B1.4.1 Adaptations

Question 1

Why do organisms require a supply of materials from their surroundings and from the other living organisms there?

Answer 1

To survive and reproduce,

Question 2

What factors do plants often compete with each other for? (4 marks)

Answer 2

• light
• space
• water from the soil.
• nutrients from the soil.

Question 3

What do animals often compete with each other for? (3 marks)

Answer 3

• food,
• mates
• territory.

Question 4

What do we call the features that enable organisms to survive in the conditions in which they normally live?

Answer 4

Adaptations

Question 5

What do we call organisms that live in environments that are very extreme?

Answer 5

Extremophiles

Question 6

What factors may extremophiles we able to tolerate? (3 marks)

Answer 6

• high levels of salt,
• high temperatures
• high pressures.

Question 7

How might animals be adapted for survival in dry environments?

Answer 7

• large surface area: volume ratio (i.e long ears/legs)
• thin insulating coat
• very little body fat
• brown colours to camouflage with surroundings

Question 8

How might animals be adapted for survival in arctic environments?

Answer 8

• small surface area: volume ratio (i.e round bodies/small ears))
• thick insulating coat
• lots of body fat
• white colour to camouflage with surroundings

Question 9

How might plants be adapted for survival in dry environments?

Answer 9

• small surface area particularly of the leaves (i.e. spikes to reduce water loss)
• water-storage tissues
• extensive root systems (to tap into limited water reserves)

Question 10

How might organisms be adapted to deter predators?

Answer 10

• Thorns,
• poisons
• warning colours to deter predators.