A habitat is where a species lives within a population.
How are populations dependent on each other?
Populations are often dependent on each other for resources.
What creates a community?
Many different populations interact in the same habitat.
What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is the interaction of a community with abiotic parts of the environment.
What do organisms compete for?
Organisms compete for the same resources.
Why are organisms adapted to their environment?
Organisms are adapted to live in the conditions of their environment.
What types of competition exist?
There can be competition within a species or between different species.
What resources do plants compete for?
Plants may compete for light, space, water, and mineral ions.
What resources do animals compete for?
Animals may compete for space, food, water, and mating partners.
What does interdependence describe?
Interdependence describes how organisms depend on each other for vital services.
What vital services do organisms depend on each other for?
These include food, shelter, and reproduction.
How can the removal or addition of a species affect a community?
It can greatly affect the populations of others by changing prey or predator numbers.
What characterizes a stable community?
A stable community has all biotic and abiotic factors in balance.
What happens to population sizes in a stable community?
The population sizes remain roughly constant.
What happens when biotic or abiotic factors are lost in a community?
It is very difficult to replace them.
Give examples of stable communities.
Examples include tropical rainforests, oak woodlands, and coral reefs.
What is an abiotic factor?
An abiotic factor is a non-living factor.
What abiotic factors can affect a community?
Light intensity, temperature, moisture levels, soil pH and mineral content, wind intensity and direction, carbon dioxide levels, and oxygen levels for aquatic animals.
Why is light intensity important for plants?
Light is required for photosynthesis.
How does light intensity affect plant growth?
The rate of photosynthesis affects the rate at which the plant grows.
Why do plants provide food and shelter for organisms?
Plants can be food sources or shelter for many organisms.
How does temperature affect photosynthesis?
Temperature affects the rate of photosynthesis.
Why do both plants and animals need moisture?
Both plants and animals need water to survive.
How does soil pH affect plants?
Soil pH affects the rate of decay and how fast mineral ions return to soil.
How does wind affect plants?
Wind affects the rate of transpiration in plants.
Why do different species of plants thrive in different nutrient levels?
Different species of plants thrive in different nutrient concentration levels.
How does transpiration affect plants?
Transpiration affects the temperature of the plant and the rate of photosynthesis.
How do carbon dioxide levels affect plants?
CO<sub>2</sub> affects the rate of photosynthesis in plants.
How do oxygen levels vary for aquatic animals?
Oxygen levels in water vary greatly, unlike oxygen levels in air.
Why do most fish need high oxygen concentrations?
Most fish need a highconcentration of oxygen to survive.
What is a biotic factor?
A biotic factor is a living factor.
How does food availability affect populations?
More food means organisms can breed more successfully, increasing the population.
What biotic factors can affect a community?
Food availability, new predators, new pathogens, and competition.
What happens when new predators are introduced?
New predators can affect the population of prey species.
How do new pathogens affect populations?
New pathogens can wipe out populations quickly due to lack of resistance.
What are adaptations?
Adaptations are traits that allow organisms to survive in their environment.
What are structural adaptations?
Structural adaptations are the shape or color of a part of an organism.
Give examples of structural adaptations.
Examples include sharp teeth of a carnivore and camouflage.
How does competition affect species?
If one species is better adapted, it will outcompete the lesser adapted species.