FC questions Adaptations of Organisms

Flashcards about adaptations of organisms, including structural, behavioral, and functional adaptations, natural selection, and evolution.

What are adaptations?

Adjustments or changes in the structure, behaviour, or function of an organism in response to conditions in the environments around them.

Name the three main types of adaptations.

Structural (Physical), Behavioural, and Functional (Physiological).

Give an example of Structural (Physical) Adaptation.

Polar bears have thick fur or Ducks have webbed feet or Crocodiles and alligators have nostrils above water.

Give an example of Behavioural Adaptation.

Sitting still to avoid predators, spreading out during hot weather, or huddling in groups for warmth.

Give an example of Functional (Physiological) Adaptation.

The ability to sweat, lower the rate of cellular reactions to hibernate, or release special chemicals.

What are some adaptations of brown bears?

Flatter molars, blunter teeth, shorter snouts & large shoulder hump

What are some adaptations of polar bears?

Sharp teeth, longer snout, large fur covered paws & dense, white, insulating fur

What is a key adaptation of marsupials?

Completing their development in their mother’s pouch where they feed on milk.

What are introduced species?

Organisms that are non-native to the place or area of where they are introduced.

Who developed the theory of evolution?

Charles Darwin

What are mutations?

When the gene of an individual is altered.

What is speciation?

When two or more individuals can no longer successfully reproduce.

What is natural selection?

The process through which species adapt to their environment as those individuals best suited to survive and reproduce dominate over generations.

What are carnivores?

Organisms that primarily eat meat.

What are herbivores?

Organisms that primarily eat plants.

What is survival of the fittest?

A concept that suggests that only those individuals best adapted to their environment will survive and reproduce.

What roles do keystone species play in an ecosystem?

Keystone species have a disproportionately large effect on their environment relative to their abundance, often helping to maintain the structure of the ecological community.

What is biodiversity?

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

What is an ecosystem?

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

What is a food chain?

A linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.

What is photosynthesis?

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the primary process of converting carbon dioxide and water into glucose.

What is a biome?

A large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, e.g. forest or tundra

What are the main types of ecosystems?

Some main types of ecosystems include forests, grasslands, deserts, tundras, freshwater, and marine ecosystems.

What is a trophic level?

A trophic level is the position an organism occupies in a food chain, determined by its source of nutrition.

What is ecological succession?

Ecological succession is the process by which ecosystems change and develop over time.

What is invasive species?

Invasive species are organisms that are introduced to a new habitat and cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health.

What is an autotroph?

An autotroph is an organism that can produce its own food using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals.

What is a heterotroph?

A heterotroph is an organism that cannot produce its own food and instead obtains its energy by consuming other organisms.

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Decomposers break down dead organic matter and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.

What is carrying capacity?

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support.

What is a mutualistic relationship?

A mutualistic relationship is a type of symbiotic interaction where both species benefit.

What is a limiting factor in an ecosystem?

A limiting factor is a resource or condition that limits the growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism or population within an ecosystem.