Environmental Change (T)

• What should you be able to evaluate by the end of the video?

  Evaluate the impact of environmental change on the distribution of a species
• What does the specification state regarding specific organisms?

  • No specific organisms are required to be learned
  • Information will be provided to answer questions
• What are three abiotic factors that can affect species distribution?

  Temperature, availability of water, composition of gases in the atmosphere
• How can changes in abiotic factors affect species distribution?

  They can affect the distribution of a species
• How does the desert fox adapt to its environment?

  • Large ears increase surface area
  • Allows for more efficient heat loss
• Why is the desert fox not found in Europe?

  Because conditions are cooler in Europe
• What adaptations does the arctic fox have for its environment?

  • Very small ears reduce surface area
  • Minimizes heat loss to the air
• How does temperature show geographic variation in species distribution?

  Species are adapted to different temperature ranges
• How does water availability affect plant distribution in deserts?

  • Plants like cacti are adapted to scarce water
  • Other plants, like ferns, thrive in wetter conditions
• What do wildebeest in Africa follow during their migration?

  They follow rainfall patterns
• Why do swallows migrate from the UK to Africa?

  • They breed in the summer in the UK
  • They migrate to warmer conditions in Africa during winter
• How does human activity influence abiotic factors in the atmosphere?

  • Human activity can produce gases like sulfur dioxide
  • This affects the distribution of sensitive species like lichens
• What is the relationship between lichens and sulfur dioxide?

  Lichens are sensitive to sulfur dioxide levels
• How can sewage affect aquatic organisms?

  • Sewage can lower dissolved oxygen levels in water
  • Organisms like mayfly larvae cannot survive in low oxygen conditions
• What can cause the populations of certain species to fall?

  Low levels of dissolved oxygen in water