Adaptations

What is a population?

The total number of organisms of the same species that live in a specific geographical area.

What is a community?

A group of two or more populations of different species living in a specific geographical area.

What is an ecosystem?

The interaction of a community of living organisms with the non-living parts of their environment.

What is competition?

A contest between organisms within a community for resources.

What is interdependence?

When species in a community depend on others for resources and shelter.

What do animals often compete for?

Food, mates, and territory.

What do plants often compete for?

Light, space, water, and mineral ions.

What is an abiotic factor?

A non-living factor that can affect a community, such as temperature, light intensity, or soil pH.

What is a biotic factor?

A living factor that can affect a community, such as the availability of food or presence of predators.

List the abiotic factors that can affect a community.

Carbon dioxide levels, light intensity, moisture levels, oxygen levels, soil pH, mineral content, temperature, wind intensity, and direction.

List the biotic factors that can affect a community.

Availability of food, new predators, competition between species, and new pathogens.

What is a stable community?

A community where all species and environmental factors are in balance, so population sizes remain fairly constant.

How do adaptations help an organism?

They enable the organism to survive in the conditions in which it lives.

What are the three types of adaptations?

Structural, behavioural, and functional adaptations.

What is an extremophile?

An organism that lives in a very extreme environment.

What makes an environment extreme?

Very high or low temperatures, extreme pressures, high salt concentrations, highly acidic or alkaline conditions, and lack of oxygen or water.