Ecology: Adaptations, Interdependence, and Competition

Species

A group of individuals that have similar characteristics and can reproduce together and produce fertile offspring

Habitat

The specific place where an organism lives within its environment.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species living in the same habitat.

Community

A group of different populations interacting in the same habitat.

Ecosystem

The interaction of a community of biotic organisms with the abiotic parts of the environment.

Adaptations

Characteristics that allow organisms to survive in their environment.

Competition

The struggle between organisms for the same limited resources.

What do animals compete for?

Food, mates and territory

What do plants compete for?

Light, space, water and nutrients from soil

Interdependence

The reliance of organisms in a community on each other for vital services.

What do species depend on each other for in a community

food, shelter, pollination, seed dispersal

Stable community

A community where all biotic and abiotic factors are in balance.

Abiotic factors

Non-living factors that can affect a community.

-light intensity

-temperature -moisture levels •

-soil pH and mineral content

-wind intensity and direction

-carbon dioxide levels for plants

-oxygen levels for aquatic animals

Light intensity

The amount of light available in an environment.

Moisture levels

The amount of water present in an environment.

Soil pH

The measure of acidity or alkalinity of the soil.

Wind intensity

The strength of the wind in an environment.

Carbon dioxide levels

The concentration of CO2 in the air.

Oxygen levels

The concentration of oxygen in the air or water.

Biotic factors

Living factors that can affect a community.

• availability of food • new predators arriving • new pathogens • one species outcompeting another so the numbers are no longer sufficient to breed.

Food availability

The amount of food present in an environment.

New predators

Predators that are introduced to a community.

New pathogens

Disease-causing organisms that are introduced to a community.

Structural adaptations

Physical characteristics that help organisms survive such as shape or colour

(white fur to camouflage in snow, long eyelashes to protect eyes from sand)

Behavioural adaptations

Actions or behaviors that help organisms survive. (Migrating to warmer climates during winter)

Functional adaptations

Internal processes that help organisms survive. (Producing very little sweat to conserve water, lowering metabolism to conserve energy by hibernating in winter)

Extremophiles

Organisms that live in extreme environments.

(high temperature, high pressure or high salt concentration)

Cold climates adaptations

Thick layer of fat and low surface area to volume ratio to help retain heat

Dry climates adaptations

Thin layer of fat and large surface area to volume ratio to help lose heat

Plant adaptations

Larger surface area for more sun

More vibrant colours for attractiveness

Feeding relationships

The interactions between organisms in a food chain.

Producers

The start of a food chain -Photosynthetic organisms that make their own food.

-Eaten by primary consumers

What are predators?

Animals that kill and eat other organisms

Decomposers

Microorganisms that break down dead plant and animal matter.

What are prey?

Organisms that are killed and eaten by other animals

What is the carbon cycle?

The carbon cycle describes how carbon molecules move between the living and nonliving world.

-returns carbon from organisms to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide to be used by plants in photosynthesis.

What are the four key steps of the water cycle?

Evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation

What is the carbon cycle

-Carbon is passed from the atmosphere as carbon dioxide to living organisms

-It is then passed from one organism to the next in complex molecules.

-It is then returned to the atmosphere by respiration as carbon dioxide again

Equation for respiration

oxygen + glucose > carbon dioxide + energy

Equation for combustion

Methane + oxygen >carbon dioxide + energy

Equation for photosynthesis

Carbon dioxide +water >glucose + oxygen

Equation for decomposition

Glucose + oxygen > carbon dioxide + water

What is biodiversity?

The variety of all the different species of organisms on earth, or within an ecosystem

What does a great biodiversity ensure?

The stability of ecosystems by reducing the dependence of one species on another for food, shelter and the maintenance of the physical environment

Where can pollution occur

-in water, from sewage, fertilizer or toxic chemicals

-in air, from smoke and acidic gases

-on land, from landfill and from toxic chemicals

How do humans reduce land available for other animals

By building, quarrying, farming and dumping waste

How do humans produce more waste

Sewage and toxic chemicals from industry can pollute lakes

Toxic chemicals for farming (pesticides) ruin land and burying nuclear waste underground/dumping household waste in landfill sides

Smoke and acidic gases released into atmosphere can pollute air with sulfuric acid(causes acid rain)

What is the issue with burning or the decay of peat

When microorganisms decay it, they respire so release carbon dioxide. CO2 is also released when peat is burned as a fuel

Also destroys habitats so reduces biodiversity

What are biological consequences of global warming

-more frequent floods and droughts

-glaciers and polar ice melting

-sea levels rising

-loss of habitats

-temperature and water stress for humans and

wildlife

-changes in the distribution of species

-changes in the ability of some regions to produce food

What levels are increasing and contribute to global warming

Carbon dioxide and methane

What are positive human interactions in ecosystem

breeding programmes for endangered species -protection and regeneration of rare habitats

-reintroduction of field margins and hedgerows in agricultural areas where farmers grow only one type of crop

-reduction of deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions by some governments

-recycling resources rather than dumping waste in landfill

How can changes in abiotic factors affect populations

Decrease in light intensity, temperature or level of carbon dioxide could decrease rate of photosynthesis. Affects plant growth and population size

-Decrease in mineral content of soil (lack of nitrates) could cause nutrient deficiencies. Affects plant growth and population size

How do changes in biotic factors have knock on effects

Red and grey squirrels live in same habitat and eat same food. If grey squirrels outcompete the red squirrels, the population of red squirrels decrease.

A new predator can decrease prey population