GCSE AQA Biology 1 Adaptations, Competition & Environmental Change

1. Lose more body heat

1. Lose less by producing...
   1. ...small amounts of concentrated urine
   2. ...little sweat

1. Thin layers of body fat/coat to lose body heat (camels keep most fat in hump)

1. Sandy colour - can avoid predators/sneak up on prey

1. Reduces heat loss

1. Thick layer of blubber (energy store)
2. Thick, hairy coats - keep body heat in
3. Greasy fur - sheds water which prevents cooling due to evaporation

1. White fur - can avoid predators/sneak up on prey

1. Plant lose water vapour from surface of leaves
   1. Cacti have spines instead to reduce water loss

1. Cactus stores water in thick stem

1. Cacti have shallow but extensive roots - absorb water quickly over large area
   1. Others have deep roots - access underground water

1. Roses - thorns
2. Cacti - sharp spines
3. Tortoises - shells

1. Bees and poison ivy

1. Wasps

1. Living factors
   1. Change in occurence of diseases
   2. Change in number of predators
   3. Change in number of prey/availability of food source
   4. Change in number/types of competitors
2. Non-living factors
   1. Change in average temp.
   2. Change in average rainfall
   3. Change in level of air/water pollution

1. Population size increases

   Nota:

   • If number of prey increases, more food for predators - more predators survive & reproduce
2. Population size decreases

   Nota:

   • e.g. Number of bees in US falling rapidly. Could be because of pesticides, less food or more disease
3. Population distribution changes

   Nota:

   • Change in where an organism lives

Nota:

• Some organisms very sensitive to changes in environment - indicator species

1. Lichen - very sensitive to levels of sulphur dioxide
   1. Lots of lichen = clean air
2. Mayfly larvae - sensitive to concentration of dissolved oxygen in water
   1. Mayfly larvae = clean water
3. Rat-tailed maggots & sludgeworms - adapted to live in polluted conditions
   1. Rat-tailed maggots and sludgeworms = high level of water pollution

1. Satellites - measure temp. of sea surface & amount of snow/ice cover
2. Automatic weather stations - measure atmospheric temp.
3. Rain gauges - measure rainfall
4. Dissolved oxygen meters - measure amount in water (water pollution)