1 March 2024

Food webs

There are many food chains in an ecosystem. Most animals do not eat only one kind of food. For example, a
locust does not only eat the leaves of a tree, it also feeds on grass and shrubs. Food webs tell us about the
different kinds of food eaten by different kinds of animals. Here is an example:

Food web: group of interconnected food chains

Trophic levels

Each stage or step in a food chain or food web is called a trophic level. The first trophic level is made up of the
producers. Herbivores or primary consumers make up the second trophic level. The third trophic level is made
up of secondary consumers, and it continues in that way. Each consumer depends on the trophic level below it
for energy.

Energy transfer and energy loss

Only a small part of the energy that is stored in one trophic level is passed is passed on to the next level. This is
because most of the energy is used by the organisms for life processes such as movement, respiration and
reproduction. Some energy is also lost as heat.

4 March 2024

Balance in an ecosystem

In an ecosystem, living organisms and environment that supports them are in fine balance. The number of
organisms an ecosystem can support depends on the resources available. These include food, water and
shelter. If there are plenty of resources, an ecosystem can support many individuals and large populations. If
resources are scarce, the numbers of individuals and the size of populations will be small. For example, if food
is in short supply, then organisms compete with each other for access of food. The better adapted plants or
animals are most likely to survive. When there is a shortage of food available, the number of organisms
decrease. When there is more food available, more organisms survive and the number of organisms increase.
The ecosystem is kept in balance.

The balance in an ecosystem can be disrupted by:

▪ Natural factors

▪ Human factors

Natural factors that disrupt the balance

Natural disruptions that can affect an ecosystem badly include wild fires, changes in weather patterns and
climate, droughts, floods, landslides, hurricanes, cyclones etc.

Human factors that disrupt the balance

Pollution: harm done to the environment by the release of harmful materials and substances produced usually
by human activities.

Poaching: the illegal removal of animals and plants from the wild.

For example, rhinos are killed for their horns, elephants are killed for their tusks, species of orchid, cycad and
tortoises are caught and illegally exported to countries where they can be sold for thousands of rands.

If poaching continues for a long time, and populations do not have a chance to recover, it can eventually result
in species becoming extinct. This can affect the balance in the ecosystems.

Extinct: there are no more of a species left on earth.

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6 March 2024

Class activity

Explain and elaborate on these following statements:

1. On average about 10% of net energy production at one trophic level is passed on to the next level.

2. The impact of the various factors such as loss of habitat, loss of species, change of weather or
climate on ecosystems.

3. The impact on a food web when one of the organisms is removed

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7 March 2024

Homework

1. Why does an ecosystem need to remain in balance?

2. Mention human factors that disrupt the balance in the ecosystem, explain how they affect the
balance.
3. What do you think is the main reason for humans to participate in such disruptive activities?
4. List all the natural factors that disrupt the balance in the ecosystem, select one from the list, and
explain in detail how it could disrupt the balance.
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8 March 2024

Adaptations

An adaptation is a characteristic that helps a living organism survive in its environment. Adaptations may occur
if there is a change in the structural, behavioral or functional characteristics of an organism.

Structural or physical adaptation is a special feature of the body, for example, birds have different shaped
beaks that are adapted for eating different foods.

Behavioral adaptation, many desert animals rest or go underground where it is cooler to escape the heat of
the day.

Functional adaptation relate to the way in which the body works. For example, leaves of erica plants are rolled
under at the edges to reduce water loss. Another example is that people sweat to cool their bodies down.

Changing environmental conditions and adaptations

Conditions in an environment may change. For example, the environment may become hotter and drier, or
there may be a shortage of resources. Some living organisms have characteristics that help them survive
changes in the environment. Organisms that are better adapted will most likely have a better chance to get the
resources that they need. These organisms are more likely to survive and reproduce.

In any population, each individual is slightly different. These differences are called variations.

Variations: differences between individuals in a population.

Sometimes a variation can help an individual to survive better. However, not all variations turn out to be useful
to an individual. A variation can make it difficult for an animal to survive, and sometimes it can have no effect
at all.

Sometimes when there is a very rapid change in the environment, or because of human activities, some
organisms may not be able to survive and the species can become extinct.

Adaptations of plants

Some plants are adapted to hot, dry environments, while others are adapted to living in water or environments
where conditions are moderate. Plants that live in water may have breathing pores on the top side of the leaf.
Plants that live in deserts may have grey, hairy leaves to reflect sunlight. This cools the plant.

Adaptations of animals in extreme environments

Animals are adapted to living in their habitats. Examples:

Camels have thick eyelashes provide protection from sand and sun, thick fur provides insulation during cold
nights, fat stored in the hump can be a source of food when it is scarce, hair lining the ears prevents sand from
entering.

Polar bears have thick layer of body fat under the skin that insulates the body and stores energy, large feet to
distribute their weight on the ice, fur on the soles provide better grip and insulation, ears are small to reduce
heat loss.
Predator adaptations

Examples are sharks and cheetahs; they both have adaptations that enable them to catch and hold their prey.

Cheetahs have good eyesight and can run very fast for short distances. They are well camouflaged, which
means that they blend in with their environment. This helps them get close to their prey. They have strong
sharp claws and teeth to hold onto, kill, and tear the flesh of their prey.

Sharks have a good sense of smell and can swim fast to catch their prey. They have a muscular tail to propel
themselves through the water. Sharp teeth are used to hold prey.

Prey adaptations – Camouflage and mimicry

Animals use different methods to avoid predators. Some are well camouflaged, such as lizards and insects.
They have colors and shapes that are similar to their environment. They keep still when enemies are nearby.

Some animals resemble other animals or plants in color or behavior. For example, the African monarch
butterfly tastes bad (unpalatable) and is avoided by birds. Another species of butterfly resembles the monarch
butterfly in appearance but it is edible. It does this to be avoided by birds. This is an example of mimicry.

Mimicry: Harmless species copy another poisonous species.

Camouflaged: colors and shapes help animals blend in well with the environment.

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11 March 2024

Class activity

1. Give examples, or scenarios for the following words:

Variation
Extinct
Camouflage
Mimicry

2. Name 2 characteristics that help each of the following animals adapt in their environments
and explain how these characteristics help them adapt.

Bear

Camel

Bird

3. How is the plant adapted to the environment?

4. Tabulate how the cheetah and shark are adapted to being good predators.

5. Differentiation between structural adaptation and functional adaptation.