Competition and Interdependence

• What does competition in an ecosystem refer to?

  Organisms competing for limited resources
• What is meant by interdependence in an ecosystem?

  Species relying on each other for survival
• What is the definition of a habitat?

  The environment where an organism lives
• What is a population?

  Total number of organisms of the same species
• How do scientists define a community?

  Populations of different species in the same habitat
• What does the term biotic refer to?

  Living parts of the environment
• What are abiotic parts of the environment?

  Non-living parts like water and minerals
• What is an ecosystem?

  Both biotic and abiotic parts interacting
• Why do living organisms require materials from their surroundings?

  To survive and grow
• What do plants compete for?

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

  Food, water, mating partners, and territory
• What is interdependence in a community?

  Species relying on each other for resources
• How do lions depend on other organisms?

  Lions eat animals like zebras and gazelles
• How do some plants depend on animals?

  For pollination and seed dispersal
• What happens if a species disappears from a community?

  It can affect the entire community's balance
• What is a stable community?

  Populations of species remain fairly constant
• What does it mean for populations to be in balance?

  They coexist without overpopulation or extinction