Interdependence The way that animals and plants rely on each other.
3. Investigating interdependence Living things get resources from the environment and from other living things. They also rely on each other in other ways. The way that living organisms rely on each other is called interdependence.
To investigate interdependence within the community of organisms in your chosen habitat you will need to consider: Which organisms appear to interact with each other. How each organism appears to benefit from the relationship. How each organism appears to be adapted to benefit from the other. Research that other scientists have carried out.
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Example Bees and flowers Observations:
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A bee goes inside the flower of a foxglove for a few seconds. The bee appears to fit almost exactly into the shape of the flower. The bee leaves the flower covered in yellow powder and goes to several other foxglove plants but appears to ignore other flowers in the area.
Based on your observations you might conclude that:
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The interaction between the bee and the flowers is an example of interdependence. The bee depends on the foxglove for food because it eats the nectar and yellow pollen. The foxglove depends on the bee to carry some of the pollen to other foxgloves which allows the foxgloves to pollinate each other.
Based on the research of other scientists you might also learn that: The bee is adapted to collect bundles of pollen on its legs. The shape of the foxglove flower is an adaptation which ensures that some of the pollen on the bee will be rubbed off when it goes to the next flower. Different species of plant produce pollen at different times of the year.
16.4 The flow of matter and energy through ecosystems
The flow of matter through ecosystems Nutrients from the environment are used by organisms for energy, growth and repair. When plants and animals respire they release carbon dioxide and water back to the environment. When they die they are broken down by fungi and bacteria, releasing elements such as carbon
