Theory question 108
Habitats and Biomes(a) List four adaptive features of animals that climb rain forest trees.
(b) State five important uses of water to organisms in the tropical rain forest.
(c) Describe how temperature as an ecological factor can be measured.
(d) (i) Name two scientists who have contributed to the study of evolution.
(ii) List five evidences to support the occurrence of evolution.
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(a) Any four: sharp, curved claws for gripping bark; long prehensile tail for holding branches (e.g. monkeys); opposable thumbs/toes for grasping; adhesive pads or suckers on the feet (e.g. tree frogs, geckos); long, strong limbs for climbing and swinging; skin flaps for gliding (flying squirrel); light body; good eyesight to judge distances.
(b) Any five: raw material for photosynthesis; solvent for dissolving and transporting substances; medium for chemical reactions in cells; keeps plant cells turgid for support; cools the body by sweating and transpiration; habitat for aquatic organisms; medium for fertilization (e.g. mosses, ferns, frogs); helps in seed germination and dispersal; drinking water for animals.
(c) Use a thermometer: a maximum and minimum (Six's) thermometer is left in the habitat for 24 hours; the index in each arm is reset with a magnet first; next day the highest and lowest temperatures are read from the bottom of the indices; readings are taken at the same place over several days and averages worked out; soil or water temperature can be read by placing a thermometer in it for a few minutes.
(d)(i) Any two: Charles Darwin; Jean-Baptiste Lamarck; Alfred Russel Wallace; Gregor Mendel; Hugo de Vries.
(ii) Any five: fossil records; comparative anatomy (homologous and vestigial organs); comparative embryology; geographical distribution; comparative biochemistry/serology; classification/taxonomy; cell biology (cytology); genetic evidence and artificial selection (breeding).
In (c) name the instrument and describe how the reading is taken.