Parasites that live within the body of their host.

endoparasites

parasites that live outside the host

ectoparasites

Ectoparasite examples

aphid piercing on a stem, broomrape

Tapeworm adaptations

1. simple body structure and does not need a digestive system since it feeds on already digested food inside the host.

2. hooks and suckers which attach the head firmly to the host intestinal wall

3. large surface area and so easily absorb food

4. thick cuticle to not get digested by the host's digestive juices

5. produces a large number of eggs to make sure that they can spread easily from one host to another

6. hermaphrodite (both male and female sex organs)

mutualism

A relationship between two species in which both species benefit

mutualism example

The Egyptian plover bird lands inside a Nile crocodile's mouth, getting a good meal and cleaning the crocodile's teeth at the same time.

The clownfish provides nutrients by its faeces to the sea anemone, whilst the sea anemone protects the clownfish

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria live in the roots of plants where the bacteria provide nitrogen to the plant and the plant provides protection to the bacteria.

commensalism

A relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected

commensalism examples

barnacles on whales:

barnacles cannot move on their own so they stick to the bodies of whales and get free transport and it also picks up any floating food in the sea where the whale is not harmed in any way.

a bird on a tree:

the bird is getting shelter but is not affecting the tree in any way

symbiosis

relationship in which two species live closely together

Polar bear adaptations

-THICK LAYER OF FUR

(insulation against cold, Camouflage)

-SMALL EARS

(reduce heat loss)

-THICK LAYER OF BLUBBER(fat)

(insulation against cold, store energy)

- CAMOUFLAGE - BLACK SKIN UNDERNEATH TO ABSORB ANY SUNLIGHT

-SMALL SURFACE TO VOLUME RATIO SO LOSES LESS HEAT

Fennec Fox adaptations

small body

large ears

hunts at night

large eyes to see well in dim light

arctic fox adaptations

- short and rounded ears to reduce heat loss

- remains active at temperatures below - 50 degrees C

- a layer of fat to provide an insulating layer

- coat changes colour according to seasons ; in summer it is a reddish brown colour while in winter it is a white colour

plant adaptations to cut down water loss

1. more stomata on the lower surface so less water will evaporate

2. deciduous trees and shrubs

3. cacti

cacti adaptations

1. succulents and draw on this store for photosynthesis

2. swollen stems to store water

3. shallow rooting system to quickly absorb any water

4. leaves are reduced to spines to reduce the surface area of the leaf

conifers

conifers have leaves which are reduced to needles to reduce the surface area of the leaves

sand dune plants

sand dune plants have long thin leaves and rolled up to trap humidity and prevent water loss.

xerophyte

A plant adapted to living in dry conditions

intraspecific competition

competition between members of the same species of organisms