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Competition Among Living Things. Objectives: Explore how living things compete for things they need. Explain why competition occurs in ecosystems. Explain how populations avoid competition. Vocabulary: competition niche. How Much Room Do Organisms Need?.
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Competition Among Living Things • Objectives: • Explore how living things compete for things they need. • Explain why competition occurs in ecosystems. • Explain how populations avoid competition. Vocabulary: competition niche
How Much Room Do Organisms Need? • Competition for space affects how plants grow. Competition occurs when one organism works against another to get what it needs to live. Organisms may compete for space, water, food, or some other need. Free template from www.brainybetty.com
Desert plants compete for water. A cactus soaks up all the moisture in a single area. No other plants can grow in this area. Free template from www.brainybetty.com
Rabbits compete for food. If there are too many rabbits, all of the grass will be eaten. Some of the rabbits won’t survive. Free template from www.brainybetty.com
Predators also compete. Hawks, owls, and snakes all compete to catch mice for food. Free template from www.brainybetty.com
Different ecosystems support different numbers of organisms. The chart below compares the numbers of different types of birds in a rain forest with those in a temperate forest. Comparing Forests Temperate forests are the most common type of forest in the U.S. Rain forests support many more types of trees and birds than temperate forests. Free template from www.brainybetty.com
The same pattern is true for other living things. Why are there so many more types of organisms in the rain forest? Rain forests are much wetter and warmer than temperate forests. More plants can grow in this environment. More plants means more animals, too. Free template from www.brainybetty.com
Can Competition Be Avoided? Competition is a struggle for survival. In order to survive, some organisms find ways to avoid competing. Many types of organisms share the same ecosystem. Free template from www.brainybetty.com
Each type of organism has its own niche. A niche is the job or role an organism has in an ecosystem. An organism’s niche includes what an organism does, what it eats, and how it interacts with other organisms. Free template from www.brainybetty.com
For example, there are many types of pigeons in the forests of New Guinea. Each type has a different niche. This helps the pigeons avoid competition. The Victoria crowned pigeon has a niche that includes eating fruits, berries, and large seeds. The pigeon nests in trees and searches for food on the ground of the forest. The forests of New Guinea are home to Victoria crowned pigeons. Free template from www.brainybetty.com
Why It Matters As a living thing, you have a niche in your ecosystem. Your niche includes the roles you have at home and at school. How is your niche different from the niches of other people and animals in the ecosystem? Free template from www.brainybetty.com