Diversity Flashcards
How to Use These Flashcards
- Hover over any flashcard to see the answer
- Each card presents an application-based question
- Think about adaptations and biodiversity concepts
- Try to apply what you learned in the chapter
- Use these to prepare for exams and deepen understanding
Biodiversity
Why is it important to maintain biodiversity in an ecosystem?
Biodiversity ensures ecological balance, provides resources, maintains food chains, and makes ecosystems more resilient to changes.
Plant Adaptations
Why do cactus plants in deserts have thick stems and spines instead of leaves?
Thick stems store water, spines reduce water loss (by minimizing surface area) and protect from herbivores in dry desert conditions.
Animal Adaptations
How are camels adapted to survive in hot desert conditions?
Long legs to walk on sand, humps to store fat (not water), minimal water loss through urine/dung, and ability to tolerate high temperatures.
Leaf Venation
What can you predict about a plant's roots if you know it has parallel leaf venation?
Plants with parallel venation typically have fibrous root systems (like grasses) rather than taproots.
Mountain Plants
Why do deodar trees have conical shapes with sloping branches?
The conical shape and sloping branches help snow slide off easily, preventing branch breakage in snowy mountain conditions.
Habitat Loss
What might happen to bird populations if a forest is cut down?
Birds would lose nesting sites, food sources, and protection, leading to population decline or migration to other areas.
Plant Classification
How would you classify a plant that is 2 meters tall with many woody stems branching near the ground?
This would be classified as a shrub - taller than herbs but shorter than trees, with multiple woody stems branching near the base.
Aquatic Adaptations
Why do fish have streamlined bodies and fins?
Streamlined bodies reduce water resistance for swimming, and fins provide stability, steering, and propulsion in water.
Conservation
Why are sacred groves important for biodiversity?
Sacred groves protect native species, preserve medicinal plants, and maintain ecosystems undisturbed by human activity.
Seed Types
What differences would you expect between plants grown from dicot vs monocot seeds?
Dicots: Reticulate venation, taproots
Monocots: Parallel venation, fibrous roots
Also differences in flower parts and stem structure.
