Adaptations, interdependence and competition

• What are the levels of organisation in an ecosystem?

  Individual, population, community, ecosystem
• An ecosystem is the interaction between living and non-living components
• Plants may compete for light, space, water, and mineral ions from soil.
• What are the factors that animals might compete for?

  Food, mates, territory
• Intraspecific competition is competition within a species
• What is interspecific competition?

  Competition between different species
• Interdependence refers to how different species in an ecosystem depend on each other
• What is a stable community?

  Balanced biotic and abiotic factors
• Abiotic factors are non-living factors in an ecosystem.
• What are some abiotic factors that may affect an ecosystem?

  Light intensity, temperature, moisture
• Light intensity may affect an ecosystem because different plant species have different optimum light intensities
• Temperature affects ecosystems because different species have different optimum temperatures for growth and survival.
• Waterlogged soil may prevent plant roots from respiring
• How does soil pH affect an ecosystem?

  Affects plant growth
• Lower wind intensity may promote seed germination and attract animals to the area.
• Why is soil mineral content important in an ecosystem?

  Plants require it to grow well
• Match the adaptation with its description:

  Carnivorous plants ↔️ Compensate for low soil minerals

  Deep sea extremophiles ↔️ Survive in high pressure

  Plants in waterlogged soil ↔️ Adapted to high moisture
• Higher carbon dioxide concentration leads to more plant growth
• Aquatic animals cannot survive in areas with low oxygen concentration.
• Adaptations are features that enable organisms to survive in their environment
• What are some biotic factors that may affect an ecosystem?

  New predators, pathogens, competition
• What are organisms living in extreme environments called?

  Extremophiles
• Extremophiles can survive in high temperature, high pressure, or high salt concentrations.
• Where can extremophile bacteria be found?

  Deep sea vents