Competition
I can describe resources that organisms have to compete for and explain how adaptations can be helpful.
Competition
I can describe resources that organisms have to compete for and explain how adaptations can be helpful.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- All living organisms need resources from their habitat to enable them to survive.
- Resources are limited, so individuals are in competition for them.
- Organisms compete for resources such as food, water, space, shelter, light, mates, pollinators and seed dispersers.
- Variation means some individuals are better adapted to compete more successfully than others.
- These individuals have the best ‘fit’ to their environment.
Common misconception
Many learners think that the only way animals compete for resources is through physical aggression.
This lessons contains many examples of how animals and other organisms compete for resources.
Keywords
Competition - Living organisms struggle for access to limited resources. This struggle is known as competition.
Variation - Differences between organisms of the same species are known as variation.
Adaptation - An adaptation is a feature that helps an organism to function and survive.
Advantage - A feature that helps an organism to compete more effectively in its habitat gives the organism an advantage in the competition.
Fittest - Organisms that are the best adapted to their environment are said to be the fittest.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
living organisms struggle for access to limited resources
differences between organisms of the same species
a feature that helps an organism to function and survive
for efficient swimming
to detect prey
to capture and eat prey
to hunt without being detected
Exit quiz
6 Questions
to hear predators
to reach food sources
to camouflage it from predators
to run fast and escape predators
to reach leaves on thorny branches without scratching its face or eyes
to float and gain as much sunlight as possible
to protect againt predators
to keep the surface dry
to attract insect pollinators