Habitats and Organism Adaptation

• Habitat is any space where an organism lives and interacts with its surroundings
• Geographical or physical locations with the necessary resources for an organism is considered a habitat
• Habitats have both biotic and abiotic factors
• Habitats can be described by their geographical location, physical location, and the larger ecosystem
• Habitats are classified as terrestrial or aquatic

Organism Adaptation

• Adaptation is a genetic change increasing an organism's chance of survival in specific conditions
• Natural selection drives the spread of beneficial genetic mutations through a population
• Organisms develop adaptations to cope with physical or abiotic conditions like temperature and light
• Organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive

Sand Dune Habitats

• Sand dunes form via onshore winds carrying sand inland from the beach, with debris or plants trapping it
• These dunes are suitable for hardy beach grasses
• These dunes are difficult habitats for plants to survive because of the harsh and unstable conditions
• Marram grass adapted to sand dune survival

Mangrove Habitats

• Mangroves grow where saltwater and freshwater mix
• High salinity makes mangroves difficult places for plants to survive
• Plants such as Rhizophora apiculate have evolved specific adaptations to survive

Species Distribution

• Species distribution range refers to the geographic location and the range of occurrence
• Factors that influence species distribution are temperature, humidity, light, water, and soil
• These factors influence interactions between species and shape the distribution of living species

Plant Growth

• Plants adapt to specific abiotic conditions
• Ferns and shade-tolerant trees in areas of insufficient light grow larger, thinner leaves and increase chlorophyll content
• Succulents and cacti in areas of too much light have thick, waxy skin to retain water and reflect sunlight
• Tomato plants in areas of extreme temperatures developed heat shock proteins
• Rice plants close their stomata when there's inadequate water supply
• Legumes in areas of poor soil quality have symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria

Animal Growth

• Polar bears and penguins have thick fur layers in areas of extreme temperatures
• Camels and kangaroo rats store water in their bodies in areas of fluctuating water levels
• Bats and owls are active at night in areas of changing light to avoid predators and take advantage of prey
• Herbivores in areas of food supply have specialized teeth or digestive systems to extract nutrients from tough plant material
• Bats and ground squirrels hibernate during the winter months in areas of changing climate patterns to conserve energy

Range of Tolerance

• Range of tolerance dictates the maximums that range from environmental condition, within an organism can survive and function
• Environmental changes like climate change, pollution, or habitat destruction affects tolerance
• Lions' tolerance is seasonal rainfall and high temperatures
• Polar bears' tolerance is extremely low temperatures and high salinity
• Chimpanzees' tolerance is high humidity and rainfall
• The availability of limiting factors sets the upper limit for the size of a species in an ecosystem.

Coral Reefs

• Marine ecosystems are influenced by abiotic factors, which impact survival and growth
• Calcified skeletons of coral polyps, tiny invertebrate animals, make up coral reefs
• Coral reefs are home to fish, molluscs, and sponges that provide ecosystem services such as food production
• Reefs thrive in shallow water, are sensitive to abiotic condition changes and have adapted strategies
• The water depth for coral reef formation has to be 2/3 metres
• The pH for coral reef formation has to be 8.0/8.4
• The salinity for coral reef formation has to be stable salt concentration typically from 30 to 37 ppt
• The water clarity for coral reef formation is for light to penetrate
• The temperature for coral reef formation has to be 23°/29° C
• Algae provides symbiotic relationship energy
• Camouflage allows species to blend in their surroundings to avoid predators
• Stingers and spines on species deter predators and protect themselves
• Climate change is causing death of coral reefs

Biomes

• Dominate vegetation, animals and climate pattens characterise a biome
• A biome is a large community of plants and animals in a distinct geographical region
• Taiga, tropical forest, temperate forest, grassland, tundra, and hot desert are different types of biomes
• Temperatures and rainfall are the main abiotic factors determining biome type
• Temperature affects photosynthesis, growth, and metabolism
• Rainfall determines water availability
• Biomes share similar abiotic conditions, leading to similar communities of plants and animals through convergent evolution
• Ecosystems are a smaller and more specific areas, while biomes are larger and more broady defined