Adaptation, Competion, Biodiversity

Adaptations

The feautures that something has to help it survive in a particular place.

Adaptations are a result of genetic variation

Competition

When organisms fight over a resource that they both need and are likely to be limited. Plants usaully compete for light, water, space and minerals.  Animals usaully compete for food, water, space and mates.

Examples could be the grey squirrel and the red squirell.

Grey squirrels are invasive species.

1- They can digest nuts just before they wre ripe, so when they are ripe for red squirrels there won’t be much left.

2-  Grey squirels are also better at fighting, more agressive and stronger, they are also faster.

3- Grey squirrels cab taking resting spots so red squirrels do not get any.

4- Grey squirrels produce larger litters which means each time they have children, they will get more than red squirrels.

5- Immune to squirrel pox plus they could pass it on to the red squirrels who are not immune which means they will die out faster.

6- Grey squirrels are smarter.

2 more examples of Competition

• Giant Amazon Water lilies compete for sunlight, they have leaves that streach up to 6 feet, allowing the leaf to absorb as much sunlight as possible.

• Edges are turned upwards so it can shoulder aside any competition

• Polar bears compete for food (mostly seals or walruses) They must be strong, cunning agressive and fast. They have sharp claws and teeth.

Ecosystem

All the physical enviromental factors and all the organisms in an area, changes in an ecosystem will affect the organisms.

Changes could be abiotic or biotic factors like temperature, competition from other organisms, disease, or human activities like hunting, clearing habitats and using poisons.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the varierty of all living things in a given area. If a species becomes extinct, there will be less biodiversity

Importance of Biodiversity

Allows us to not be reliant on one specific organism, stops other organisms from relying on only one organism (is it called interdependence?). Plus areas with high biodiversity recover from natrual disasters faster.

How do we preserve Biodiversity (7 ways)

• Legislation, make rules which protect certain species for example the Hawain silversword plant is protected by the goverment.

• Use gene banks and seed banks. Gene banks store parts of organisms (Seeds,gamets) to grow if they become extinct (They are an important way of preseving biodiversity)

• Protect habitats

• Create nature reserves 

• Stop hunting (which means no poaching and no over fishing)

• Encourage breeding through breeding programmes

• Reduce deforstation and encourage reforestation

Habitat

The enviroment an organism lives in

Interdependence

The feeding interactions of the species in a habitat (eating or feeding each other)

Native

A species that has always lived in an area