B16 - Adaptation
Independent Learning
Introduction
In this chapter we study communities, environments, adaptations, and competition. There are a number of ecological terms including community, population, habitat, ecosystem, abiotic factor, and biotic factor, and you need to recall the precise meaning of each.
In studying organisms in their environments, you need to recall the effects of abiotic and biotic factors on populations. You should link this with the importance of temperature and pH on the action of enzymes in B3 Organisation and the digestive system. You will measure the distribution of organisms with quadrats and transects, and carry out a practical to investigate the population size of a common species in a habitat.
We also study competition in animals and plants and you should recall what factors they compete for and how they compete, and how they become successful in their environments. You need to understand how organisms are adapted to survive in many different conditions. In studying animals in cold climates you should make the link to surface area to volume ratio in our work on diffusion in B1 Cells and organisation.
Specification links:
Set 1 : sections 4.7.1.1 - 4.7.2.1
Set 2&3: sections 4.7.1.1 - 4.7.2.1
Task 1: Know
Task 1a: Use look, cover, write check to learn the answers to the core questions and the keywords for this topic
Learn
Task 2: The importance of communities
Task 2b: Make notes that:
Define the following:
community,
interdependence,
population,
ecosystem,
habitat,
abiotic factors,
biotic factors.
Explain how within a community species are interdependent.
Name 4 examples of abiotic factors.
Name 4 examples of biotic factors.
Task 2c: Complete and mark the exam questions
Task 3: Required practical
Task 3b: Make notes that:
Define abundance and distribution.
Name the two sampling techniques.
Describe the method for investigating population size by random sampling.
Describe the method of investigating the effect of a factor on plant distribution using a transect line.
Task 3c: Complete and mark the exam questions
Task 4: Competition in animals and plants
Task 4b: Make notes that:
Define interspecific and intraspecific.
Name 4 things animals need to survive.
Define competition and adaptation.
Describe how animals compete for territory and mates.
Name the 4 things plants compete for.
Describe seed dispersal.
Answer the questions on slides 16 and 26.
Task 4c: Answer and mark the exam questions
Task 4d: Complete the progress quiz
Task 5: Adaptations in animals and plants
Task 5b: Make notes that:
Define an extremophile.
Name the 3 types of adaptations in animals.
Give an example of the 3 adaptations in animals.
Describe how animals are adapted to hot and cold climates.
Explain why plants need adaptations.
Describe how plants are adapted to reduce water loss.
Task 5c: Complete and mark the exam questions
Task 6: Summary
Task 6a: Watch the videos
Task 6b: Complete the seneca learning unit for your set.
Task 6c: Make a mind map or single page revision summary of this topic and add it to your revision folder. Use the specification to help you:
Set 1 : sections 4.7.1.1 - 4.7.2.1
Set 2&3: sections 4.7.1.1 - 4.7.2.1