B16 Adaptation, interdependence and competition Flashcards
what is a habitat?
the environment where an organism lives
what is a population?
the total number organisms of the same species living in the same geographical area
what is a community?
the populations of all the different species that live in the same habitat
What is the biotic part of the environment?
all the living organisms of the environment
what are the abiotic parts of an environment?
the non-living parts
what is an ecosystem?
the biotic and abiotic parts of an environment and how they interact
why do living organisms have to compete with each other?
the resources they need to get from the environment are in short supply
what do plants compete for?
light
space
water
mineral ions
what do animals compete for?
food
water
mating partners
territory
what is interdependence?
where all the different species in a community depend on each other
what do plants provide for other organisms?
food
shelter
what do animals provide for other organisms?
food
pollination of plants
seed dispersal
what is a stable community?
where the populations of species remain fairly constant
this means the populations of organisms are in balance with each other and the abiotic factors in the environment
what are abiotic factors that affect communities?
- light intensity
- temperature
- moisture levels
- soil pH
- wind intensity and direction
- availability of O2 and CO2
what are some biotic factors affecting communities?
- availability of food
- new pathogens
- new predators
- interspecific competition