Adaptations, Interdependence and Competition

Levels of organisation in an ecosystem

Individual, population, community, ecosystem

Factors that a plant may compete for (4)

Light, minerals, space, water

Factors that an animal may compete for (3)

Food, mates, territory

Intraspecific competition

Competition within a species

Interspecific competition

Competition between species

Interdependence

Different species in an ecosystem relying on each other for resources

Stable community

Biotic and abiotic factors are balanced so population sizes remain relatively constant

Abiotic factors in an ecosystem (8)

Light intensity, temperature, moisture, soil pH, mineral content in soil, wind intensity, oxygen levels, carbon dioxide levels

Effect of light intensity in an ecosystem

Different optimum light intensities for photosynthesis

Effect of temperature in an ecosystem

Different optimum temperatures for growth and survival

Effect of soil pH in an ecosystem

Certain plants prefer acidic or alkaline soils

Soil pH could affect the appearance of a plant

Effect of moisture levels in an ecosystem

Many plants cannot respire with waterlogged roots

Other plants are adapted to high moisture levels

Effect of wind intensity in an ecosystem

Plants are more likely to germinate where there is lower wind intensity, affecting the animals in the area too

Effect of mineral content in an ecosystem

Plants require high mineral content to survive

How have some plants adapted to low mineral content?

Carnivorous plants catch insects to compensate for low mineral content in soil

Effect of CO2 concentration in an ecosystem

More CO2 leads to more plant growth

Effect of oxygen in an ecosystem

Aquatic animals cannot survive in low oxygen concentration areas

Biotic factors that may affect an ecosystem (3)

New predators, new pathogens, competition for resources

Extremophiles

Organisms that can live in extreme conditions

3 examples of extreme living conditions

High pH, high temperature, high salt concentration