Adaptations, Interdependence And Competition
Overview
Pick any patch of ground: a strip of sand dune, a puddle in a hot spring, the fur behind a dog's ear. Something already lives there, and whatever it is, it is holding that place against everything else that would like it. Living space is never handed out. It is won, held, and eventually lost, and the winners are the organisms whose bodies and habits happen to fit the conditions best.
This lesson is about that fit. You will sort out what plants and animals are actually competing over, and why two organisms that want the same thing cannot both have all of it. You will learn to split adaptations into the three groups the specification asks for: shape and structure, behaviour, and the chemistry going on inside. Then you will meet the specialists: organisms thriving in boiling, salty or crushing conditions, and the parasites that have solved the problem of survival by moving into another living body and staying there.
Objectives
- To survive and reproduce, organisms require a supply of materials from their surroundings and from the other living organisms there.
- Plants often compete with each other for light and space, and for water and nutrients from the soil.
- Animals often compete with each other for food, mates and territory.
- Organisms, including microorganisms, have features (adaptations) that enable them to survive in the conditions in which they normally live.
- Some organisms live in environments that are very extreme, containing high levels of salt, high temperatures or high pressures. These organisms are called extremophiles.
- Adaptations include: structural adaptations, eg the ways in which organisms are shaped, or coloured; behavioural adaptations, eg migration, huddling together; functional adaptations, related to processes such as reproduction and metabolism. Students should be able to explain how some parasites are adapted for living on or inside their hosts. For example: fleas live amongst the hair of mammals; tapeworms live inside the intestines of mammals; malaria parasites are single-celled organisms that cause malaria in humans. Students given appropriate information should be able to suggest how animals and plants are adapted to their environment.
Mind map
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Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Adaptations, Interdependence And Competition. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which of these is a behavioural adaptation? A. A thick layer of fat beneath the skin B. Migrating to a warmer region for winter C. Producing very concentrated urine D. White fur that matches snow Answer: B
- Which of these do plants NOT compete with each other for? A. Light B. Space C. Mineral ions from the soil D. Mates Answer: D
- Which conditions describe the environment of an extremophile? A. A high salt concentration, a high temperature or a high pressure B. Low light and moderate temperature C. Fast-flowing fresh water D. Deep, well-drained garden soil Answer: A
- A tapeworm has no digestive system of its own. Why is this not a problem for it? A. It photosynthesises inside the host B. It absorbs food that the host has already digested C. It digests the wall of the intestine D. It does not need any food Answer: B
- Producing small volumes of very concentrated urine in order to conserve water is best described as which type of adaptation? A. Structural B. Behavioural C. Functional D. Seasonal Answer: C
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