Competition and adaptation

Define competition and identify the resources that organisms (both animals and plants) compete for in their environment.
Define adaptation and explain how having adaptations increases an organism's chances of survival and reproduction in a particular habitat.
Provide examples of specific adaptations in both animals and plants and explain how each adaptation helps the organism survive.

In the wild, all organisms must compete for resources. This is known as competition.
Resources can include food, water, shelter, and mates. Animals that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Animals compete for a variety of resources. Some common examples include:

Food: Different species may compete for the same prey or plants.
Water: In arid environments, water can be scarce, leading to competition among animals.
Shelter: Animals may compete for burrows, dens, or other suitable habitats.
Mates: Males of many species compete with each other to attract females for reproduction.

Plants also compete for resources, particularly in crowded environments. Some examples include:

Light: Plants compete for sunlight, which is essential for photosynthesis.
Water: Plants in arid environments must compete for water, which is often scarce.
Space: Plants compete for space to grow and spread their roots.
Nutrients: Plants absorb nutrients from the soil, and they may compete with other plants for these essential resources.

Adaptations are characteristics that enable organisms to survive and thrive in their environment.
These adaptations can be physical, behavioral, or physiological.
As environments change, organisms must adapt or face extinction.
By understanding the adaptations of different species, we can gain a better appreciation for the diversity of life on Earth.

Animals have developed a wide range of adaptations to help them survive in their habitats. Some examples include:
- Camouflage: Many animals have coloration or patterns that help them blend in with their surroundings, making it difficult for predators to spot them.
- Speed: Some animals, such as cheetahs, have evolved to be very fast runners, allowing them to catch prey.
- Strength: Animals like gorillas and lions have developed strength and muscular bodies for defense and hunting.
- Specialised senses: Many animals have adapted their senses to be particularly sensitive to certain stimuli, such as smell or hearing.

A lion shows many adaptations

Plants have also evolved adaptations to help them survive in various environments. Some examples include:
- Waxy leaves: Many desert plants have a waxy coating on their leaves to help reduce water loss through evaporation.
- Spines: Some plants, such as cacti, have spines instead of leaves to help reduce water loss and deter herbivores.
- Deep roots: Plants in arid environments often have deep roots to reach underground water sources.
- Succulent stems: Some plants store water in their stems to help them survive during dry periods.

A cactus shows many adaptations

Competition: The struggle between organisms for limited resources such as food, water, light, space, shelter, or mates.
Resources: Things that organisms need from their environment to survive, grow, and reproduce.
Adaptation: A characteristic (physical, behavioral, or physiological) that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.
Survive: To remain alive.
Reproduce: To produce offspring.
Extinction: The dying out of a species.
Camouflage: An adaptation where an animal's coloration or pattern helps it blend in with its surroundings.
Spines: Sharp, protective structures on some plants, often adapted from leaves or stems, that reduce water loss and deter herbivores.

Choose a specific animal or plant and research its habitat, describing at least three different adaptations (physical, behavioural, or physiological) that help it survive and compete successfully in that environment.
Investigate different types of competition, such as competition between different species (inter-specific) versus competition within the same species (intra-specific), and provide examples of each.