Adaptation
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Ecosystems
Evolution
Food and Energy
Human Influence
Nutrient Cycles
Predation
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Predation

Competition

In an environment there are many resources which all living things in it want. They must struggle to gain these resources and this is called competition. It is this that drives natural selection as organisms must constanly adapt so that they can compete against other species better.

Predation

The most common resource that animals compete for is food, as this is where they get their energy from. Predation is the relationship between the predators and prey; and this can be seen in a predator-prey graph

a predator prey graph

This graph shows what is called the predator - prey cycle where the numbers of predator and prey are closely related. And here is why the graph looks as it does:

  • If the prey population increases, there is more food for the predators so their numbers increase.
  • More prey are eaten, and so their numbers decrease.
  • Predator numbers fall because there is not enough food.
  • If the predator numbers are falling, the prey will become more numerous because they are not being eaten as much.
  • And the cycle continues

    • Because of competition, organisms must adapt in order to survive in their habitat. Adaptation comes about through evolution

    You can find out how some living things have adapted by look at adaptation