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Adaptations, interdependence and competition
Students learn how organisms interact with living and non-living parts of ecosystems, how factors alter communities, and how adaptations support survival in normal and extreme environments.
35
Objectives
10
Flashcards
10
Questions
90 min
Study time
AqaGcseBiologyEcology
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What you need to know
35 objective pages available
Communities12 objectives
- Describe ecological levels of organisation from individual organisms through populations, communities, habitats, ecosystems, and the whole ecosystem.
- Define an ecosystem as the interaction between a community of living organisms and the non-living parts of their environment.
- Explain why organisms need materials from their surroundings and from other living organisms to survive and reproduce.
- Describe how plants compete for light, space, water, and mineral ions.
- Describe how animals compete for food, mates, and territory.
- Explain interdependence using examples such as feeding, shelter, pollination, and seed dispersal.
- Explain how removing one species can affect other species and the stability of a community.
- Describe a stable community as one where species and environmental factors stay in balance so population sizes remain fairly constant.
- Suggest factors organisms compete for in a given habitat using supplied information.
- Suggest how organisms are adapted to the conditions in which they live using supplied information.
- Extract and interpret information from charts, graphs, and tables about interactions within a community.
- Record and describe first-hand observations of organisms in ecological fieldwork.
Abiotic factors10 objectives
- Define abiotic factors as non-living environmental factors that can affect a community.
- Explain how light intensity can affect plant growth and community structure.
- Explain how temperature can affect organisms and the distribution of species.
- Explain how moisture levels can affect survival, growth, and competition in a habitat.
- Explain how soil pH and mineral content can affect plant distribution.
- Explain how wind intensity and direction can affect organisms in exposed habitats.
- Explain how carbon dioxide levels can affect plants.
- Explain how oxygen levels can affect aquatic animals.
- Explain how a change in an abiotic factor would affect a given community using data or context.
- Extract and interpret charts, graphs, and tables showing effects of abiotic factors.
Biotic factors7 objectives
- Define biotic factors as living factors that can affect a community.
- Explain how availability of food can affect population size and competition.
- Explain how new predators can change the numbers and distribution of organisms in a community.
- Explain how new pathogens can affect populations in a community.
- Explain how one species outcompeting another can reduce breeding success.
- Explain how a change in a biotic factor might affect a given community using data or context.
- Extract and interpret charts, graphs, and tables showing effects of biotic factors.
Adaptations6 objectives
- Define an adaptation as a feature that helps an organism survive in its usual environment.
- Distinguish structural, behavioural, and functional adaptations.
- Explain how organisms are adapted to live in their natural environment using supplied information.
- Describe extremophiles as organisms adapted to extreme environments.
- Give examples of extreme conditions such as high temperature, high pressure, or high salt concentration.
- Describe bacteria in deep sea vents as examples of extremophiles.
Key terms
ecosystemhabitatcommunityfrommaterialscompetelightanimalsinterdependencepollinationspeciespopulation
Exam tips
- Communities exam tip 1: Use precise biological vocabulary when you explain how to describe ecological levels of organisation from individual organisms through populations, communities, habitats, ecosystems, and the whole ecosystem..
- Communities exam tip 1: Use precise biological vocabulary when you explain how to define an ecosystem as the interaction between a community of living organisms and the non-living parts of their environment..
Common mistakes
- Communities common mistake 1: Answer by clearly explaining how to describe ecological levels of organisation from individual organisms through populations, communities, habitats, ecosystems, and the whole ecosystem..
- Communities common mistake 1: Answer by clearly explaining how to define an ecosystem as the interaction between a community of living organisms and the non-living parts of their environment..
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