B4.1 Adaptation to environment

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What lives in a habitat?

A community, species, population, or organism

What does a habitat describe?

The geographical location, type of ecosystem, and the physical and chemical conditions

What is the name of a factor which living organisms effect the environment?

Biotic

What is the name of a factor which non-living organisms effect the environment?

Abiotic

Where do biotic factors have more influence?

Biomes with large population density

Where to abiotic factors have more influence?

Biomes with low population density

Name 4 abiotic factors which occur in a desert by the sea

• Low water

• High salinity

• Low nutrient levels

• Sand accumalation

What is the name of the species which is adapted to survive a desert environment by the sea?

Xerophytes

What are two examples of xerophytes?

Maram grass and lyme grass

What is the effect of dry air on a plant’s water?

Steep concentration gradient is created so water evaporates quickly

What is the effect of low soil availability on a plant’s water?

Water cannot be easily replaced

Label this diagram of maram grass

1. Thick waxy cuticles

2. leaf which can roll up

3. Hairs

4. Sunken stomata

Why is the waxy cuticle thick in maram grass?

To prevent water loss

Why can the leaf roll up in maram grass?

To prevent wilting and survive wind

Why are the stomata sunken in maram grass?

To trap water vapour in pits

What accumulates in lyme grass root cells to increase osmotic pressure?

the carbohydrate fructans

What is the name of the underground stems in maram grass?

Rhizomes

Why does lyme grass have rhizomes?

To extend dep into the dune to retain water

Where do mangrove swamps develop?

In sheltered areas with mud accumulation

What are swamps flooded with?

Seawater

What type of respiration occurs in the soil of mangrove swamps?

Anaerobic

What is the effect of anaerobic soil in tree roots?

Difficult for them to collect oxygen

What is the effect of high salt concentrations on mangrove trees?

Water is drawn out

In relation to sea water, how salty is the mud in mangrove swamps?

Twice as salty

What do mangrove trees have to adapt to the salinity of the mud?

Salt glands on leaves to excrete excess salt

How are a mangrove’s seeds adapt for water?

They are buoyant and are dispersed by ocean currents

Name the three types of roots which have adapted in mangrove swamps?

• Stilt roots

• Cable roots

• pneumataphores

Describe stilt roots

Grow out in a downward arch from the central trunk

Describe cable roots

Grow close to the soil surface

Why do cable roots grow close to the soil surface?

For the most oxygen

What kind of root are pneumataphores?

Vertical root branches

Describe pneumataphores

branches that grow in the air to absorb oxygen

What covers a root epidermis covered in mangrove swamps?

Suberin (cork)

What is the use of suberin (cork) in mangrove swamps?

reduce permeability to salts

What do mangrove trees use to increase osmotic potential in root and leaf cells?

Mannitol

What dictates the limits of a species, abiotic or biotic factors?

Abiotic factors

What are the 6 abiotic factors which affect plant distribution?

1. Temperature

2. Water availiability

3. Light intensity

4. Soil pH

5. Soil salinity

6. Mineral and nutrient availability

What are the two factors which affect animal distribution?

Water availibility and temperature

What do the adaptations of a species determine?

The range of tolerance

If a species cannot grow in an area due to a variable being outside the range of tolerance, what does the variable become?

A limiting factor

What is the name of the area used in which data is collected?

A transect

What are the two ways of measuring variables?

With electronic sensors or portable data loggers

What are the variables electronic sensors and portable data loggers measure when testing abiotic factors?

Temperature, light intensity, and soil pH

What are the three ways of measuring species distribution?

1. Line intercept sampling

2. belt transect

3. observational transect

Which way of measuring species distribution relies on recording the number of individuals touch a line transect?

Line intercept sampling

Which way of measuring species distribution relies on measuring using a quadrat?

Belt transect

Which way of measuring species distribution relies on tallying the sightings of species by an observer?

Observational transect

What depth conditions should coral be in to survive?

Less than 50m deep

Why does coral need to be less than 50m below the surface of the sea?

So light can penetrate

What pH conditions should coral be in to survive?

>7.8

Why does the pH of water need to be above 7.8 for coral to survive?

So CaCO₃ can be deposited in the skeleton

What salinity conditions should coral be in to survive?

between 32 and 42 parts per thousand dissolved ions

Why does water salinity need to be between 32 and 42 parts per thousand dissolved ions for coral to survive?

To avoid osmotic problems

What clarity conditions should coral be in to survive?

water must be clear

Why must water be clear for coral reefs to survive?

So light can penetrate

What temperature conditions should coral be in to survive?

between 23° and 29°C

Why does coral need to be between 23° and 29°C?

So the zooxanthellae can stay healthy

What is the name given to a group of ecosystems with similar communities?

A biome

What are the two characteristics which determine the biome in which ecosystems are placed?

Similar abiotic conditions and convergent evolution

What is the relative temperature for a temperate forest in summer?

Warm

What is the relative temperature for a temperate forest in winter?

Cold

What is the relative temperature for grassland in summer?

medium to high

What is the relative temperature for grassland in winter?

cold

What is the relative rainfall for temperate forest?

medium to high

What is the relative light intensity for temperate forest?

Moderate

What is the rainfall like in grassland?

Moderate with a dry season

What is the relative light intensity in grassland?

Medium to high

What is the temperature / summer like in tundra?

Low temp and very short summers

What is the relative precipitation for tundra?

Low to medium

What is the only form of precipitation in tundra?

Snow

What is the relative light intensity in tundra?

Low

What are the relative daytime temperatures in a hot desert?

Very high

What are the relative nightime temperatures in a hot desert?

Cold

Describe the precipitation in a hot desert

Little rainfall and long drought

What is the soil like in hot desert?

Limited soil development and soil organic matter

What is the relative temperature in tropical rainforest?

High

What is the relative precipitation in tropical rainforest?

High

What is the relative light intensity in tropical rainforest?

High

What is the soil like in tropical rainforest?

Poor and thin

Name two animals adapted to hot desert

Saguaro cactus and flennec fox

What are the three adaptations of the saguaro cactus?

• Wide spreading roots

• Tap roots

• had CAM metabolism

What is the use of wide spreading roots in saguaro cactus?

To collect water from a wide area

What is the use of tap roots in saguaro cactus?

collect water from deep in the subsoil

What is the use of CAM matabolism in saguaro cactus?

Allows stomata to only open at night

What are the three adaptations of the fennec fox?

• Nocturnal

• Long, thick hair

• Hairy feet padding

What is the use of being nocturnal for the fennec fox?

Avoid daytime temperatures

What is the use of having long, thick hair for the fennec fox?

heat insulation during cold nights

What is the use of having hairy feet padding for the fennec fox?

Provide insulation when walking on hot sand

Name two animals are adapted to tropical rainforests

Yellow moranti and spider monkey

What are the three adaptations for the yellow moranti?

• Grows over 100m tall

• Smooth trunk and oval leaves with pointy tips

• Leaf enzymes work at 35°C

What is the use of growing over 100m tall for the yellow moranti?

Avoid competition for light

What is the use of the smooth trunk and oval/pointy leaves for the yellow moranti?

Sheds rainwater easily

What is the use of enzymes working at 35°C for the yellow moranti?

To withstand atmospheric temp

What are the three adaptations of the spider monkey?

• Long arms and legs

• feet and tails can grab branches

• breed in any season

What is the use of having long arms and legs for the spider monkey?

to climb and reach for food

What is the use of having feet and tails which grasp branches for the spider monkey?

so they can use other limbs for feeding

What is the use of breeding in any season for the spider monkey?

food is always available