Adaptations, Interdependence, And Competition Flashcards
What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is made up of a community of organisms interacting with non-living or abiotic elements of their environment.
What is an abiotic factor?
It is a non living factor that affects living organisms and communities.
What is a biotic factor?
It only affects communities and they are very important eg. When a new pathogen or parasite emerges organisms have no resistance to the disease.
What is a quadrat?
It is the simplest way to count the number of organisms is to use a sample area called a quadrat.
What do animals compete for?
Food
Territory
Mates
Why do plants compete?
Plants compete with both their own species and other species. Big tall plants such as trees use up a lot of water and nutrients from soil so they are threat to smaller plants as they use up more light and over shadow the smaller plants.
What is the meaning of adaptation?
Living organisms have features known as adaptations which allow them to survive in their own habitat even when conditions are extreme e.g. when its too cold or too hot.
Survive and reproduce?
Plants need light, carbon dioxide, water, and oxygen, and mineral ions to produce glucose to give them energy to survive.
Plant adaptations?
Plants need to photosynthesise to produce the glucose for energy and growth. Water for cells and tissues.
Animal adaptations?
They have to eat plants or other animals. E.G. herbivores have teeth for grinding up plant cells. Carnivores have teeth for tearing flesh or crushing bones.
Adapting to the environment?
Plants and animals have to adapt in order to survive in a particular environment. Animals and plants that survive extreme winter temperatures produce a chemical in their cells that acts as an antifreeze and protects them.
Living in extreme environments?
Organisms that survive and reproduce in the most difficult conditions are known as extremophiles.
Animals in cold climates?
Animals need to be able to keep warm to survive in a cold climate. Animals who live in very cold climates have small ears which reduces cooling through energy transfers to the environment. Many mammals have a thick layer of fat under their skin as insulation.
Surviving in dry climates?
Many desert animals have adaptations in their kidneys so they produce concentrated urine and need very little to drink. They get water from the food they eat which is sufficient for them. During the hottest times of the day they rest.
Changing surface area?
A few desert plants have large leaves which collect dew that forms in cold evenings. They then funnel water towards the shallow roots.
