Flora And Fauna

Front 1

What is meant by the term “sclerophyll”? What are three characteristics of sclerophylls? Give an example to illustrate your answer. (5 mins, 5 marks)

Back 1

Sclerophyll is a plant that is adapted to arid environments. There are many hypothesis regarding their evolution, beadles hypothesis is that they evolved as a result of nutrient poor soils, in particular phosphorous. 3 characteristics are short internodes, sunken stomata and vascular bundles surrounded by fibre cells (cells with a secondary cell wall of lignin. An example is the the genus Hakea.

Front 2

Explain the three questions you should ask yourself before purchasing/consuming seafood. (6mins, 6 marks)

Back 2

You should ask whether the species is long lived or not. this is because if it is long lived it is vulnerable to overfishing. also ask whether it is a deep sea species or not because often characteristics of deep sea species, like late to reach sexual maturity and slow growing make them also vulnerable to overfishing. Lastly ask if it is a ray or shark because they are also vulnerable to overfishing as they often have few young and are slow growing.

Front 3

Explain how upwelling occurs. (5 mins, 5 marks)

Back 3

Upwelling occurs by wind causing the movement of the warm surface layer of ocean water and it being replaced by cool deeper waters. it is a process that is driven by wind, the coriolis effect and ekman transport.

Front 4

The harsh environments of the alpine and arid regions of Australia pose a variety of physical challenges to animals that live there. Briefly describe (about 100 words), an adaptation that represents a similar solution to the problems of both regions, and explain the reasons why it may have evolved. (8-10 minutes/ 8-10 marks)

Back 4

hibernation or diapause. this is done to avoid the extreme weather conditions of the 2 zones, the extreme heat and drought of the arid zone and the freezing cold of the alpine zone. Hibernation is seasonly induced del torpor. it is often done by endotherms like the pygmy possum and involves the drastic decrease in body temperature and their metabolic rate, heart rate and respiratory rate. it is mainly done in times where food or water availability is low (like when there is deep snow covering available food). Diapause is also common in arid zone species like shield shrimp where they are in 'suspended animation' until it rains again.

Front 5

(a) Name the family in which eucalypts are classified (1 mark)
(b) Name the structure that covers unopened flower buds of Eucalyptus (1 mark)
(c) Describe (and explain) four adaptation that can help eucalypts cope with fire (8 minutes/ 8 marks)

Back 5

(a) Myrtaceae

(b) Operculum

(c) 4 adaptations to fire are lignotubers and underground rhizomes that remain underground and unaffected by the fire so that the tree and quickly revegetate after fire. Thick fibrous bark, corky layers that protect the living parts (the phloem and xylem) of the plant, woody fruits that protect the seeds from the flames and

Front 6

It has been suggested that the marsupial mode of reproduction is more primitive than that of eutherians. Do you agree or disagree, and why? (10 minutes/10 marks)

Back 6

I disagree because the marsupial reproductive strategies have many advantages that are potentially advanced compared to eutherian reproductive methods. firstly marsupials can simultaneously have young at multiple stages of development and many can have embryonic diapause where they can mate just after giving birth but the embryo development stops at the blastocyst phase due to suckling stimulus from the baby in the poach and then development continues after suckling has ceased. this means that they can have young at the blastocyst stage, one in the pouch and one at foot simultaneously. they are also able 'pause' embryo development is environmental conditions deteriorate drastically and can then restart development when the conditions improve. Eutherians are not able to control the development of their young they also have consistent milk composition though out lactation which could potentially be a waste of energy and vital resources for the adult where as marsupials are able to vary their milk composition so that they are able to provide their young with exactly what they need at each development stage.

Front 7

Compared to other parts of the world, Australia has many cooperatively breeding species of birds. What are the costs and benefits of cooperative breeding? (10 minutes/10 marks)

Back 7

There are benefits of cooperative breeding for the mating pair and for the helpers. The mating pair get help raising their young, reduction in territory maintenance and still have time to forage for food, having a helper increases the reproductive rate and survival. the helpers get the experience of breeding and raising offspring and potentially are able to pass on 'own' genes by helping raise more brothers and sisters (increase their indirect fitness) they also have a reduced chance of predation, increased foraging time and potential territory inheritance. the disadvantages are that in a group of birds there may not be enough helpers for each mating pair so there my be tension and fights between pairs for the helpers and even 'kidnapping' of another pairs helpers.

Front 8

Australia has a large diversity of species of ants and termites that live in the arid regions. How are they adapted to survival in such dry conditions? (10 minutes/10 marks)

Back 8

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Front 9

There are only two Australian mammals that live in alpine areas that show seasonally induced deep torpor. Which species are they? How is torpor an adaptation to living in alpine areas? (10 minutes/10 marks)

Back 9

Torpor is the daily adaptive hypothermia where as seasonally induced deep torpor is hibernation. it is an adaptation by animals in the alpine zone in order to avoid times of freezing temperatures and lack of food. It is done my the mountain Pygmy possum and echidna. it is where the body temperature of the animal decreases dramatically as does the heart rate, metabolic rate and respiratory rate. They fatten up before winter and then find a safe place to stay and they hibernate with periodic arousal.

Front 10

Explain why Australia does not catch a very large amount of fish in its waters, as compared to other countries, and why large quantities are caught in some places. (10 mins, 10 marks)

Back 10

The Australian fisheries have quite a low productivity compared to other countries due to no major upwelling zones in the Australian fishing zone. there needs to be upwelling to bring nutrient rich waters to the surface in order to encourage plant and animal growth and development.

Front 11

Describe two or three uses of Population Viability Analysis. (10 minutes/10 marks)

Back 11

Population viability analysis is a species-specific method of risk assessment frequently used in conservation biology.It is used to estimate the likelihood of a population’s extinction and indicate the urgency of recovery efforts, and identify key life stages or processes that should be the focus of recovery efforts

Front 12

Explain the SLOSS debate in reserve design. (5 minutes/5 marks)

Back 12

SLOSS stands for single large or several small. It relates to conservation biology and the amount of land made into wildlife sanctions to preserve species.

Front 13

Briefly explain the important environmental role played by marine plants in soft sediment habitats. (10 minutes / 10 marks)

Back 13

Marine plants hold the sediments down and reduce the amount of sediment losses due to wave action. it is a similar effect that plants have in a terrestrial environment in reducing erosion. marine plants provide structure and habitat in soft sediment environments.