adaptation interdependence and competition Flashcards
what are populations
Population live in communities –> they are all interdependent in a communit
what does interdependence mean
Interdependent = species depend on each other for food, shelter, pollination and seed dispersal
what is an ecosystem
An ecosystem is made up of a community (biotic factors ) interacting with the abiotic elements of their environment
what is the primary source of energy
The Sun is the primary source of energy that is transferred through ecosystems
Ways that organisms in a community are interdependent? (5)
Ways that organisms in a community are interdependent:
1. plants produce food via photosynthesis
2. animals eat plants
3. animals pollinate plants
4. animals eat other animals
5. animals use plant and animal materials to build nests and shelters
6. plants need the nutrients from decay and animal droppings
what makes a community stable
In a stable community, environmental factors are relatively constant - any changes happen in patterns - for example, seasons in the UK)
what are constantly being recycled
Carbon, water and nitrogen are constantly being recycled in the living world
Name 6 abiotic factors affecting communities?
Abiotic factors affecting communities:
light intensity - light limits photosynthesis, affecting the distribution of plants and animals
temperature - a limiting factor for photosynthesis –> affects plants, so affects herbivores, so affects carnivores
moisture levels - no water means little or no life
soil pH and mineral content : carnivorous plants thrive when Nitrogen levels are love –> nitrates are provided in animal protein
wind intensity and direction –> affects the shape of trees and the whole landscape, and plants transpire quite fast
availability of o2 –> has a huge impact on water -living organisms. proportion of o2 in the air varies very little
Name 4 biotic factors
Biotic factors:
new predators arriving - organisms with no defence against new predators can be wiped out rapidly
availability of food.- in plenty of food supply, animals thrive, but when it’s in short supply animals struggle to survive and often do not breed
new pathogens and parasites –> when a new one emerges organisms have no r
resistance to the disease - a new one can wipe out populations in a community
interspecific competition = competition between different species –> a new species may outcompete aother to the point where numbers are too low for breeding
what is interspecific competition
interspecific competition = competition between different species –> a new species may outcompete aother to the point where numbers are too low for breeding
explain the quadrat experiment
a square frame laid on the ground is also called a quadrat
quadrats can be used to investigate the size of population of plants, or animals that move very slowly like snails
to make your result as valid as possible, you must use the same size quadrat every time and sample as many areas as you can –> must be chosen at random
random sampling - making sure the areas you choose are random:
a person with a quadrat spins, opens their eyes, walks ten paces and drops the
quadrat
random no. generator
what is quantitative sampling
Quantitative sampling - finding the mean number of organisms per m^2
why do we do quantatitative sampling (3)
to compare the distribution of the same organism in different habitats
to compare the variety of organisms in several habitats
to measure changes in the distribution of organisms over time
how else can you sample
you can also sample using a line transect –> this is NOT a random sampling
you stretch a measuring tape between two points and sample the organisms at regular intervals
using transects can show the changes in the distribution of organs and physical factors like light levels and soil pH
is interspecific competition more intense than intraspecific competition
intraspecific competition is often the most intense
what do animals compete for
animals compete for food, territory
how can animals become more successful in competition (food)
for herbivores the ones able to eat a wide range of plants are most likely to be successful in the competition
are carnivores at a disadvantage for food
yes, carnivores often have the compete with their own species and others
what do prey compete for
prey compete to be the one that isn’t caught –> their adaptations prevent them from being eaten
how do animals mark there territory
many animals mark their territory with urine + faeces
Name some examples males in some species compete for mates
in some species, males fight, with peacocks, they display extravagant tail feathers to warn off other males and attract females
male lizards display bright colours
what do plants compete for
plants compete for:
light
water
nutrients/minerals
space to grow
do plants just compete with its own species
plants also compete with members of other species as well as their own
explain how plants my compete withe their own offspring
when a plant sheds its seeds, they may land nearby and the plants will be in direct competition with its offspring
Name and explain the 3 different type of adaptations in animals
The types of adaptations in animals:
Structural adaptations - the shape of colour of the organism or part of the organism
Behavioural adaptations - migration, basking in the sun to absorb energy and to warm up, and tool-using to obtain food
functional adaptations - related to proceses like reproduction and metabolism (delayed implantation of embryo or antifreeze in cells)
why do animals have smaller SA;V in colder climates
in cold climates, the smaller the SA:V, the easier to (a) reduce the transfer of energy to the environment (b) minimising cooling - explaining why arctic animals are relatively large
how do animals keep warm in colder climates
they also have a thick fur coat, a thick layer of fat and blubber, and also have relatively small ears
what type of adaptation camouflage
camouflage is a structural adaptation
what are the biggest challenges in the desert
biggest challenges in the desert:
1. lack of water
2. stopping your body temperature from getting too high or too low
what adaptation in the kidney do desert animals have
desert animals have functional adaptations in their kidneys to make very concentrated urine and need little to nothing to drink to conserve water
why is SA:V important for plants
SA:V in plants is important for the water loss through the leaves
how do plants in the desert prevent water loss
Some plants in deserts have broad to leaves to collect the dew that forms in cold evenings, and funnel it towards their shallow roots
others have curled leaves to reduce SA, and to trap a layer of moist air around the leaf, to reduce water loss by evaporation
plants in dry conditions also have roots that spread over a wide area or go down a long way
what is an advantage of cacti having needle-like leaves
cacti have needle like leaves –> lose very little and discourages animals from eating them
