Ecology Fundamentals
Every living thing exists as part of an ecosystem - a community of living organisms interacting with non-living elements in their environment. Within ecosystems, organisms live in specific habitats and form communities where different species depend on each other for survival.
When resources are limited, competition occurs. Plants might compete for light and water, while animals battle for food and territory. This interdependence creates complex relationships where each species relies on others for survival needs like food or pollination.
Did you know? Predator-prey relationships create natural population cycles! When prey increases, predators thrive and increase too, which then reduces prey numbers, eventually leading to fewer predators - and the cycle begins again.
Organisms develop adaptations to survive in their environment. These can be structural (physical features like a polar bear's fat layer), functional (how bodies work, like a camel's ability to conserve water), or behavioural (actions like desert rats hiding during hot periods).
The carbon cycle and water cycle keep ecosystems functioning. In the carbon cycle, plants absorb CO₂ through photosynthesis, while animals release it through respiration. When organisms die, decomposition returns carbon to the atmosphere. Similarly, the water cycle involves evaporation, condensation, and precipitation to circulate water throughout ecosystems.
