B2- Interdependance

Competing for resources

The population of plants and animals will change over time. It can be affected by how well the organisms compete for limited resources. Similar animals in the same habitat will in be in close competition. Animals compete for food,water,shelter and mates. Plants compete for light,water and minerals. The better adapted survivors will get most of the resources, so that they can survive and produce offspring. The interdependence of organisms determines their distribution and abundance.

There are two types of competition: Interspecific and Intraspecific. Interspecific competion is where individuals of different species compete for the same resources in an ecosytem, e.g. food or space. Intraspecific competition is where individuals from the same species are competing for the same resource. Intraspecific competition is more significant as these organisms have the exact same needs.

Similar organisms living in the same habitat will have the same prey and nesting sites. They compete to occupy the same ecological niche. They will be in direct competition for the resources they need,for example different ladybird species and red and grey squirrels. Red squirrels are the native species to the U.K. Grey squirrels were introduced from the USA in 1876, forcing both squirrel species to compete for the same resources. This has  led to red squirrels becoming…