B4.1 Adaptations to Environment

______ is the branch of biology that deals with the relationships between organisms, and their interactions with their physical surroundings.

Ecology is the branch of biology that deals with the relationships between organisms, and their interactions with their physical surroundings.

______ are any individual life form.

Organisms are any individual life form.

A ______

is the natural home or environment of an animal, plant or other organism.

A habitat

is the natural home or environment of an animal, plant or other organism.

A _______ consists of one species in one location at one time.

A population consists of one species in one location at one time.

A ______ is formed by populations of different species living and interacting with each other in a habitat.

A community is formed by populations of different species living and interacting with each other in a habitat.

An _______ is a location where a community of organisms interact with each other and the abiotic environment.

An ecosystem is a location where a community of organisms interact with each other and the abiotic environment.

The ______ (nonliving) environment includes:

Air

Minerals in the soil

Light

Climate

The abiotic (nonliving) environment includes:

Air

Minerals in the soil

Light

Climate

Marram grass is a ______ that is adapted to survive on sand dunes, where water is scarce.

Marram grass is a xerophyte that is adapted to survive on sand dunes, where water is scarce.

Marram grass leaves roll into a tube with stomata on the inside, maintaining a high _____ outside the stomata, reducing the rate of __________.

Marram grass leaves roll into a tube with stomata on the inside, maintaining a high humidity outside the stomata, reducing the rate of transpiration.

Marram grass leaves have a thick __________ which reduces evaporation of water from the leaf surface.

Marram grass leaves have a thick waxy cuticle which reduces evaporation of water from the leaf surface.

The roots of marram grass are long, and go deep into the sand in search of ______.

The roots of marram grass are long, and go deep into the sand in search of water.

Marram grass has extensive roots near the surface, which help the sand to retain _____.

Marram grass has extensive roots near the surface, which help the sand to retain water.

Mangrove plants are adapted to living in unstable ______ (low oxygen) soil with their roots surrounded by salt water.

Mangrove plants are adapted to living in unstable anoxic (low oxygen) soil with their roots surrounded by salt water.

red mangrove trees have ____ roots which provide the tree with stability

red mangrove trees have prop roots which provide the tree with stability

red mangrove trees have prop roots which provide the tree with stability

red mangrove trees' widespread shallow root system provides additional support for the tree.

red mangrove trees have _______ which grow above the soil to conduct gas exchange during low tide

red mangrove trees have aerial roots (aka pneumatophores) which grow above the soil to conduct gas exchange during low tide

The ______ of red mangrove roots prevent salt from entering the cytoplasm, while allowing water to enter.

The plasma membranes of red mangrove roots prevent salt from entering the cytoplasm, while allowing water to enter.

The seeds of red mangrove trees begin to _____, with the root developing, before the seed falls from the tree.

The seeds of red mangrove trees begin to germinate, with the root developing, before the seed falls from the tree.

According to _______________, organisms have optimal survival rates for abiotic factors. As an organism moves from areas with optimum conditions, there is a decrease in survival rates.

According to Shelford's Law of Tolerance, organisms have optimal survival rates for abiotic factors. As an organism moves from areas with optimum conditions, there is a decrease in survival rates.

In Shelford's Law of tolerance, the zone of ____ has reduced survival rates, and organisms cannot survive the zone of _____ . The _____ range has maximum survival rates.

In Shelford's Law of tolerance, the zone of stress has reduced survival rates, and organisms cannot survive the zone of intolerance. The optimum range has maximum survival rates.

Suggest abiotic variables which could affect the distribution of organisms

Humidity

Soil content

Breeding sites

Aeration of soil

Climate

Temperature

pH

Available minerals

Available light

Latitude

Altitude

etc...

_____ are used to investivate the relationship between the distribution of a species in relationship to an abiotic factor. They are useful for investigating the distribution of plants and sessile animal species.

Belt Transects are used to investivate the relationship between the distribution of a species in relationship to an abiotic factor. They are useful for investigating the distribution of plants and sessile animal species.

Coral reefs are formed by sessile animals, which have a mutualistic relationship with ________

Coral reefs are formed by sessile animals, which have a mutualistic relationship with Zooxanthellae

coral reef water clarity requirements?

coral reef water clarity requirements? clear water for obtaining light for photosynthesis

coral reef water depth requirements?

coral reef water depth requirements? Grows best at depths of around 50m, varying depending on species. Light is rapidly absorbed by seawater, and zooxanthellae need light for photosynthesis

coral reef temperature requirements?

coral reef temperature requirements? range between 16C and 34.5C.

Coral reef pH requirements?

Coral reef pH requirements? pH range of 8 to 8.3

Coral reef salinity requirements?

Coral reef salinity requirements? salinity range of 23-42 ppt.

_____ are types of ecosystems with characteristic abiotic conditions. Convergent evolution produces similarities between ecosystems in a ______.

biomes are types of ecosystems with characteristic abiotic conditions. Convergent evolution produces similarities between ecosystems in a biome.

Memorize Whittaker's Climograph biomes

Tropical forests have _____ rainfall and ____ temperatures all year round

Tropical forests have high rainfall and high temperatures all year round

Temperate forests have ___ summers and ____ winters, and a _____ amount of rainfall

Temperate forests have hot summers and cold winters, and a moderate amount of rainfall

Temperatures vary depending on the location of the grasslands, but they all have relatively ____ rainfall

Temperatures vary depending on the location of the grasslands, but they all have relatively low rainfall

Hot deserts have ____ days and ____ nights. All deserts have very _____ rainfall.

Hot deserts have hot days and cold nights. All deserts have very low rainfall.

Taiga have very ____ winters and _____ summers. The taiga has ____ precipitation, which is often snow.

Taiga have very cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. The taiga has low precipitation, which is often snow.

The tundra is _____ for most of the year, with very _____ summers. Precipitation is very ____.

The tundra is frozen for most of the year, with very short summers. Precipitation is very low.

_________ is the independent evolution of similar features in species producing analogous structures.

Convergent evolution is the independent evolution of similar features in species producing analogous structures.

Many desert plants have fleshy stems and leaves for water storage. This feature is also known as _____.

Many desert plants have fleshy stems and leaves for water storage. This feature is also known as succulence.

Desert plants have reduced leaf surfaces, such as spines on cacti, to reduce water loss through _______.

Desert plants have reduced leaf surfaces, such as spines on cacti, to reduce water loss through transpiration.

Deep root systems all desert plants to access ________

Deep root systems all desert platns to access groundwater

____ physiology, in desert plants, is a type of photosynthesis, were stomata remain closed during the day to reduce water loss by transpiration. The stomata open at night when it is cooler

CAM physiology, in desert plants, is a type of photosynthesis, were stomata remain closed during the day to reduce water loss by transpiration. The stomata open at night when it is cooler

Thick waxy ________ reduce water loss through evaporation from desert plants

Thick waxy cuticles reduce water loss through evaporation from desert plants

List adaptations of desert animals

nocturnal behavior (cooler), efficient water conservation (concentrated urine), efficient metabolism (due to limited food sources), camouflage

Plants in tropical rainforests compete for ____ and scarce ________ in the soil.

Plants in tropical rainforests compete for light and scarce nutrients in the soil.

List adaptations of plants in tropical rainforests:

Buttress roots (large overground for stability), drip tips (prevents waterlogging and fungi), epiphytes (grow on other trees), lianas (grow up trunks of tall trees), mutualistic relationships (pollination, seed dispersal)

List adaptations of animals in tropical rainforests:

arboreal adaptations (helps live in tree), acute senses, camouflage