Adaptations, Interdependence & Competition (AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy: Biology): Flashcards
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Ecosystem
The interaction of a community of living organisms (biotic) with the non-living (abiotic) parts of their environment.
What are the four levels of organisation in an ecosystem, from smallest to largest?
Individual organism → a single member of a species
Population → all the individuals of the same species in an area at one time
Community → all the populations of different species in an area
Ecosystem → a community interacting with the abiotic (non-living) environment
Population
A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same time.
Competition
When organisms need the same limited resource, so they compete for it in order to survive and reproduce.
What is the difference between intraspecific and interspecific competition?
Intraspecific competition is between members of the same species.
Interspecific competition is between members of different species.
What do plants usually compete for?
Light and space, and water and mineral ions from the soil.
What do animals usually compete for?
Food, mates and territory.
Interdependence
Within a community, each species depends on other species for things such as food, shelter, pollination and seed dispersal. If one species is removed it can affect the whole community.
A community is one where all the species and environmental factors are in balance, so that population sizes remain fairly constant.
A stable community is one where all the species and environmental factors are in balance, so that population sizes remain fairly constant.
Abiotic factor
A non-living factor that can affect a community, such as temperature or light intensity.
Name the main abiotic factors that can affect a community.
Light intensity
Temperature
Moisture levels
Soil pH and mineral content
Wind intensity and direction
Carbon dioxide levels for plants
Oxygen levels for aquatic animals
levels are an abiotic factor that affects aquatic animals.
Oxygen levels are an abiotic factor that affects aquatic animals.
A tank of plants is given a higher CO2 concentration. Explain how this abiotic change could affect their growth.
As CO2 concentration increases, the rate of photosynthesis increases, so the plants make more glucose and grow taller and faster.
When explaining the effect of an abiotic factor from a graph or table, what must you always include?
Specific figures/data taken from the graph or table to support your answer.
True or False?
Carbon dioxide level is an abiotic factor that can affect plants.
True.
Carbon dioxide is a non-living (abiotic) factor, and plants need it for photosynthesis.
Biotic factor
A living factor that can affect a community, such as the availability of food or a new predator.
Name the main biotic factors that can affect a community.
Availability of food
New predators arriving
New pathogens
One species outcompeting another, so numbers are no longer sufficient to breed
If one species another, the numbers of the outcompeted species may become too low for it to breed successfully.
If one species outcompetes another, the numbers of the outcompeted species may become too low for it to breed successfully.
Grey squirrels are introduced to a woodland where red squirrels live. Over time the red squirrel numbers fall. Explain why.
The two species compete for the same resources. Grey squirrels are better adapted and outcompete the red squirrels, until there are too few red squirrels left to breed successfully.
How can the arrival of a new pathogen act as a biotic factor in a community?
A new pathogen can cause disease, reducing the population of a species that has no resistance to it.
True or False?
The arrival of a new predator is an abiotic factor.
False.
A new predator is a living thing, so it is a biotic factor, not an abiotic one.
Adaptation
A feature that enables an organism to survive and reproduce in the conditions in which it normally lives.
What are the three types of adaptation?
Structural → physical features of the body (e.g. thick fur)
Behavioural → the way an organism behaves (e.g. being active at night)
Functional → processes inside the body (e.g. producing concentrated urine)
How are animals adapted to survive in cold environments?
A small surface area : volume ratio to reduce heat loss
A thick layer of fat (blubber) or fur to insulate against the cold
Give one functional and one behavioural adaptation of animals living in hot deserts.
Functional: kidneys that produce very concentrated urine to retain water.
Behavioural: being active only in the cooler parts of the day (early morning, evening or night).
Extremophile
An organism that lives in a very extreme environment, such as high temperature, pressure or salt concentration (e.g. bacteria in deep-sea vents).
What are the producers in a deep-sea vent ecosystem, and how do they make food?
Bacteria that are extremophiles.
They use energy from chemicals in the water (rather than sunlight) to make their own food.
Organisms that live in very extreme environments, such as bacteria in deep-sea vents, are called .
Organisms that live in very extreme environments, such as bacteria in deep-sea vents, are called extremophiles.
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