(a) Describe six protective adaptations used by animals against predation and give one example in...

Explanation

Protective adaptations used by animals against predation

(i) Mechanical protection like the hard outer covering/ shell; e.g. giant snail/tortoise/oysters/barnacles/battery of spines in porcupine/sea urchin

(ii) Chemical protection in the form of poisonous secretions of skin glands; e.g. toad

(iii) Concealing colouration/cryptic adaptation/a close matching in appearance of the animal to its background; e.g. chameleon/praying mantis/green mamba

(iv) Specialised toxic glands/hairs linked to toxic glands/hairs that penetrate skin of predators/toxin secreted to cause intense irritation; e.g. larvae of Lepidoptera

(v) Mimicry of objects such as leaves or twigs; e.g. Praying mantis/stick insect/ moths

(vi) Rolling the body into a ball; e.g. pangolin/millipede/porcupine

(vii) Fast movement to escape from enemies; e.g. antelopes/deers

(viii) Secretion of offensive smell; e.g. shrews/zonocerus

(ix) Stings/injection of painful chemicals; e.g. bees/wasps/scorpions/electric fish

(x) Offensive structures of horns/hooves; e.g. antelopes/gazel/buffalos

(xi) Movement in groups to frighten predators; e.g. monkeys/baboons/small angulates

(xii) Detachment/dropping of parts of the body to escape; e.g. lizards/wall geckos

(xiii) Secretion of ink/coloured substance to impair vision of predator/create a screen e.g. squid

(xiv) Inflation of the body to frighten predator; e.g. chameleon/octopus/cats

(xv) And any other correct adaptive features and correct examples

(b)(i) Pollution

(a) The introduction of materials/ energy into the environment by humans (directly or indirectly)

(b) at such levels/concentration that affect biotic communities adversely thereby causing harm

(ii)Activities of humans which cause pollution

(a) Dumping of domestic/ farm refuse

(b) Release of chemicals from mines

(c) Misapplication of agro chemicals/fertilizers

(d) Spraying of pesticides and herbicides

(e) Dumping of broken bottles/glasses/ enamel wares

(f) Dumping of plastics

(g) Dumping of scrap metals

(h) Spillage of crude oil from pipelines/tankers

(i) Dumping of untreated sewage

(j) Effluent from factories/breweries/laboratories (i) Any other correct human activity