Adaptation to environments

• What does the term habitat refer to?

  Physical conditions where an organism lives
• What does abiotic mean?

  Non-living
• How do abiotic factors influence ecosystems?

  They shape the characteristics of the ecosystem
• What adaptations do grasses on sand dunes have for low water availability?

  Thick waxy cuticle and stomata in pits
• Why do grasses roll up their leaves?

  To reduce wind exposure
• What is the role of fruit tans in grass roots?

  Influence osmosis in root tissue
• What adaptations do mangrove trees have for their environment?

  Glands to expel salt and cork-coated roots
• What is anaerobic soil?

  Soil with low oxygen availability
• How do mangrove trees adapt to high salt concentration?

  By expelling excess salt through glands
• What is species distribution?

  Where a species can be found
• What factors influence animal distributions?

  Water availability and temperature
• What are limiting factors in an ecosystem?

  Environmental factors that restrict species' living conditions
• What does range of tolerance mean?

  Survival limits for specific environmental factors
• How can you determine a species' range of tolerance?

  Map its distribution and abiotic variables
• What is a transect?

  A line spanning different levels of a variable
• How does altitude affect species distribution?

  Different altitudes can support different species
• What is a coral reef?

  An ecosystem with diverse populations and abiotic factors
• What is the mutualistic relationship in coral reefs?

  Coral and algae depend on each other for survival
• What abiotic factors affect algae in coral reefs?

  Light depth, water clarity, pH, salinity
• How does climate change affect coral reefs?

  It can push organisms out of their tolerance range
• What are terrestrial biomes?

  Biomes located on land
• What distinguishes different terrestrial biomes?

  Differences in temperature and precipitation
• What is convergent evolution?

  Different ancestors evolve similar traits
• What is divergent evolution?

  Common ancestor diverges into separate species
• What adaptations do organisms in hot deserts have?

  Specific adaptations for low rainfall and temperature fluctuations
• What adaptations does the saguaro cactus have?

  Fat stems for water storage and spines
• What is CAM metabolism?

  A method of photosynthesis at night
• How does the fennec fox adapt to the desert?

  It is nocturnal and has large ears
• What adaptations do organisms in tropical rainforests have?

  Adaptations for high rainfall and light intensity
• What adaptations does the moranti tree have?

  Tall growth and broad evergreen leaves
• How do adaptations differ between the spider monkey and the fennec fox?

  Spider monkeys have adaptations for climbing trees
• What is the relationship between form and function in organisms?

  Physical adaptations help cope with environmental challenges