2. Interdependence & Competition

Question 1

What is an ecosystem?

Answer 1

AN ECOSYSTEM is:

• ALL the ORGANISMS LIVING in a habitat & the NON-LIVING part of the habitat

Question 2

What are the LEVELS of ORGANISATION is an ECOSYSTEM?

Answer 2

Levels of ORGANISATION is an ECOSYSTEM

1. INDIVIDUAL organisms
2. POPULATIONS - a group of one species (eg all deer)
3. COMMUNITIES - made up of many populations living together (eg deer, lion, parrots, plants, fungi)

Question 3

Competition between species:

Answer 3

Species COMPETE for RESOURCES eg:

• PLANTS compete for - LIGHT, WATER, SPACE
• ANIMALS compete for - FOOD, SHELTER, MATES & LAND

Question 4

What is INTERDEPENDENCE?

Answer 4

Interdependence is:

When species RELY ON EACH OTHER for:

• FOOD, POLLINATION (eg flowers rely on bees for pollination), SEED DISPERSAL

Question 5

What is a STABLE COMMUNITY?

Answer 5

A STABLE COMMUNITY is when:

• ALL the SPECIES & ENVIRONMENTAL factors are in BALANCE and the population size stays FAIRLY CONSTANT. - eg of a stable community - TROPICAL RAINFORESTS

Question 6

Why do organisms ADAPT?

Answer 6

Organisms adapt to SURVIVE in the conditions they LIVE in.

Question 7

Factors that effect a community can be:

Answer 7

Factors that effect a community can be:

ABIOTIC (non-living) - temperature, moisture levels, soil pH , wind intensity CO2 levels, light intensity, O levels for aquatic animals.

BIOTIC (living) - availability of food, new predators arriving, new pathogens/diseases, one specie out competing another

Question 8

What are EXTREMOPHILES?

Answer 8

What are EXTREMOPHILES?

• Organisms that living in EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS eg

high temperatures - high pressure - high salt concentration