Adaptations, interdependence and competition Flashcards
what is an ecosystem
the interaction of a community of living organisms
(biotic) with the non-living (abiotic) parts of their environment
what is a community
two or more populations of organisms.
what is a population
all the organisms of the same or closely-related species in an area
what are producers
things that photosynthesise, like plants and algae
what are primary consumers
things that eat producers, like herbivores
what are secondary consumers
things that eat herbivores, like carnivores
what are tertiary consumers
things that eat secondary consumers, also carnivores
what is interdependence
refers to the fact that all living organisms that live in an ecosystem depend upon each other for food, shelter, protection etc, to survive
what do plants compete for
- light
- water
- space
- nutrients from the soil
what is a stable community
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
examples of stable communities and why
- 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
one problem with stable communities
- cannot be easily replaced as they take a long while to grow
what is abundance
the number of organisms in an ecosystem
what are abiotic factors
non living factors
examples of abiotic factors
- light intensity
- temperature
-CO2 level - moisture level
- wind intensity
- oxygen level
- soil pH and mineral content
why can soil pH levels affect an ecosystem
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
what are biotic factors
living factors
examples of biotic factors
- food availability
- new predators
- new pathogens
- interspecific competition
why might a new predator mess up an ecosystem
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
why might interspecific competition mess up an ecosystem
because a new species may outcompete another to the point where numbers become too low for successful breeding
how do carnivorous plants survive in soils with low levels of nitrate ions
- they trap and digest prey
- the nitrates they need are provided when they break down the animal protein
properties of plants that grow in cold temperatures
they are smaller, this affects the amount of carnivores and herbivores in an ecosystem
what impact does the soils pH have on plants
affects the rate of decay and therefore affects the release of mineral ions back into the soil
What do animals compete for
food, mates, territory
what is intraspecific competition
the competition between organisms in the same species
what do adaptations do
make organisms better suited to their ecosystem and provide them with a better chance of survival and reproduction
what types of adaptations are there
-structural
- behavioiural
- physiological
what are structural adaptations
physical features, which allow them to compete.
examples of structural adaptations in plants
- 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
examples of behavioural adaptations in plants
- 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
examples of physiological adaptations in plants
- formation of poisons for defence, eg stinging nettles sting if touched
examples of structural adaptations in animals
- sharp claws to catch prey
- camels have long lashes to prevent sand getting into eyes
examples of behavioural adaptations in animals
- 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
examples of physiological adaptations in animals
- the production of venom from animals such as snakes and spiders
what are extremophiles
an organism that lives in an extreme environment
examples of extreme environments
Polar Regions, deserts, the deep ocean bed, hot geothermal springs and the tops of our highest mountains
How do organisms survive in the poilar regions
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
how do bacteria survive in hot deep sea vents
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.
