* In order for an organism to survive in its environment it must have access to the resources it needs.

* Extremophiles have adapted to survive in very extreme conditions.

* Animals have adapted to their environment by surface area, coat thickness, body fat and camouflage.

* Plants have adapted to dry environments by surface area, water storage tissues and extensive root systems.

* Human changes in certain environments have had a negative impact on the distribution of organisms.

* Environmental changes can also effect organism distributions.

* Lichens are a good indicator of air pollution.

* Aquatic invertebrates are a good indicator of water pollution.

* Oxygen probes, thermometers and rain gauges are also used to record environmental changes.

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Test it!

1. Polar bears live in cold, snowy conditions and feed on fish which they catch in the water. How do these adaptations help this animal?

a) body fat

b) white fur

c) sharp claws

2. Lichen are a good way of detecting how polluted an area is.

a) Lichens are indicators of which gas?

b) What does this gas contribute to?

3. Some plants live in very dry conditions.

a) How have the following features allowed these plants to survive?

i. water storage tissues

ii. surface area

iii. extensive root systems

b) Name one other adaptation that helps some plants to survive.

4. A small population of ladybirds lives on a plant. They prey on aphids and there is a good supply of these organisms on the plant. The ladybird population increases rapidly but the number of aphids available decreases.

a) What will happen to the population of ladybirds?

b) Name another natural change that can affect the distribution of a species.

c) Name a human change that can affect the distribution of a species.

ANSWERS

a) Protects them from the cold.

b) Camouflages them in the snow from both predators and prey.

c) Allows them to catch fish more easily.

a) Sulphur dioxide.

b) Global warming or climate change.

a)

i. They allow the plants to store water.

ii. A smaller surface area means less water can be lost by transpiration.

iii. This can find water deep within the soil.

b) Any of the following:

• Thorns
• Poison
• Colourful petals

a) It will decrease.

b) Any of the following:

• Rainfall
• Temperature

c) Any of the following:

• Climate change
• Deforestation