Introduction to Dependence

Hello, Year 7! Today, we are going to explore how plants and other organisms depend on each other in ecosystems. This is an exciting topic because it shows us how everything in nature is connected!

What is an Ecosystem?

An ecosystem is a community of living things, like plants, animals, and microorganisms, and their environment, including air, water, and soil. In an ecosystem, different organisms interact with each other and with their surroundings.

How Do Plants Depend on Other Organisms?

1. Pollination

Plants need to reproduce, and many rely on animals for this. For example, bees and butterflies help flowers by moving pollen from one flower to another. This process is called pollination. Without pollinators, many plants would not be able to make seeds and grow new plants.

Example:

  • Bees and Flowers: Bees collect nectar from flowers, and while doing so, they transfer pollen, helping the flowers to reproduce.

2. Food Chain

Plants are at the start of almost every food chain. They make their own food through a process called photosynthesis. Other organisms, like herbivores (plant-eating animals), depend on plants for food. Then, carnivores (meat-eating animals) eat herbivores.

Example:

  • Grass → Rabbit → Fox: Grass uses sunlight to grow. Rabbits eat the grass, and then foxes eat the rabbits.

3. Symbiosis

Some plants and other organisms have special relationships that help them both. This is called symbiosis. There are different types of symbiosis:

  • Mutualism: Both organisms benefit.
  • Commensalism: One organism benefits, and the other is not harmed.
  • Parasitism: One organism benefits, and the other is harmed.

Example:

  • Mutualism: Clownfish and sea anemones. The clownfish gets protection, while the anemone gets food scraps.

Key Rules to Remember

  1. Interdependence: All living things depend on each other for survival.
  2. Diversity: The more variety of plants and animals in an ecosystem, the healthier it is.
  3. Balance: Ecosystems need balance. If one part is removed, it can affect the whole system.

Tips and Tricks

  • Visuals: Draw food chains to see how energy flows from plants to animals.
  • Real-Life Examples: Observe your garden or local park. Look for plants and the creatures that visit them.
  • Ask Questions: Why do you think certain animals visit specific plants? How do they help each other?

Questions

Easy Level Questions

  1. What is an ecosystem?
  2. Name one way plants depend on animals.
  3. What do bees collect from flowers?
  4. What is photosynthesis?
  5. Name a herbivore.
  6. Who eats herbivores in a food chain?
  7. What is mutualism?
  8. Give an example of a plant.
  9. What do carnivores eat?
  10. How do plants help the environment?

Medium Level Questions

  1. Explain what pollination is.
  2. Name two animals that help with pollination.
  3. What happens if a plant cannot get pollinated?
  4. Describe a food chain starting with a plant.
  5. What is the difference between mutualism and parasitism?
  6. Provide an example of commensalism.
  7. How do plants make their own food?
  8. Why is biodiversity important in an ecosystem?
  9. What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?
  10. How can removing one species affect an ecosystem?

Hard Level Questions

  1. Explain the process of photosynthesis.
  2. Discuss the importance of pollinators to human food supply.
  3. What would happen to a food chain if all the plants died?
  4. Describe a situation where two species compete for resources.
  5. Explain how climate change can affect ecosystems.
  6. What are some ways animals adapt to their environment?
  7. How do human activities impact plant and animal relationships?
  8. Describe an example of a parasite and its host.
  9. Why might an ecosystem be more resilient with more species?
  10. Discuss the role of sunlight in an ecosystem.

Answers

Easy Level Answers

  1. A community of living things and their environment.
  2. They need animals for pollination.
  3. Nectar.
  4. The process by which plants make food using sunlight.
  5. Rabbit.
  6. Carnivores.
  7. A relationship where both organisms benefit.
  8. Rose.
  9. Herbivores.
  10. They provide oxygen and food.

Medium Level Answers

  1. Moving pollen from one flower to another to help plants reproduce.
  2. Bees and butterflies.
  3. The plant may not produce seeds and cannot grow new plants.
  4. Grass → Rabbit → Fox.
  5. Mutualism benefits both; parasitism harms one.
  6. Barnacles on whales.
  7. Through photosynthesis using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.
  8. More species mean a more stable and resilient ecosystem.
  9. They break down dead material and recycle nutrients.
  10. It can lead to imbalances in the food chain.

Hard Level Answers

  1. Plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create glucose and oxygen.
  2. Many crops rely on bees for pollination; without them, food supply decreases.
  3. Herbivores would have no food, leading to their extinction and affecting carnivores.
  4. Two plants competing for sunlight or water.
  5. It can alter habitats, affecting species survival.
  6. Animals may change colour, behaviour, or diet.
  7. Pollution, deforestation, and urbanisation can disrupt relationships.
  8. A tapeworm living in a human’s intestines.
  9. More species provide more interactions and stability.
  10. Sunlight is the source of energy for plants, which supports the food chain.

I hope you enjoyed learning about how plants and ecosystems depend on each other! Remember, every organism plays a role in maintaining the balance of nature. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!