9.3 - Interdependence

Question 1

What does interdependence describe?

Answer 1

Interdependence describes how organisms in a community depend on other organisms for vital services.

Question 2

What vital services do organisms depend on each other for?

Answer 2

These include food, shelter, and reproduction (pollination, seed dispersal).

Example: Birds take shelter in trees, flowers are pollinated with the help of bees.

Question 3

How can the removal or addition of a species affect a community?

Answer 3

It can affect the populations of others greatly, as it changes prey or predator numbers.

Question 4

What is a stable community?

Answer 4

A stable community is one where all the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors are in balance.

Question 5

What happens to population sizes in a stable community?

Answer 5

The population sizes remain roughly constant.

Question 6

What happens when biotic or abiotic factors are lost from a community?

Answer 6

When they are lost, it is very difficult to replace them.

Question 7

Can you provide examples of stable communities?

Answer 7

Examples include tropical rainforests, oak woodlands, and coral reefs.