Interdependence Flashcards
What do animals compete for?
Resources, eg. food. Animals in the same species compete with each other for mates, too.
What is an ecological niche?
The type of habitat the animal lives in and its role in the habitat, eg. ladybirds live on sycamore trees and eat green flies.
What makes animals more likely to compete?
If they have similar ecological niches.
What is interspecific competition?
Between organisms of different species.
What is intraspecific competition?
Between organisms of the same species. This is more likely to be a more significant competitive relationship.
What is the sequence for the cyclical changes in predator-prey numbers?
1) Lots of prey
2) More predators feed
3) Predator numbers increase
4) Increased predators kill more prey
5) Prey numbers decrease
6) Less prey so predators starve
7) Predator numbers drop
Why do predator peaks have a delay behind prey peaks?
It takes time for the increase in prey to allow predators to survive and reproduce.
What is parasitism?
A dependant relationship in which the parasite benefits but the host suffers, eg. fleas.
What is mutualism?
A dependant relationship in which both parties benefit, eg. bees and plants.
Describe the mutual relationship of legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
The nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the nodules of the roots of legumes turn nitrogen into nitrates for the plant and in return receive some of the sugars from the plant from photosynthesis.
