B1 - Adaptions

Seite 1

Adaptations

- Plants complete for light, water, space and nutrients.

- Animals compete for food, territory and mates.

Extremophiles

Salt = in the sea / lakes. Bacteria is highly affected by salty conditions. Trees are intolerant to salt. However mangroves are adapted to absorb sea water but not the salt.

Heat = most living things need to stay around 37deg. Camels are adapted to very high temperatures. Bacteria can live in hot temperatures, some are adapted to temperatures up to 80deg.

Pressure = Found in the bottom of the sea or ocean. Bacteria / fish / sea mammals are adapted to survive under high pressure.

Animals that can survive in cold environments:

- Polar bear - Thick fur which trap air / good insulator, white so it can camouflage, small ears to reduce surface area

- Arctic fox - Thick fur which traps air / good insulator, white so it can camouflage, small ears to reduce surface area

- Dolphins- Thick layer of fat which is a good insulator, blue so it can camouflage, being large reduces the surface area

Animals that can survive in hot environments:

- Elephants - having large ears increases the surface area, large supply of blood vessels in ears (increasing heat loss)

Plant adaptations - dry conditions

- cactus - thick stem so it can store water, thin leaves (spikes) makes a low surface area, large root system so more water can be absorbed.

Environmental Change

Non living factors = temperature, nutrients, rainfall, pollution

Living factors = competition, predators, disease

Pollution indicators

-LICHENS - show air pollution

-INVERTEBRATES - shows water pollution