competition + interdependence

• why do living organisms compete with each other?

  • the resources they need are usually in short supply
• what do plants compete with each other for?

  • light, space, water and mineral ions in the soil
• what do animals compete with each other for?

  • food, water, mating partners and territories
• what is interdependence?

  • where all the different species in a community depend on each other
• state the factors that plants may compete for

  • light
  • space
  • water
  • mineral ions from soil
• state the factors that animals may compete for

  • food
  • mates
  • territory
• what is a stable community?

  • all the biotic factors and all the abiotic factors in a community are balanced so the population stays a constant size
• abiotic factors that may affect an ecosystem

  • light intensity
  • temperature
  • carbon dioxide levels
  • wind intensity
• why would light intensity affect an ecosystem

  • different types of plants have different optimum light intensities for growth
• why would temperature affect an ecosystem

  • different species of plants and animals have different optimum temperatures for growth and survival
• biotic factors that may affect an ecosystem

  • food
  • new predators
  • new pathogens
  • overcompetition
• what are adaptations

  • features that help organisms to survive in their living environment
• what are extremophiles?

  • organisms able to live in extreme environments
• what are some extremophile environments?

  • extremely high temperature [hot volcanic vents]
  • extremely high pressure [deep sea vents]
  • extremely high salt concentration [salty lakes]