Importance of interaction between living

organisms and the environment to maintain a

balance ecosystem
1. An organisms cannot exist by itself. It needs to interact with
other organisms to maintain a balanced ecosystem.
2. Living organisms interact among themselves in order to
obtain food and protection.
3. Interaction can exist between:

Animals and animals

Animals and plants
Plants and plants

4. Interaction between living organisms in an ecosystem will:

Create equilibrium in the environment

Control the size of a population in a community .

5. The types of interactions are

Predator-prey
Competition
Symbiosis

a) Predator-prey
)
)

This interaction controls the populations of

predator and prey.
The animals that hunts other animals for food is
called Predators, while the hunted animals are
Prey.
Characteristics of predators and prey:

Predators

Prey

Example : Tigers , Eagle

Example : Horses , rabbit

Size : Bigger

Size : Smaller

Food : Carnivores

Food : Herbivores

Teeth/Jaws : Sharp , strong

Run : Fast

Eyes : Sharp

Colour : Blend with surrounding

Vision : Stereoscopic

Vision : Monocular

Legs/Muscles : Strong

Live : In groups or herds.

b) Competition
)

An interaction among organisms competing for

the same basic need.
) Animals compete for food, space and mate. While
the plants compete for space, sunlight, water and
mineral salts.
) Controls the size of population and the stability of
ecosystem.
) It has 2 types of competition :
Intra-species competition
- between organisms of same species. For
example , cat competing for a mate.
Inter-species competition
- between organisms of different species. For
example , tiger and lions competing for food.

c) Symbiosis
)
)
)

An interaction between different organisms live in

close relationship.
One organisms always benefits while other
organisms may benefits, harmed or not affected.
Three types of symbiosis:
Mutualism
- Benefits both organisms (symbiont).
Commensalism
- Benefits one organisms(commensal) while another
organisms is not affected (host).

Parasitism
- Benefits one organisms (paresite) while other
organisms is harmed(host).
- Entoparasite. Its live outside the body of host.
- Endoparasite. Its live inside the body of host.

Importance of photosynthesis-respiration in
maintaining a balanced ecosystem
Stable ecosystem is very important for survival of
communities.
Stable ecosystem is dependent on :
Concentration of oxygen in the air
Concentration of carbon dioxide in the air

Photosynthesis and respiration are the processes that

maintain
the concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Living thing absorb oxygen and releases carbon dioxide
during respiration.
Green plants absorb carbon dioxide and releases
oxygen during photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis and respiration are balances one another
in an ecosystem.