Adaptations, Interdependence and competition
- Created by: Malaika
- Created on: 27-12-19 14:41
Key Terms
Ecosystem - interaction between a community of living organisms and their environment
Community - two or more populations of organisms
Population - all the organisms of the same or closely-related species in an area
Levels of Organisation
1) Producer - plants and algae which photosynthesise
2) Primary Consumer - herbivores (eat producers)
3) Secondary Consumer - carnivores (eat primary consumers)
4) Tertiary Consumer - carnivores (eat secondary consumers)
Interdependence
All organisms that live in an ecosystem depend upon each other for food, protection, shelter
grass → rabbit → fox
If the foxes were killed, number of rabbits would increase, but the amount of grass would decrease because the increased population of rabbits would be eating it.
Competition
Photosynthesising Plants & Algae - compete for light, space, water and minerals from the soil
Animals - compete for food, mates, territory
Interspecific Competition - competition between different species
Intraspecific Competition - competition within same species
Stable Communities
Stable Community - community which the size of populations of all species remain relatively constant over time
Abiotic Factors affecting distribution of organism
Light Intensity
Temperature
Moisture Levels
Soil pH Content
Soil Mineral Content
Wind Intensity & Direction
Carbon Dioxide Levels (Plants)
Oxygen Levels (Aquatic Animals) - bioindicators -clean water > stonefly nymph
-some water pollution > freshwater shrimp
-moderate water pollution > bloodworm
- high water pollution > sludgeworm
- very high water pollution > no living insects
Biotic Factors affecting distribution of organisms
Availability of Food
New Predators
New Pathogens
Out-competition -(new species in an ecosystem out-competing a native species)
Competition in Plants
Light - needed for photosynthesis
Water from the Soil - needed for photosynthesis
Minerals from the Soil - needed for healthy growth
Space - needed for healthy growth
Competition in Animals
Food - needed to complete lfe processes
Mates - needed so that they can pass their genes to their offspring
Territory - needed as is contains all the resources and conditions an animal needs to survive
Adaptations to the Environment in Plants
Structural Adaptations - physical features which allow them to compete (e.g. formation of spines to stop a plant being eaten by grazing animals)
Behavioural Adaptations - behaviours which give them an advantage (e.g. plant shoots grow towards light to maximise photosynthesis)
Physiological Adaptations - processes which alow the to compete (e.g. formation of poisons for defence)
Adaptations to the Environment in Animals
Structural Adaptations - physical features which allow them to compete (e.g.sharp claws to catch prey)
Behavioural Adaptations - behaviours which give them an advantage (e.g.working together in pack like wolves to hunt prey)
Physiological Adaptations - processes which allow them to compete (e.g. production of venom)
Extremophiles
An organism that lives in an extreme environment
The Polar Regions
Arctic (North Pole) - Polar Bears
- Thick white fur - insulation & camoflauge
- Thick layer of fat - keep warm
- Acute senses of smell and sight - hunt prey
- Small surface area : Volume ratio - minimise heat loss
Antarctic (South Pole) - Penguins
- Thick Skin - keep warm
- Lots of Flat - keep warm
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