Plant and Animal Defense Mechanisms Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What type of defense do thistles primarily employ against larger animals?

Modified leaves with sharp points (correct)

Chemical defenses

Inducible defenses

Internal structural elements

What do trichomes on plants serve as?

Water absorption sites

A form of nutrient storage

Photosynthesis structures

A defense mechanism (correct)

What kind of structures are thorns on trees considered to be?

Modified seeds

Modified roots

Modified branches or stems (correct)

Modified leaves

Which material contributes to the stiffness and hardness of plant tissues?

Cellulose Signup and view all the answers

What are the effects of glandular trichomes on plants like stinging nettles?

Burn upon contact and inject chemicals Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes inducible defenses like trichomes in water smartweed?

They are developed in response to environmental changes. Signup and view all the answers

What do tannins represent in plant defenses?

Digestibility reducers that are astringent Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of silica in certain plants like grasses and horsetails?

To increase toughness and durability Signup and view all the answers

What happens to water in animals' systems when it freezes?

It turns to ice and expands, causing problems. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following adaptations do mammals use to cope with cold temperatures?

Metabolizing internal brown fat for warmth. Signup and view all the answers

What type of fat do birds primarily rely on for insulation?

Subcutaneous fat. Signup and view all the answers

What mechanism do certain ducks use to filter feed while submerged in water?

Lamellae Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the hummingbird's anatomy allows it to access nectar from flowers?

Hyoid horns Signup and view all the answers

What is the phenomenon called when animals generate heat through muscle activity, such as shivering?

Thermogenesis. Signup and view all the answers

How does coloration affect warmth retention in animals?

Pale colors retain body heat better than dark colors. Signup and view all the answers

What structure do slugs and snails use to ingest plant materials?

Radula Signup and view all the answers

Which seasonal food source do birds, like the yellow-bellied sapsucker, often tap into?

Xylem in winter Signup and view all the answers

According to Gloger's rule, how do animals' colorations vary with latitude?

Animals in northern regions tend to be lighter in color. Signup and view all the answers

What allows insects to access sap from plant stems?

Stylet Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following strategies do birds NOT use to retain heat?

Metabolizing brown fat for warmth. Signup and view all the answers

What type of feeding adaptation do many true bugs, such as aphids, possess?

Stylet Signup and view all the answers

What adaptation involves mammals growing thicker guard hairs in winter?

Seasonal fur thickening. Signup and view all the answers

What is the first stage of the digestive process in animals that consume plant materials?

Ingestion Signup and view all the answers

Which component of plant tissues makes them difficult to digest for many animals?

Cellulose Signup and view all the answers

What define Batesian mimicry?

A harmless animal resembles a toxic animal. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of flies compared to wasps?

Wasps have one pair of wings. Signup and view all the answers

What are the necessary conditions for Batesian mimicry to be effective?

Models and mimics must appear at the same time of year. Signup and view all the answers

What is the behavioral response used by American toads when alarmed?

Puffing up to look larger. Signup and view all the answers

What adaptation do hog-nosed snakes use when bluffing does not deter a predator?

They play dead. Signup and view all the answers

What is a behavioral group defense strategy observed in white-tailed deer?

Gathering in large numbers during winter, called a yard. Signup and view all the answers

How do yellowjacket wasps behave in response to danger?

They release attack pheromones to signal aggression. Signup and view all the answers

What purpose does flocking serve for birds?

To confuse predators visually. Signup and view all the answers

What adaptation do coniferous trees utilize to minimize water loss in winter?

Closed stomata Signup and view all the answers

Why are calm, sunny days particularly detrimental for certain plants?

Heat gradient develops Signup and view all the answers

How do deciduous trees respond to subzero temperatures?

They lose their leaves in the fall Signup and view all the answers

What feature is characteristic of evergreen ferns in winter?

Rolling up leaves Signup and view all the answers

What is a benefit of deciduous trees shedding their leaves in the fall?

To reduce the risk of branches breaking from snow Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true regarding confiders compared to deciduous trees?

They have needles instead of broad leaves Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of closing stomata in plants during winter?

To prevent excess water loss Signup and view all the answers

Which type of trees are known for their separate male and female flowers?

Red maples Signup and view all the answers

What kind of trap does the ant lion larvae build to catch its prey?

A pit fall trap Signup and view all the answers

How do snowy egrets attract fish when hunting?

By using their brightly colored feet Signup and view all the answers

Which feature of the alligator snapping turtle helps in capturing its prey?

Glowing tongue that resembles a worm Signup and view all the answers

What unique adaptation do owls have for capturing prey in low visibility?

Reversible toes for better grip Signup and view all the answers

What mechanism do angler fish use to catch their prey?

A glowing lure on their head Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the mandibles of an ant lion larvae?

To inject toxins and capture prey Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of aggressive mimicry in the context of photuris fireflies?

To acquire chemicals for protection Signup and view all the answers

What specialized feature do ospreys possess for catching fish?

Muscular toes and large talons Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Natural History

Biology Natural History is the course about the observation of living plants and animals, their interactions, and how they survive in their environment.
Natural history is an observational science.
Charles Darwin was a world renowned naturalist.

Lecture 1: Staying Alive- Defence

Camouflage is used by animals to hide from view.
Various habitats offer different concealment challenges (e.g., fields, meadows, marshes, forests).
Camouflage tactics include background matching and disruptive patterns.
Animals living in areas with lots of vertical lines or vertical/ horizontal patterns on their bodies match these patterns.
Examples include sparrows in Savannah (grassy or bushy), American bitterns, ruffed grouse, and spruce grouse .

Lecture 2: Additional Defence Mechanisms

Seasonal background matching is when coloration changes throughout the year to blend with the environment. This is also seen in certain birds and can be seen in snowshoe hares in which the hairs change to turn white in the winter to blend in better with the environment.
Disruptive patterns help animals break up their silhouettes and blend into their surroundings.
Masquerade is a type of camouflage where an animal's body resembles a part of the environment (e.g., dead leaf).
Many animals use disruptive patterns.
Disruptive patterns include breaks in shapes and segmentation.

Lecture 3: Distraction and Deflection

Eastern tent caterpillar build silk tents to offer safety/ protection.
They leave the tent to feed at night when its safer.
Fall webworms also make silk tents, but these are around the leaves to make sure their food is within reach.
Caterpillars have soft hairs as a physical defense against predators who dont like to eat hairy things.
Porcupines use quills as physical protection (modified hairs).

Lecture 4: Colouration and Defence

Chemical defenses (animals that store toxins from food plants)
Animals that store toxins usually have bright colours (aposematic coloration).
Milkweed plants are poisonous and that is reflected in the animals who feed on it. This is called sequestering.
Aposematic coloration is used by animals to warn predators of their toxicity.
Animals that store toxins in their bodies are brightly coloured.
Warning coloration is a way to signal to predators that an animal is dangerous or toxic.

Lecture 5: Internal Structures and Defence Mechanisms

Plants use cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin for structural support, making their tissue hard to digest.
Lignin adds stiffness to leaves; silica is found in horsetails and grasses.
Tannis and other resins are ways that plants prevent predators from consuming them.
Calcium oxalate crystals are a deterrent present in some plant species.
Plants produce toxins that can be harmful if consumed that is called sequestering.

Lecture 6: Chemical and Defensive Mechanisms

Some chemicals in plants, such as hydrogen cyanide, are produced in response to being attacked by an animal.
In defensive strategies, some chemicals are produced as a result of attack to deter that specific animal from being eaten again.
Aposematic coloration is a warning sign.
Mullerian mimicry- several unrelated, but dangerous animals share similar appearances and colours to further deter predators from any of them.
Batesian mimicry- harmless animals mimic those that are dangerous to deter predators - mimicking toxic ones...
Some animals rely on aposematic coloration.

Lecture 7: Visual, Auditory, Olfactory Defence Mechanisms

The way animals have eyes is an adaptation to their surroundings and lifestyle.
Some animals might have eyes on the side of their heads to provide a wider view of their surroundings.
Owls' eyes are forward-facing for better depth perception.
Beavers have eyes, noses, and ears all on top of their heads to facilitate underwater activities.
Many animals have a similar adaptation in which they are able to see in many directions.
Other adaptations like big ears for auditory and noses or antlers for smell are also prominent adaptations within these animals lives in many different ways for safety through the environment.

Lecture 8 and 9: Adaptations for Cold Climates

Mammals grow thicker fur,
The birds develop fluffier feathers in the fall.
Some animals use subcutaneous fat for insulation
Animals use their behaviours to retain heat.
Internal fat is metabolized to create heat.

Lecture 10: Adaptations for Water Habitats

Some animals use features to be able to swim and maneuver through water or be in the water for a long time such as their ears and mouth placement for better maneuverablilty.
Animals in water have additional adaptations to be well adapted for water.

Lecture 11: Animal/ Plant Adaptations

Ant mimics- mimic the appearance and behaviour of ants, to attract certain prey, e.g. fish.
Mole tunnels- used by star-nosed moles to find prey.
Snapping turtles- have quick and sharp bites that help them catch their prey.
Angler fish- have specialized lures to attract prey such as their bodies and heads.

Lecture 12: Parasites and Ectoparasites

Some animals prey on smaller animals such as ectoparasites.
Ectoparasites feed on the outside of animals, for example fleas.
Some animals have adaptations to fight off parasites to keep their body safe.
The animal that is infested by a parasite is called a host.
Ticks specifically lay eggs on moose in fall and winter.

Lecture 13: Scavenging

Animals that eat dead plants and animals are called scavengers.
A lot of animals get food to survive thus they resort to behaviors such as scavenging.
They have adaptations which make them good scavengers.

Lecture 14: Nutritional Needs of Plants

Plants primarily rely on photosynthesis.
However, plants still need essential nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium, to survive.
Plants acquire these nutrients from the soil or through other processes such as nitrogen fixation.
Peatlands and bogs are nutrient poor habitats for plants.

Lecture 15 and 16: Adaptations for Pollination, and Mating

Plants use various strategies for pollination, such as colour, shape, scent, and rewards for their pollinators.
The majority of plants rely on insects (called entomophily), although birds and bats may also play a part in pollination.
Mating calls and courtship displays vary among animal species.
Visual and auditory adaptations assist animals in attracting and recognizing mates.

Lecture 17: Parental Care - Male Care Patterns

Male animals in some species have adaptations to guard nests to guarantee paternity, e.g., male bullfish guarding nests; some male snakes which use plugs for copulation .
Some animals provide biparental care, where both the male and female take care of the young (e.g., wolves).
Female animals usually produce and protect their young, even if the males get involved in caring for their offspring as well.

Lecture 18: Specialized Pollination Adaptations

Flowers have different structures to attract specific pollinators, such as long spurs for hummingbird pollination.
Some flowers create smells to attract pollinators like certain types of flies.
Flowers can use deceit by mimicking other things, like rotting flesh or even similar types of insects, to attract specific pollinators.

Lecture 19: Seed Dispersal Strategies

Many different strategies for protecting, dispersing- and disseminating seeds exist within plant species.
Some plants rely on wind dispersal, other use water, and still others rely on animals.
Seeds that are spread/dispersed by animals are called zoochory.
Seeds with hooks or barbs to attach to animal fur are an adaptation to ensure dispersal.

Lecture 20: Egg Laying and Protection Strategies

Some animals lay eggs in rotting logs and some animals have to lay eggs outside to avoid being eaten by predators.
The temperature of the ground during the time of egg laying can impact the sex of eggs laid.
Some animals protect their nests and eggs, while others leave them exposed.

Lecture 21: Parental Care, and Colony Raising

Many animals display parental care behaviors towards their young.
Bi parental care is when both females and males invest in caring for their young.
Birds and mammals often display bi-parental care but it can differ by species.
Some birds and insects have social behaviors and lay their eggs in groups. This is called delayed implantation.

Lecture 22: Brood Parasitism

Brood parasitism is where one species lays eggs in the nest of another.
Cuckoos are an example of a brood parasite that lays their eggs in other birds' nests.
Brood parasitism can be intraspecific or interspecific.
Many species of birds have solutions to protect their young from this threat, such as making their nests in different locations to avoid brood parasitism.

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Description

Test your knowledge about the various defense mechanisms employed by plants and animals. Explore concepts like thorns, trichomes, and adaptations that help species cope with environmental challenges. Delve into the strategies used by these organisms to survive predation and harsh conditions.