Chapter Ten

Created by

Georgia Brooks

Cards (73)

What is an abiotic factor?
A property of the environment relating to non-living things
Give two examples of abiotic factors.
Temperature and water availability
What is a biotic factor?
A property of the environment relating to living things
Give two examples of biotic factors.
Predator-prey relationships and competition
What does the tolerance range refer to?
The range of environmental conditions in which an organism can survive
What defines a desert?
A geographic area receiving on average less than 250 mm of rain per year
What is a structural adaptation?
Evolved modifications to an organism’s physical structure
What is a physiological adaptation?
Evolved modifications to an organism’s internal functioning or metabolic processes
What is a behavioral adaptation?
Evolved modifications to an organism’s actions
What is thermoregulation?
The homeostatic process of maintaining a constant internal body temperature
How does surface area to volume ratio (SA:V) influence biological processes?
A high SA:V leads to more effective transport into and out of cells
What is an endotherm?
An animal that produces the majority of its own heat via metabolic processes
What is an ectotherm?
An animal that obtains heat primarily from the environment, rather than its own metabolic heat
What is torpor?
A physiological state in which the metabolism of an animal is reduced to conserve energy
What is aestivation?
Prolonged torpor in response to hot and dry conditions
What is vasodilation?
The widening of blood vessels
What is evaporation in biological terms?
The loss of heat via the conversion of water from liquid to gas
What are evaders in the context of temperature regulation?
Generally smaller animals that modify their behaviours to avoid extreme temperatures
What are endurers in the context of temperature regulation?
Generally larger animals that do not avoid extreme temperatures
What are photosynthetic organs?
The macro structures that are the site of photosynthesis in plants, including leaves and photosynthetic branches
What are stomata?
Small pores on the leaf’s surface that open and close to regulate gas exchange
What are guard cells?
A pair of curved cells that surround a stoma
What happens to guard cells when it is hot?
They lose turgor pressure and become flaccid, closing the stomata to limit water loss
What is an abiotic factor?
A property of the environment relating to non-living things
Give examples of abiotic factors.
Temperature, nutrient availability, and water availability
What is a biotic factor?
A property of the environment relating to living things
Give examples of biotic factors.
Predator-prey relationships, competition, and symbiotic relationships
What is a structural adaptation?
Evolved modifications to an organism’s physical structure
What is a physiological adaptation?
Evolved modifications to an organism’s internal functioning or metabolic processes
What is a behavioural adaptation?
Evolved modifications to an organism’s actions
What is torpor?
A physiological state in which the metabolism of an animal is reduced to conserve energy
What is hibernation?
Prolonged torpor in response to seasonal cold conditions
Which animals typically undergo hibernation?
Endotherms such as mammals and birds
What is brumation?
Prolonged torpor in response to seasonal cold conditions in ectotherms
Which animals typically undergo brumation?
Ectotherms such as snakes and lizards
What is vasoconstriction?
The narrowing of blood vessels
What is countercurrent circulation?
An efficient heat transfer method where separate components of the circulatory system flow next to each other in opposite directions
What does the term periphery refer to?
The outside surface or boundary of a structure
What is ecology?
The study of how organisms interact with one another and their environment
What is biodiversity?
The variety of life in the world or within a particular habitat