Adaptations and Survival
What is an adaptation?
A characteristic that makes an individual better suited to a specific environment.
What is symbiosis and why is this interaction so important?
Symbiosis is any relationship in which two species live closely together. Organisms cannot survive without relying on another for survival so it is very important.
Primary succession is the series of changes that occur in an area where no soil or organisms exist.
Secondary succession is the series of changes that occur in an area where the ecosystem has been disturbed but where soil and organisms already exist.
What is the definition of biodiversity?
The number and variety of different species in an area.
Give three factors affecting biodiverity.
Niche diverity, genetic diversity, species extinction, climates and size of ecosystems
What is a niche?
A specific role or function that an organism fills within an ecosystem.
Explain mutualism and give an example.
Mutualism is a relationship in which both species benefit. Ex. Mongoose feeds on insects on the warthog. Mongoose gets food, warthog benefits by having the ticks removed that can cause disease.
What is a pioneer species? Give an example
A pioneer species is the first species to populate an area. an example would be moss or lichen.
What economic and ecological values do biodiversity have?
They provide resources and materials we use such as food, fuel, medicines, and fibers.
Explain what Niche diversity is and give an example.
Niche diversity is where every species in an ecosystem occupies a unique niche. Panda lives in a narrow niche because it only has a few food sources.
Wat are some factors that determine an organism's niche?
Amount of water, what an organism eats, how it eats, and what it eats.
Explain commensalism and give an example.
Commensalism is a relationship win which one species benefits and the other species is neither helped nor harmed. Ex. sea otter attaching to kelp to sleep. Kelp is not affected.
Give an example of what would cause primary succession and secondary succession separately.
Primary succession could be cause by a volcanic eruption.
Secondary succession could be caused by a forest fire.
What makes crops a direct value from an ecosystem?
Crops that are farmed consume ecosystem resources and are used for income.
Explain how genetic diversity affects biodiversity and give an example.
This is the total number of inherited traits in a genetic makeup of an entire species. The greater the genetic diversity, the more likely it is that a species can adapt and survive. Grey wolves had low genetic diversity and so this contributed to near extinction.
What are two major types of interactions among organisms and give an example of each.
1. competition - organisms compete for mates
2. predation - one organism eats another
Explain the parasitism interaction and give an example.
Parasitism is a relationship that involves one organism living with, on, or inside another organism and harming it.
Ex. fish lice feeding on the blood of fish.
What kind of success would occur in an area that's been damaged by floods?
Secondary succession because it is likely that soil and some organisms will remain.
What is a keystone species?
A species that influences the survival of many other species in an ecosystem.
How does size affect biodiversity?
The amount spaces in an ecosystem affects biodiversity because the more space there is the more species can live there.
What effect do competition and predation have on population size? explain.
Competition can result in one population decreasing.
Predation can cause a prey population to decrease.
When a hummingbird feeds on nectar within a flower what type of symbiotic relationship is that?
Mutualism: bird gets food, flower gets pollinated.
When a shift or change in an ecosystem lasts a long time what will happen to most populations?
Many may die. A few may survive, and if they survive they most likely have adaptations.
Consider the interdependence between a tree and the elephant. What would happen if one of the species were to decline in number?
The other species would decline in number. They need each other.
How does climate affect biodiverity?
A consistent climate supports biodiversity. Temperatures that do not fluctuate receive more rain and plants can grow year round and then more animals have food to survive.