15 Questions
What is the main idea behind adaptation according to the text?
Organisms adapt to their environment or other organisms.
Why is it important for an organism to adapt to its environment?
So it can survive.
What happens when a new species is introduced to an environment?
The new species will cause a problem for the other organisms.
What is true about organisms and their habitats?
Organisms are adapted to both their environment and other organisms.
Why do organisms need to adapt to other organisms?
So they can survive with them.
What is a common characteristic of invasive species?
They threaten or cause the extinction of native species
Why are native species often unable to defend against invasive species?
Because they did not evolve with the introduced species
What is an example of a native species that may have developed methods to defend against mongooses?
Indian bird
Why do introduced species often reproduce unchecked in their new habitat?
Because they are not subject to predation
What happens when a predator and its prey are not introduced together into a new habitat?
The relationship between the predator and prey becomes unbalanced
What is the primary reason why an introduced species may die in a new environment?
It is not adapted to the environment
What happens to the ecological balance when an introduced species becomes established in an ecosystem?
It is altered, potentially leading to changes in grazing patterns, predator-prey dynamics, and competition for resources
What is the likely outcome if an introduced species is a large predator in an ecosystem with no native large predators?
It will have a significant impact on native species, potentially leading to local extinction
What is the term for when a species ceases to exist in a local area due to the introduction of an invasive species?
Local extinction
What is an example of an introduced species that has caused the extinction or near extinction of native species?
All of the above
Study Notes
Adaptation and Environment
- Organisms are adapted to their environment and the other organisms around them
- Both environmental and species-specific adaptations are necessary for survival
- If an organism can't adapt to its environment or coexist with other species, it will not survive
Introduced Species
- An introduced species is a species living outside its native environment, often due to human activity
- If the introduced species can't adapt to the new environment or coexist with native species, it will die
- If the introduced species can survive and breed, it will affect other organisms in the ecosystem
Alteration of Ecological Balance
- The introduction of a new species can alter the ecological balance, leading to competition for resources and changes in predator/prey dynamics
- Introduced species can outcompete native species for resources, alter grazing patterns, and affect plant populations
- The effects of an introduced species can have a chain reaction, impacting multiple native species
Effects of Introduced Species
- Introduced species can lead to local extinction of native species that can't coexist with the invasive species
- Examples of introduced species causing extinction or near extinction of native species include the mongoose in Hawaii and tilapia in Indonesian streams and lakes
- Introduced species can dominate landscapes, such as grass-covered hills in California
Invasive Species
- Invasive species are non-native species that cause economic or ecological harm
- Invasive species can be successful in non-native environments due to the lack of adaptations in native species to defend against them
- Introduced species can reproduce unchecked in new habitats, leading to unbalanced ecosystems
Learn about the importance of adaptation in organisms, and how they adapt to both their environment and other species. Understand the delicate balance between these two factors and how they impact the survival of a species.
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