Interdependence
Living thing depend on each other for survival.An example of this is the relationship between termites and microscopic organisms called flagellates.Termites feed on wood and other tough plant materials. However, they lack the digestives enzymes to digest these materials themselves.
The flagellates live inside the gut of the termites and digest the wood, and the termites absorb these digested nutrients.In return the flagellates have a moist and stable places to live. The termites and flagellates are interdependent they affect one another's survival.
Ecology
Studies such as those of the termite and the flagellate belong to sub-branch of biology called ecology. Ecology is the study of how organisms internet with each other and with their environment. To interact means to affect each other. the environment consists of all the factors in an organism's surrounding that affect it.
A habitat is not the same as an environment. The habitat is simply where an organism lives. the habitat is a places whereas an environment is a set of factors that affect survival.
Ecosystems
To help understand how organisms live in a particular environment ecologists use the concept of an ecosystems. An ecosystem is a system formed by a group of living thing interacting with each other and their non-living surroundings.
Ecosystems have three main components:
Humans can create artificial ecosystem such as the aquarium. These ecosystems are usually not balanced. they need to be managed by adding food materials and removing wastes.
Factors influencing organisms
Organisms in an ecosystem can be affected by two main sets of factor.One set of factors is due to the actions of living organisms, while the other set is due to the non-living surroundings.
The non-living factors are called abiotic factors, also known as physical factors. These include water, air quality, the amount of light, temperature, wind, soil type, humidity of the air, tides, waves, lightning and fires.
The living factors are called biotic factors.Living factors in the human environment include predators such as sharks, parasites, fungi, infectious organisms, competitors(such as other humans trying to obtains food ) and collaborators (such as a breeding partner).
Living thing depend on each other for survival.An example of this is the relationship between termites and microscopic organisms called flagellates.Termites feed on wood and other tough plant materials. However, they lack the digestives enzymes to digest these materials themselves.
The flagellates live inside the gut of the termites and digest the wood, and the termites absorb these digested nutrients.In return the flagellates have a moist and stable places to live. The termites and flagellates are interdependent they affect one another's survival.
Ecology
Studies such as those of the termite and the flagellate belong to sub-branch of biology called ecology. Ecology is the study of how organisms internet with each other and with their environment. To interact means to affect each other. the environment consists of all the factors in an organism's surrounding that affect it.
A habitat is not the same as an environment. The habitat is simply where an organism lives. the habitat is a places whereas an environment is a set of factors that affect survival.
Ecosystems
To help understand how organisms live in a particular environment ecologists use the concept of an ecosystems. An ecosystem is a system formed by a group of living thing interacting with each other and their non-living surroundings.
Ecosystems have three main components:
- Physical surroundings, such as rocks, soil and water
- Living organisms
- Living and non-living factors that make up the environments.
Humans can create artificial ecosystem such as the aquarium. These ecosystems are usually not balanced. they need to be managed by adding food materials and removing wastes.
Factors influencing organisms
Organisms in an ecosystem can be affected by two main sets of factor.One set of factors is due to the actions of living organisms, while the other set is due to the non-living surroundings.
The non-living factors are called abiotic factors, also known as physical factors. These include water, air quality, the amount of light, temperature, wind, soil type, humidity of the air, tides, waves, lightning and fires.
The living factors are called biotic factors.Living factors in the human environment include predators such as sharks, parasites, fungi, infectious organisms, competitors(such as other humans trying to obtains food ) and collaborators (such as a breeding partner).
Abiotic Factors
Water
Water is essential for the chemical reactions in the cells of living things. All organisms require water, though not all need to drink it. Some obtain enough water in their food. For land animals, the availability of water is often the most vital factor in survival.
Water is essential for the chemical reactions in the cells of living things. All organisms require water, though not all need to drink it. Some obtain enough water in their food. For land animals, the availability of water is often the most vital factor in survival.
Temperature
Heat affects the speed of chemical reaction in the cells. As temperature increases, the rate of a reaction increases.
Birds and mammals like humans and kangaroos are warm blooded or endothermic. endothermic mean that the organisms have the ability to generate heat internally and control heat loss to keep their body temperature constant.
Heat affects the speed of chemical reaction in the cells. As temperature increases, the rate of a reaction increases.
Birds and mammals like humans and kangaroos are warm blooded or endothermic. endothermic mean that the organisms have the ability to generate heat internally and control heat loss to keep their body temperature constant.
Fire
A bush fire can kill some plants,but it may help others. Some drop their seeds. Many Australian plants will germinate after a fire due to the chemicals released in the smoke.
A bush fire can kill some plants,but it may help others. Some drop their seeds. Many Australian plants will germinate after a fire due to the chemicals released in the smoke.
Light
Light is necessary for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants manufacture their food materials using water, carbon dioxide and light. Changes in the amount of light over the seasons trigger plants growth and flowering in many species.
Light is necessary for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants manufacture their food materials using water, carbon dioxide and light. Changes in the amount of light over the seasons trigger plants growth and flowering in many species.
Soil type
Soil are not all the same.Some have more nutrients than others and some soils hold water better than others.
Soil are not all the same.Some have more nutrients than others and some soils hold water better than others.
Gas levels
Most organisms require oxygen for respiration. oxygen for respiration. There is usually enough oxygen in the air for organisms, but the amount in water can change greatly. Colder water contains more oxygen than warm water does.
Most organisms require oxygen for respiration. oxygen for respiration. There is usually enough oxygen in the air for organisms, but the amount in water can change greatly. Colder water contains more oxygen than warm water does.
Biotic factors
Organisms rarely live alone-they are surrounded by other living thing including plants, animals and microorganisms. The living things in an ecosystem form a community. Different relationship exist between the organisms in a community and these relationships are classified by how the organisms interact.
There are many different interactions between living organisms.these interactions involve biotic factors, and they play a major role in the survival of all species. Sometimes organisms assist each other, and sometimes they harm each other.
Organisms rarely live alone-they are surrounded by other living thing including plants, animals and microorganisms. The living things in an ecosystem form a community. Different relationship exist between the organisms in a community and these relationships are classified by how the organisms interact.
There are many different interactions between living organisms.these interactions involve biotic factors, and they play a major role in the survival of all species. Sometimes organisms assist each other, and sometimes they harm each other.
Competition
Organisms are said to be in competition when they both try to obtain the same resource, which may only exist in limited amounts.Competition occurs between members of the same species and between different species.
There is only a limited supply of food and resources, and so some individuals will not survive. In natural communities, competition is often fierce. There is a constant struggle for survival, and many die , especially the young, the old and the weak.
Organisms are said to be in competition when they both try to obtain the same resource, which may only exist in limited amounts.Competition occurs between members of the same species and between different species.
There is only a limited supply of food and resources, and so some individuals will not survive. In natural communities, competition is often fierce. There is a constant struggle for survival, and many die , especially the young, the old and the weak.
Predation
When one organism kills and eats another, the attacker is called the predator and the one being eaten is called the prey.This feeding relationship is known as predation.
When one organism kills and eats another, the attacker is called the predator and the one being eaten is called the prey.This feeding relationship is known as predation.
Mutualism
Mutualism is a relationship where two organisms live closely together and both benefit. The flagellates in a termite's guts are a good example. Without the flagellates, the termite would not have any food.The flagellates receive food and the correct temperature and moisture levels for survival.Both organisms depend upon each other.
Mutualism is a relationship where two organisms live closely together and both benefit. The flagellates in a termite's guts are a good example. Without the flagellates, the termite would not have any food.The flagellates receive food and the correct temperature and moisture levels for survival.Both organisms depend upon each other.
Parasitism
Parasitism is a relationship where one organism lives on or in another organism(the host ) and feeds off it. The parasite cannot survive without the organism in which it lives. The parasite usually harms the host, but rarely kills it.
Parasitism is a relationship where one organism lives on or in another organism(the host ) and feeds off it. The parasite cannot survive without the organism in which it lives. The parasite usually harms the host, but rarely kills it.
Commensalism
Commensalism is a relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.
Commensalism is a relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.
Adaptations
Organisms are able to cope with the biotic and abiotic factors in their environment because they have special features that assist the to survive. These features are called adaptations. An adaptation is any feature that assist an organism to survive and reproduce.
Organisms have adaptations for every activity they engage in. Adaptations are classified as structural, behavioral or functional features of the organism.
Organisms are able to cope with the biotic and abiotic factors in their environment because they have special features that assist the to survive. These features are called adaptations. An adaptation is any feature that assist an organism to survive and reproduce.
Organisms have adaptations for every activity they engage in. Adaptations are classified as structural, behavioral or functional features of the organism.
Structural adaptations
A structural adaptations is a body part that help an organism to survive. For example, a bat has wings for flying. The bat's fingers are very long and form struts to support skin.
A structural adaptations is a body part that help an organism to survive. For example, a bat has wings for flying. The bat's fingers are very long and form struts to support skin.
Behavioral adaptations
A behavioral adaptation is a feature of an organism's habits, actions or way of life that helps it. For example dolphins. Dolphins use a behavior called echolocation. When they want to know what is in the water around them, they emit clicking sounds, These sound waves travel through water, reflect off objects and return to the dolphin.The dolphin has ability to receive these sound waves and form a mental image of the objects around it.
A behavioral adaptation is a feature of an organism's habits, actions or way of life that helps it. For example dolphins. Dolphins use a behavior called echolocation. When they want to know what is in the water around them, they emit clicking sounds, These sound waves travel through water, reflect off objects and return to the dolphin.The dolphin has ability to receive these sound waves and form a mental image of the objects around it.
Functional adaptations
A functional adaptations is a way organisms body works eg: human response to exercise.
A functional adaptations is a way organisms body works eg: human response to exercise.