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B4.1 Adaptation to Environment - Coggle Diagram
B4.1 Adaptation to Environment
Adaptations
Habitat
Ecosystem (conditions of specific location)
Geographical Location (where on the globe?)
Physical Location (where specificlly?)
Adaptation is the biological process by which organisms become better suited to their environment.
Selection Pressures (a/biotic factors)
Examples
Dunes
Marram Grass
Long, deep extending roots that absorb water as much water as possible
Rhizomes that extend underground to stabilize the sand
Desert
Cacti
Thorns to deter herbivores
Thick, waxy skin to reflect sunlight (water retention)
Camel
Tough, leathery tongue to prevent injury when feeding on cacti
Able to store water in its body
Gila Monster
Slowed metabolism to go longer without food and water
Bumpy scales to retain moisture
Ability to store fat in its tail for later use
Mangroves
Rhizophora apiculata
Pneumatophores to supply roots with oxygen in waterlogged soil
Halophyte - high tolerance to salinity
Stilt like roots to prevent damage during floods
Seeds germinate before falling from the parent tree to root itself in moving water
Tundra
Polar Bears
Thick layer of fur and blubber (temperature protection)
White fur to blend in with the environment
Blue Whale
Extremely thick blubber (extreme temperature protection)
Arctic Moss
Sponge-like leaves and stems to retain water
Grows low to trap heat near the soil surface and reduce exposure to the freezing winds
Biomes
Distribution of organisms
Abiotic factors
Water
Temperature
Soil
Air
Rainfall
Sunlight
pH
Salinity
Range of tolerance is an organisms ability to survive its environments abiotic factors
Measurment of Abiotic Factors
Sensors (probes, detectors, etc.)
Data loggers
Type of Biome
Tropical Rainforest
High temperature (20 to 30 degrees celcius)
High precipitation (1500 - 2500 mm)
High light intensity
Low seasonal variation
Thick, dense canopies
Temperate
Moderate temperature (5 to 20 degrees celcius)
Moderate to high precipitation (500 - 1500 mm)
Moderate light intensity
[Moderate seasonal variation (less pronounced seasons)
Layered rich vegetation with fertile soil
Desert
High temperature (20 to 40 degrees celcius)
Low precipitation (50 - 250 mm)
High light intensity
Low seasonal variation
Sandy and rock with scarce vegetation
Grassland
Moderate to high temperature (10 to 25 degrees celcius)
Low to moderate precipitation (250 - 1000 mm)
High light intensity
High seasonal variation
Open plains, dominated by grass
Tundra
Extremely low temperatures (-30 to 10 degrees celcius)
Low precipitation (100 - 500 mm)
Moderate to high light intensity
High seasonal variation (long cold winters and short cool summers)
Permafrost, flat, dry and scarce vegetation
Taiga
Low to moderate temperature ( -20 to 10 degrees celcius)
Moderate precipitation (400 - 900 mm)
Low to moderate light intensity
High seasonal variation (long cold winters and short cool summers)
High snowfall and number of needle-leaved evergreen trees
Mainly determined by Mean Annual Temperature and Rainfall Patterns
A biome is a large geographic area that consists of multiple environments, all of which share similar climate and ecological conditions.
Coral Reefs
Conditions for a Coral Reef
2 to 45 metres depth for Zooxanthellae to access sunlight
pH between 8.0 and 8.4 is optimal
Salt water
Water clarity to allow Zooxanthellae to access sunlight
Optimal temperature is between 23 and 29 degrees celcius
Coral reefs are calcified skeletons of Coral Polyps
If the coral becomes stressed, it expels the zooxanthellae, causing the coral to bleach since the zooxanthellae give the coral its color. This can eventually lead to the coral’s death.
If Zooxanthellae doesn't supply enough energy, the coral polyps are unable to deposit Calcium Carbonate into it's skeleton, which inhibits the growth of the Calcified Skeleton