Interdependence - Community and Competition

• What is the key concept to understand in ecology?


  All organisms have relationships with each other and their environment.
• What types of relationships do mice have in their ecosystem?


  Mice have relationships with other mice, plants, predators, and their environment.
• How do mice interact with their environment?


  Mice breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide, and they burrow holes in the soil.
• What happens if the mouse population falls in an ecosystem?


  It can lead to less food for predators and decreased soil quality.
• What is a habitat in ecology?


  • The place where an organism lives
  • Examples: field, forest, basement
• What is a population in ecology?


  • All organisms of a particular species in a habitat
  • Example: all mice in a field
• What is a community in ecology?


  • All populations of different species living together in a habitat
  • Example: mice, owls, plants in a field
• What are biotic factors?


  • Living factors of the environment
  • Examples: availability of food, number of predators
• What are abiotic factors?


  • Non-living factors of the environment
  • Examples: temperature, soil pH
• What is an ecosystem?


  An ecosystem is the interaction of a community of living organisms with the non-living parts of their environment.
• What is the importance of competition in an ecosystem?


  Competition is crucial as organisms need limited resources to survive.
• What resources do animals typically need to survive?

  Animals need space, food, water, and mates.
• What resources do plants typically need to survive?


  Plants need light, space, water, and mineral ions.
• What is interdependence in ecology?


  Interdependence is the idea that all species depend on other species in some way.
• How does a food web illustrate interdependence?


  • Shows feeding relationships within a community
  • Example: mice, rabbits, and grasshoppers feed on grass
• What happens if the mouse population suddenly increases?


  It could lead to less grass for rabbits and grasshoppers, affecting their populations.
• How might an increase in the mouse population affect hawks?


  Hawks might have more mice to eat, but fewer rabbits could limit their population growth.
• What could be the knock-on effects of a decline in grasshoppers?


  A decline in grasshoppers could lead to a decline in shrew and sparrow populations.
• What should students focus on regarding ecological relationships?


  Students should understand how relationships work and predict the knock-on effects of changes.