B7- Ecology

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  • Created by: Bootsy
  • Created on: 23-03-18 18:31

Competition

Organisms compete for resources to survive. They need things for their environment and from other organisms in order to survive and reproduce. EG...

Plants need light and space as well as water and mineral ions from the soil. Animals need space, food, water and mates.

Organisms compete with other species for the same resources

Any change in any envrionment can have knock on effects...

In a community (the population of different species living in a habitat) each species depends on other species for thing such as food, shelter, pollination and seed disperseal- this is called interdependance.

The interdependance of all living things in an ecosystem means that any major change in the ecosystem can have far-reaching effects.

Abiotic and Biotic Factors

Abiotic= non-living factors that have an effect on a community

EG--Light Intensity-Tempertaure-Cardon Dioxide Level- Wind Intensity-Oxygen Level-Soil pH

A change in the environment could be an increase or decrease in an abiotic factor. These changes can affect the size of the populations in a community. This means they can also affect the population size.

For Example-A decrease in light intenisty, temperature or level of carbon dioxide could decrease the rate of photosynthesis in a plant species. This culd affect plant groth and cause a decrease in the population size

Biotic= Living factors that have an effect on a community

EG--New Predators arriving-Competition-Avaliability of food

A change of the environment could be the introduction of a new biotic factor. These changes can also affect the size of populations in a community hich can have knowkc on effects because of interdependance.

For Example-A new predator could cause a decrease in the prey population

Adaptations

Adaptations= changing allowing organisms to survive

Organisms including microorganisms are adapted to live in different enviromental conditions. The feature or characteristics that allow them to do this are called adaptations.

Adaptations can be...

1.Structual- These are features of an organisms body structure such as shape or colour.

For Example- Artic animals like the Artic fox have white fur so they are camouflaged against the snow. This helps them to avoid predators and sneak up on prey

2.Behavioural- These are ways that organisms behave. Many species migrate to warmer climates during the winter to avoid the prblems of living in cold conditions.

3.Functional- These are things that go on inside an organisms body that can be related to processes like reproduction and metabolism.

For Example- Desert animals conserve water by producing very little sweat and small amounts of concentrated urine.

Microorganims have a huge variety of adaptations...This is so that they can live in a wide range of environmentsFood Chains

Food chains= show what is eaten by what in an ecosystem

Food chains always start with a producer. Producers make their own food using energy from the sun. Producers are usually green plants or algae.Energy is

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