SCIENCE GATEWAY REVIEW AND PRACTICE BIOLOGY

Topic for review This is the fourth of 5 biology based units you will study Adaptation

#4 Adaptation Relationships in Nature

Adaptation Symbiosis Feeding relationships with an ecosystem How cooperation and competition exist in nature.

Adaptation -A trait that makes a living thing able to survive in its surroundings. -Controlled by genes Examples: –Web feet on a duck to help it swim –White fur on a polar bear to help it blend in to the snow –Extra fur on an animal to survive the cold –Scent of a skunk to ward off enemies

Natural Selection - Process by which something in a living thing’s surroundings determines if it will survive in order to reproduce offspring. –Something in nature does the selecting. –Living things that are suited to their surroundings are the ones who will most likely survive and reproduce.

Symbiosis- Relationship between species living in direct contact with each other; exchange of benefits Parasitism- One species benefits; other is harmed –ex: food/shelter in exchange for decrease in warmth and reproduction. Fleas on a dog / bacteria or virus in your body Mutualism- Both species benefit from each other. Termites on a dead log / bacteria in intestine provides body with vitamin B12 - human provides home for bacteria Commensalism- One species benefits; the other is unaffected. ex: sea anemone provides food and shelter; fish provides nothing

Communities An area full of different species of living things, all dependent on one another for survival Habitat – place where an organism lives Niche – an organism’s job within a community. Types of organisms: producer – consumer decomposer

Feeding Relationships within an ecosystem Ecosystem is composed of varieties of food webs, made up of various food chains. Each chain consists of producers, consumers and decomposers. Example producer – green plants (receive nutrients from soil) consumer –primary (animals who eat plants) or secondary (animals who eat other animals) decomposer – bacteria (from living waste material; makes soil fertile)

Food Chain Producer –Produces food for themselves and other living organisms using energy from the sun Consumer –Primary – eats plants –Secondary – eats other animals Decomposer –Breaks down food and recycles it for nature

Cooperation / Competition in Nature cooperation Populations within an environment interact with and assist other populations for food, shelter and protection. competition Different populations try to occupy same environment; end up competing for food, shelter and protection. ie: trees in a forest for sunlight; herbivores eating different plants or different plant parts

WHEEEWWWHHHEEE!!!! That’s a lot of knowledge! Think you can remember? GATEWAY – HERE I COME!