Adaptations, Interdependence and Competition

• What are the levels of organization in an ecosystem?

  Individual, population, community, ecosystem
• What is an ecosystem?

  The interaction between living and non-living components
• What factors do plants compete for?

  Light, space, water, mineral ions
• What factors do animals compete for?

  Food, mates, territory
• What is intraspecific competition?

  Competition within a species
• What is interspecific competition?

  Competition between different species
• What is interdependence in an ecosystem?

  Species depend on each other for resources
• What is a stable community?

  A community with balanced biotic and abiotic factors
• What are abiotic factors?

  Non-living factors
• What abiotic factors may affect an ecosystem?

  Light intensity, temperature, moisture, soil pH
• Why might light intensity affect an ecosystem?

  Different plants have different light needs
• Why does temperature affect an ecosystem?

  Species have different temperature needs
• How does soil pH affect an ecosystem?

  Certain plants prefer alkaline or acidic soil
• How does moisture level affect an ecosystem?

  Waterlogged soil prevents root respiration
• How does wind intensity affect an ecosystem?

  Lower wind intensity aids seed germination
• How does soil mineral content affect an ecosystem?

  Plants need high soil minerals to grow well
• How does carbon dioxide concentration affect an ecosystem?

  Higher CO2 leads to more plant growth
• How does oxygen concentration affect an ecosystem?

  Low oxygen harms aquatic animals' survival
• What biotic factors may affect an ecosystem?

  Food, new predators, new pathogens, competition
• What are adaptations?

  Features that help organisms survive
• What are organisms living in extreme environments called?

  Extremophiles
• Where can extremophile bacteria be found?

  In deep sea vents