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WHAT IS COMPETITION IN ECOSYSTEMS?
In ecosystems, organisms compete for the resources they need to survive, grow, and reproduce. Animals compete for air, food, shelter, water, and space. Plants also compete with each other for the resources they need, including air, water, sunlight, and space. These interactions within an ecosystem help keep the populations of various organisms in balance and are necessary to keep an ecosystem healthy.
To better understand the competition in ecosystems…
WHAT IS COMPETITION IN ECOSYSTEMS?.
In ecosystems, organisms compete for the resources they need to survive, grow, and reproduce. Animals compete for air, food, shelter, water, and space. Plants also compete with each other for the resources they need, including air, water, sunlight, and space. These interactions within an ecosystem help keep the populations of various organisms in balance and are necessary to keep an ecosystem healthy.
To better understand the competition in ecosystems…
LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!
Environmental factors affect competition for resources.
Competition for resources affects an organism’s ability to survive, grow, and reproduce. For example, the gray fox can live in many places across the United States. However, if resources are limited, the fox’s ability to grow is affected. Plants can be affected in the same way. For example, plants will not reach their full height and width if they do not have enough space to grow.
Environmental factors affect competition for resources. Competition for resources affects an organism’s ability to survive, grow, and reproduce. For example, the gray fox can live in many places across the United States. However, if resources are limited, the fox’s ability to grow is affected. Plants can be affected in the same way. For example, plants will not reach their full height and width if they do not have enough space to grow.
Genetic factors affect an organism’s ability to survive.
Many genetic factors affect a plant or animal’s ability to survive. Genetic factors include traits that are inherited from parents. Traits can include leg length, which can affect an animal’s ability to run to either catch something to eat or avoid being eaten. Genetic factors also affect things like fur and feather color, which can provide camouflage or attract a mate for reproduction.
Genetic factors affect an organism’s ability to survive. Many genetic factors affect a plant or animal’s ability to survive. Genetic factors include traits that are inherited from parents. Traits can include leg length, which can affect an animal’s ability to run to either catch something to eat or avoid being eaten. Genetic factors also affect things like fur and feather color, which can provide camouflage or attract a mate for reproduction.
Food webs show the transfer of energy and matter within an ecosystem.
A food web is a model that can be used to show the interactions between living things in an ecosystem. Food webs are used to explain how energy and matter are transferred between various organizational levels. The arrows in a food web indicate where energy and matter are transferred from and what organism receives the energy and matter.
Food webs show the transfer of energy and matter within an ecosystem. A food web is a model that can be used to show the interactions between living things in an ecosystem. Food webs are used to explain how energy and matter are transferred between various organizational levels. The arrows in a food web indicate where energy and matter are transferred from and what organism receives the energy and matter.
Invasive species can affect ecosystems in many ways.
Invasive species are organisms that are not native to an ecosystem. Invasive species can appear for many different reasons. For example, animals can carry and spread seeds to different areas where they don’t belong because the seeds are on their fur or in their waste. Usually, invasive species are carried to different ecosystems by humans (sometimes accidentally and sometimes on purpose). For example, feral pigs were brought here by early explorers as a source of food but are not common in the southern United States.
Invasive species can affect ecosystems in many ways. Invasive species are organisms that are not native to an ecosystem. Invasive species can appear for many different reasons. For example, animals can carry and spread seeds to different areas where they don’t belong because the seeds are on their fur or in their waste. Usually, invasive species are carried to different ecosystems by humans (sometimes accidentally and sometimes on purpose). For example, feral pigs were brought here by early explorers as a source of food but are not common in the southern United States.
There are many careers that study populations.
Many scientists study populations of living things, including wildlife biologists. Wildlife biologists are scientists who make observations and collect data from different populations and population interactions in ecosystems. Wildlife biologists help track populations that may be endangered, and they move animals within ecosystems when an area is becoming overpopulated.
There are many careers that study populations. Many scientists study populations of living things, including wildlife biologists. Wildlife biologists are scientists who make observations and collect data from different populations and population interactions in ecosystems. Wildlife biologists help track populations that may be endangered, and they move animals within ecosystems when an area is becoming overpopulated.
COMPETITION IN ECOSYSTEMS VOCABULARY
Competition
Relationship between organisms that strive for the same resources in the same ecosystem.
Resources
A substance or object in the environment required by an organism for normal growth, maintenance, and reproduction.
Organism
Any living thing.
Environment
Surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives.
Environmental Factors
The things in one’s surroundings, including living and nonliving things.
Genetic Factors
Traits that are inherited from one’s parents, such as hair color, eye color, and height.
To hide or disguise the presence of an object, animal, or person.
A community of interacting organisms and their environment. It includes both living and nonliving things.
A plant or animal that is not native to a given area.
A scientist who studies different populations within an ecosystem.
COMPETITION IN ECOSYSTEMS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
How are food webs used to help explain ecosystem interactions?
Food webs are models of the interactions that happen between producers and consumers in an ecosystem. They can be used to explain how matter and energy are transferred, and they are useful in making predictions about food resources.
How does the lizard-and-cricket example explain competition in an ecosystem?
In the example, there was a limited food source. If one lizard didn’t get any food because it was too slow, eventually it would die. This can also happen out in nature when food is limited.
Explain how an environmental factor might affect an ecosystem.
One possible answer could include a flood as an example. Flooding in an ecosystem affects an ecosystem’s resources. Animals may not get enough to eat because all the plants have been washed away, or some animals may lose their shelters and become prey for other animals.
Explain how genetic factors play a role in the survival of a population.
(Answers will vary.) If one animal has better camouflage than another animal of its same kind, it can hide better and not get eaten. Faster animals have a better chance of catching food.
Give an example of how a plant would need to compete for resources.
(Answers will vary.) Plants compete for space, water, and light. Plants need all of those things to grow. Low plants growing under a tree compete for the sunlight that reaches ground; plants that receive little to no sunlight do not survive.
Explain how an invasive species could change an ecosystem (the change could be helpful or harmful).
(Answers will vary.) If an invasive animal came into an ecosystem and did not have any predators, its population would keep growing. The invasive species may eventually eat up all the food that the native animals need.
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