Ecology adaptations, interdependence and competition

Question 1

Ecosystem

Answer 1

An ecosystem is the interaction between a community of a living organism and their environment

Question 2

A community

Answer 2

Is two or more populations of organisms

Question 3

A population

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Often very small changes to ecosystems have large consequences, which can be difficult to predict. This means that all the organisms in an ecosystem are dependent upon each other. We call this

Answer 4

interdependence.

Question 5

intrapspecific

Answer 5

the competition between organisms within the same species

Question 6

interspecific

Answer 6

the competition between organisms which are not the same species but are competition for a common resource

Question 7

Stable communities

Answer 7

is one which the size of the population remains relatively constant over time.

Question 8

factors that can change the abundance of the number of organisms in an ecosystem and are distributed by abiotic factors

gives e.gs of abiotic factors

Answer 8

Light intensity

Temperature

Moisture levels

soil pH content

soil mineral content

Wind intensity and direction

Carbon dioxide levels for plants

Oxygen levels for aquatic animals

Question 9

Light intensity give an example where it changes some plants optimum growth

Answer 9

If you were to put a cactus in dark conditions which has evolved to grow better in bright conditions in a desert the cactus would not grow well

Question 10

How temperature effects organisms

Answer 10

Many organisms have evolved to grow healthily at their optimist temperatures. So organisms could die or suffer unhealthy growth if they were to grow up out of their optimum temperature

Question 11

Moisture levels effects organisms

Answer 11

Many plants cannot survive in waterlogged soils. Their roots are unable to rerspire, they rot and the plant dies.

Question 12

How does a soil’s pH level effect plants

Answer 12

Some plants like azaleas, grow best in acidic soils and will quickly die if planted in alkaline soils. So a soil’s pH determines whether a plant lives or dies.

Question 13

Soil mineral content effects plants

Answer 13

Many plants require high levels of soil minerals to grow well. An example is magnesium which is required to produce chlorophyll. Plants with unnaturally yellow levels may have a magnesium deficiency which could stunt there growth or kill them

Question 14

Wind intensity and direction

Answer 14

The strength of the wind has a huge impact on where organisms are found within an ecosystem. Many organisms prefer more sheltered locations. Plant seeds are more likely to settle and germinate there, and animals depend upon these are more likely to live close to where they grow. The strength of the wind can also affect the growth of individual organisms

Question 15

Carbon dioxide levels

Answer 15

Carbon dioxide being a reactant for photosynthesis. Meaning that areas with high levels of co2 are more likely to be healthy growing.

Question 16

Oxygen levels for aquatic animals

Answer 16

Oxygen from the air and oxygen produced by aquatic plants dissolves in water. Without this, aquatic animals would suffocate and die. Healthy lakes and rivers have high levels of oxygen, and polluted waters often have lower levels of oxygen. This pollution means only certain species can survive there

Question 17

bioindicator

Answer 17

A species of organisms that tells us about their presence of absence informs us about the condition of the habitat

Question 18

Biotic factor availability of food

Answer 18

The more food that is available the more species of life there will be.

Question 19

New predators biotic factor

Answer 19

The arrival of new predators in an ecosystem can have a devastating effect in balanced ecosystems , predators can catch enough prey to survive, but not so many tat they kill all their food

Question 20

New pathogens biotic factor + e.g of america natives

Answer 20

When organisms inhabit new ecosystems they often bring new pathogens, as an example Europeans first colonized north america and introduced new pathogens, like the influenza virus. Many native Americans had not developed immunity to new diseases such as this, and so many were killed by them. There are many examples of new pathogens being introduced to the UK. Ash dieback is a disease caused by fungus which has killed many ash trees since it first was found in the uk in 2012

Question 21

Out competition biotic factor

Answer 21

The introduction of a new species into an ecosystem can result in it outcompeting another native species.

Question 22

How do plants compete for light

Answer 22

Plants compete for light by growing quickly to reach it and often shade other plants with their leaves. When an old tree in a forest dies and falls to the ground there is a race to fill in the gap in the canopy. It doesn’t look like a race to us because it happens slowly.

Question 23

How to plants compete for water in the soil

Answer 23

Some fully grown trees, like oak trees, lose a staggering 150 liters of water per day, which is used to transport materials through the plant to the leaves. Some plants have roots that are shallow but extend a long way from the tree to maximize the update of water after rainfall. Others have roots that are deep to find stores of underground water.

Question 24

Minerals from the soil plants compete for them how

Answer 24

Plants that grow in soils with few minerals such as bogs have evolved different ways of accessing nitrates some are carnivorous enabling them to successfully more than their competitors on the mineral poor soil

Question 25

Plants compete for space how

Answer 25

Only the most healthy trees compete to replace dead trees and this maintains vigor in the population. This is known as survival as the fittest

Question 26

Competition in animals for food + e.g

Answer 26

Food being the main thing to completes life processes causes the competition for food to be fierce. There are many birds which eat insects in our gardens, and some have evolved to only earth certain types of insect to reduce competition from other species.

Question 27

Mates competition in animals

Answer 27

Animals within a species also compete for mates. This is essential so they can pass on their genes to their offspring. Animals have evolved to have an innate or natural drive to reproduce and this is competition often results in the fights.

Question 28

Animals competing for territory

Answer 28

The territories of animals contain all of the resources and conditions they need to survive. These include biotic factors such as light, temperature and water, and oxygen for aquatic animals. There are also biotic factors such as food and predators which may change how much territories are worth

Question 29

Adaptations to the environment in plants

Answer 29

Plant adaptations can be structural behavioral or physiological. Regardless of the type, all adaptations make organisms better suited to their ecosystem and provide them with a better chance of survival and reproduction, which are their ultimate aims. The adaptations that arise from competition are essential for the process of evolution. Survival of the fittest means survival of those best adapted

Question 30

Structural adaptations in plants

Answer 30

are the physical features which allow them to compete.

Question 31

Behavioral adaptations of plants

Answer 31

Give them an advantage. All plants shoots grow towards the light and other tropisms make sure the plant can respond to changes in the environment.

Question 32

Physiological adaptations in plants

Answer 32

Are adaptions of plants that allow them to compete.

Question 33

structural adaptations to the environment in animals

+ an e.g ** u and taketh it u ***

Answer 33

Are the physical features which allow them to compete. Animals have a wide range of structural adaptations including sharp claws to catch prey, dig burrows or scratch trees to signal territories. The scratching of trees is a behavioral adaptation.

Question 34

Predators structural adaptations

Answer 34

Often have similar adaptations to there prey both having good vision and hearing. Prey often has eyes on the sides of their heads to easily spot predators. Predators often have their eyes on the front of their heads to judge distance to their prey.

Question 35

Behavioral adaptions in animals

Answer 35

giving them advantage. Behavioral adaptions include mating rituals, like a male peacock bird showing his tail features to attract a female mate

Question 36

Physiological adaptations in animals

Answer 36

Physiological adaptations of animals are processes which allow them to compete. The production of venom is an e.g of this allowing many more animals to be deadly.

Question 37

Extremophile

Answer 37

is an organism that lives in an extreme environment. An extreme environment is one in which most organisms would find it difficult or impossible to survive. The organisms that live in these places have highly specialized adaptations.

Question 38

The polar regions how are polar bears adapted

Answer 38

To have camouflage a white thick fur for insulation and they have acute sense of smell and sight to hunt prey. Have a small surface area to volume ratio to minimize heat loss and thick layer of fat to keep warm

Question 39

Penguins adaptations

Answer 39

have similar to polar bear but the male emperor penguin evolved to insulate their egg on their feet throughout winter this is a behavioural adaptation

Question 40

Volcanic vents are placed on the ocean floor where the underground ________ ________ bubble through. These form plumes of gases which are very ___. This are extreme enviroments because of this _____ and high _____ that comes at the bottom of the ocean they are utterly ___-

Answer 40

magma chambers
hot
heat
pressure
dark

Question 41

What feed on the volcanic vents

Answer 41

Bacteria

Question 42

We initially thought all food chains and food webs started with photosynthesis what is the new discovery we have made

Answer 42

Bacteria are surviving off volcanic gases deep underwater. Where worms feed on the bacteria and other species feed on the worms

Question 43

Why do many hydrothermal vents have sepertley evolved species

Answer 43

Because of the extreme environment at the bottom of the oceans it is almost impossible to move from one vent to another. Leading to different vents having different species. They then adapt to that vent making it even harder to move vents

Question 44

Why do many hydrothermal vents have sepertley evolved species

Answer 44

Because of the extreme environment at the bottom of the oceans it is almost impossible to move from one vent to another. Leading to different vents having different species. They then adapt to that vent making it even harder to move vents