Test your knowledge with these top questions!
A flounder can change its skin pattern to match which surroundings?
A flounder lies on one side, leaving its upward-facing side to carry the pattern that hides it from predators above.
What is the ability to blend into the surroundings to avoid being seen called?
Camouflage helps hunters approach prey as well as helping prey escape notice.
During forest succession, how do birds help plants reach new ground after eating fruit?
Some seeds travel inside birds and land in droppings far from the parent plant.
Why can a habitat's carrying capacity change with the seasons?
A summer food supply may support more animals than winter conditions can sustain, making the lean season a bottleneck.
As a young forest grows taller, what decreases near the forest floor?
A closing tree canopy can replace sun-loving ground plants with species that tolerate shade.
Why can dividing a forest into small patches harm species that need deep forest?
A narrow forest strip may have trees throughout but little habitat beyond the reach of edge conditions.
Why can the same woodland support different numbers of squirrels and deer?
Carrying capacity applies to a particular species, so a habitat has no single population limit for all animals.
What commonly makes a forest edge drier than the forest interior?
Dryer edges can make moisture-loving plants vulnerable even when the trees around them remain standing.
How do decorator crabs use bits of seaweed to hide from predators?
Tiny hooked bristles on a decorator crab act like fasteners, holding pieces of its disguise in place.
Why did dark peppered moths gain a survival advantage in soot-covered British woodlands?
When pollution declined, lighter moths regained an advantage as tree surfaces became cleaner.