Adaptations and Competition Quiz
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5 questions, one answer each
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1. Which of the following is an example of a structural adaptation?
- A. A lion hunting in packs to catch prey
- B. A polar bear having thick fur and a layer of blubber
- C. A plant closing its stomata during drought
- D. A meerkat standing on its hind legs to watch for predators
2. Extremophiles are organisms that thrive in extreme environments. Which of the following best describes why an extremophile has adapted to these conditions?
- A. They have evolved to tolerate extreme conditions because they have no other choice for survival
- B. They deliberately chose to live in extreme environments to avoid competition
- C. They possess specific structural and functional adaptations that allow them to survive where others cannot
- D. They are less complex organisms that are unaffected by environmental stress
3. Two plant species grow in the same woodland. Species X is tall and has large leaves, whilst Species Y is short with small leaves. How does this difference reduce competition between them?
- A. They occupy different niches by competing for different resources, with Species X accessing more light and Species Y accessing water more efficiently from the soil
- B. Both species are competing for the same resources but Species Y is more efficient
- C. They are not competing at all because they live in the same woodland
- D. Species X is more dominant so Species Y must adapt or die
4. A population of beetles lives on tree bark. Some beetles have dark colouration and some have light colouration. In an industrial area with dark, soot-covered trees, dark beetles have a survival advantage. Explain why this is an adaptation and what type it is.
- A. It is a functional adaptation because the dark colour helps them digest soot more efficiently
- B. It is a behavioural adaptation because dark beetles choose to live on dark trees
- C. It is a structural adaptation because body colour is a physical characteristic that provides camouflage, improving survival chances on dark bark
- D. It is not an adaptation because colour variation occurs naturally in all populations
5. In a coral reef ecosystem, two fish species occupy very similar niches, both feeding on small crustaceans in the same area. According to ecological principles, what is most likely to happen in this situation?
- A. Both species will thrive equally because the reef has unlimited resources
- B. One species will outcompete the other unless they evolve to utilise different food sources or occupy slightly different spatial areas within the reef
- C. The species will form a symbiotic relationship to share resources
- D. Competition will cease because both species are equally well-adapted