Adaptations, interdependence and competition

Question 1

what is an ecosystem

Answer 1

the interaction of a community of living organisms
(biotic) with the non-living (abiotic) parts of their environment

Question 2

what is a community

Answer 2

two or more populations of organisms.

Question 3

what is a population

Answer 3

all the organisms of the same or closely-related species in an area

Question 4

what are producers

Answer 4

things that photosynthesise, like plants and algae

Question 5

what are primary consumers

Answer 5

things that eat producers, like herbivores

Question 6

what are secondary consumers

Answer 6

things that eat herbivores, like carnivores

Question 7

what are tertiary consumers

Answer 7

things that eat secondary consumers, also carnivores

Question 8

what is interdependence

Answer 8

refers to the fact that all living organisms that live in an ecosystem depend upon each other for food, shelter, protection etc, to survive

Question 9

what do plants compete for

Answer 9

• light
• water
• space
• nutrients from the soil

Question 10

what is a stable community

Answer 10

one in which the size of the populations of all species remain relatively constant over time, also one where environmental factors remain relatively constant, they may change, but in regular patterns

Question 11

examples of stable communities and why

Answer 11

• oak woodlands ( a single mature oak tree can house up to 1000 different species)
• coral reefs
• rainforests
  these communities include a wide range of species, and within limits, change can be absorbed and tolerated
• for example, a falling tree allows light into the forest floor, so new seedlings can grow up

Question 12

one problem with stable communities

Answer 12

• cannot be easily replaced as they take a long while to grow

Question 13

what is abundance

Answer 13

the number of organisms in an ecosystem

Question 14

what are abiotic factors

Answer 14

non living factors

Question 15

examples of abiotic factors

Answer 15

• light intensity
• temperature
  -CO2 level
• moisture level
• wind intensity
• oxygen level
• soil pH and mineral content

Question 16

why can soil pH levels affect an ecosystem

Answer 16

plants may struggle to grow in areas with low levels of mineral ions, it also may cause the plant to get nutrient deficiencies, such as chlorosis, which could affect plant growth and population size

Question 17

what are biotic factors

Answer 17

living factors

Question 18

examples of biotic factors

Answer 18

• food availability
• new predators
• new pathogens
• interspecific competition

Question 19

why might a new predator mess up an ecosystem

Answer 19

In balanced ecosystems, predators and prey have evolved together. Predators can catch enough prey to survive, but not so many that they kill all of their food, a new predator may upset this balance

Question 20

why might interspecific competition mess up an ecosystem

Answer 20

because a new species may outcompete another to the point where numbers become too low for successful breeding

Question 21

how do carnivorous plants survive in soils with low levels of nitrate ions

Answer 21

• they trap and digest prey
• the nitrates they need are provided when they break down the animal protein

Question 22

properties of plants that grow in cold temperatures

Answer 22

they are smaller, this affects the amount of carnivores and herbivores in an ecosystem

Question 23

what impact does the soils pH have on plants

Answer 23

affects the rate of decay and therefore affects the release of mineral ions back into the soil

Question 24

What do animals compete for

Answer 24

food, mates, territory

Question 25

what is intraspecific competition

Answer 25

the competition between organisms in the same species

Question 26

what do adaptations do

Answer 26

make organisms better suited to their ecosystem and provide them with a better chance of survival and reproduction

Question 27

what types of adaptations are there

Answer 27

-structural
- behavioiural
- physiological

Question 28

what are structural adaptations

Answer 28

physical features, which allow them to compete.

Question 29

examples of structural adaptations in plants

Answer 29

• spines, found on cacti, prevent it being eaten
• plants with shallow roots to absorb lots of water after rain
• large leaves to maximise photosynthesis
• flowers attract insects to pollinate them

Question 30

examples of behavioural adaptations in plants

Answer 30

• plant shoots grow quickly towards the light to maximise photosynthesis
• Plant roots which grow downwards may be because of gravity or growing directly towards water to maximise photosynthesis
• Venus flytap closing mouth to trap insects

Question 31

examples of physiological adaptations in plants

Answer 31

• formation of poisons for defence, eg stinging nettles sting if touched

Question 32

examples of structural adaptations in animals

Answer 32

• sharp claws to catch prey
• camels have long lashes to prevent sand getting into eyes

Question 33

examples of behavioural adaptations in animals

Answer 33

• a male peacock bird showing his tail feathers to attract a female mate
• working together in packs like wolves to hunt prey
• crocodiles use twigs to lure birds, who would pick them up to build nests

Question 34

examples of physiological adaptations in animals

Answer 34

• the production of venom from animals such as snakes and spiders

Question 35

what are extremophiles

Answer 35

an organism that lives in an extreme environment

Question 36

examples of extreme environments

Answer 36

Polar Regions, deserts, the deep ocean bed, hot geothermal springs and the tops of our highest mountains

Question 37

How do organisms survive in the poilar regions

Answer 37

Animals, like polar bears, at the North Pole are adapted to suit these conditions. They have thick white fur for insulation and camouflage. They have acute senses of smell and sight to hunt prey. They have small surface area : volume ratio to minimise heat loss and a thick layer of fat to keep warm.

Penguins at the South Pole have many of the same adaptations. In addition, the male Emperor penguins have evolved to insulate their egg on their feet throughout winter. This is a behavioural adaptation

Question 38

how do bacteria survive in hot deep sea vents

Answer 38

bacteria feed on the chemicals released from the volcanic vents. Worms feed on the bacteria, and then other species feed on the worms. Until the recent discovery of these ecosystems we thought all food chains and webs started with photosynthesising plants or algae.