Adaptations, interdependence and competitionOxford AQA IGCSE Biology: Flashcards

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Define adaptation in the context of ecology.

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Define adaptation in the context of ecology.: A characteristic or trait that an organism possesses that makes it better suited to survive and reproduce in its environment.
Name the three main types of adaptation.: Structural adaptations, behavioural adaptations, and physiological adaptations.
What is a structural adaptation? Give an example.: A physical feature or structure of an organism. Example: a camel's hump stores fat for energy in the desert, or a polar bear's thick fur for insulation in the Arctic.
What is a behavioural adaptation? Give an example.: An action or behaviour that helps an organism survive in its environment. Example: arctic animals hibernating during winter to conserve energy when food is scarce.
What is a physiological adaptation? Give an example.: A biological or chemical process inside an organism's body that helps it survive. Example: a desert plant closing its stomata during the day to reduce water loss through transpiration.
Describe two structural adaptations of desert animals.: Camels have light-coloured fur to reflect heat and a hump to store fat. Desert snakes are nocturnal (active at night) and have scales to reduce water loss through their skin.
Describe two structural adaptations of Arctic animals.: Polar bears have thick fur and blubber for insulation against extreme cold. Arctic foxes have small ears to reduce heat loss and white fur for camouflage in snow.
Describe two adaptations of deep-sea organisms.: Many deep-sea fish produce bioluminescence to attract prey in darkness. Some have large mouths and expandable stomachs to consume rare food sources; others have reduced eyes or no eyes due to absence of light.
Describe two structural adaptations of desert plants.: Cacti have reduced leaves (spines) to minimise water loss and store water in their stems. Some plants have long roots that extend deep into the soil to access underground water sources.
Explain why adaptations increase an organism's chances of survival and reproduction.: Adaptations allow organisms to obtain food, water, and shelter more efficiently; avoid predators; survive environmental conditions; and find mates. This increases the likelihood of reaching reproductive age and producing offspring.
What is the relationship between surface area to volume ratio and heat loss in animals?: Animals with a larger surface area to volume ratio lose heat more quickly to their surroundings. Small animals have a larger ratio relative to their size, so they lose heat faster and need to eat more frequently to maintain body temperature.
Explain how a large animal's smaller surface area to volume ratio is an adaptation to cold environments.: Large animals like polar bears have a smaller surface area to volume ratio, which means they lose less heat per unit of body mass. This reduces heat loss and helps them maintain body temperature in extremely cold Arctic conditions.
Why do small animals in cold environments need to consume more food than large animals?: Small animals have a larger surface area to volume ratio, causing rapid heat loss. They must generate more metabolic heat by eating more frequently to maintain a constant body temperature.
Name a physiological adaptation of desert plants to conserve water.: Desert plants close their stomata during the day (and some only open them at night in a process called CAM photosynthesis) to minimise water loss through transpiration.
Describe how a behavioural adaptation helps Arctic animals survive winter.: Many Arctic animals hibernate during winter, reducing their metabolic rate and energy requirements when food is scarce. Others migrate to warmer regions to find food and avoid extreme cold.