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THEME : MAN AND THE VARIETY OF LIVING

THINGS
LEARNING AREA : 2. INTERDEPENDENCE AMONG LIVING ORGANISMS AND
THE ENVIROMENT

2.1 ANALYSING THE INTERDEPENDENCE AMONG LIVING ORGANISMS.

1. A ______________ is a group of the same kind of organisms with common characteristics.
2. A _____________ refers to a group of organisms of the same species living and reproducing in a define area..
3. A _______________ is made up of different populations of organisms living together in a habitat.
4. The organisms in a community depend on one another for food, shelter and protection.
5. An ecosystem consists of plants, animals and the non-living environment.
Ecosystem = Living organisms + non-living environment = Community + habitat
Ecosystem Habitat Organism
Trees Birds, monkeys
Soil Earthworms
Forest
Bushes Snakes
Streams Fish
6. A _______________ is a place where an organism lives.
7. Non-living things in an environment include air, water, sunlight and soil.

Makes food
during
photosynthesis.
Absorbs
nitrates for

Bacteria and f

8. Figure above shows, the interdependence among living organisms and the environment creates a balanced
ecosystem.
(a) During respiration, living organisms take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide.
(b) During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen.
(c) Plants make food using carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil with the help of light energy
from the Sun and chlorophyll in their leaves.
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2.2 EVALUATING THE INTERACTION BETWEEN LIVING ORGANISMS

Type of interaction examples
1. Prey-predator
a. Predator - Animals that hunt other
animals for food.
b. Prey - The animal being hunted.
Eagle = _____________ Snake = _______________
Hen =____________ Goat = _______________
2. ________________ Comensalism
(a) _______________________ Shark (not harmed)

A relationship between two organisms

such that one benefits from it while the Remora (benefits from the
other neither benefits nor is harmed by it. shark)
Mutualism
Sea anemone Egret
(b) _______________________
An association between two organisms
such that both sides benefit from the
relationship.
Hermit crab Buffalo

(c) _____________________
An association between two organisms
such that one organism benefits and the
other is harmed.
Parasitism
Fungus = parasite Mistletoe = parasite
Tree = host Tree = host

3. ________________ Competition
An interaction among organisms
competing for the same basic needs.

The trees compete for space, The tigers compete for food,
sunlight, water and mineral salts. Shelter and mates for reproduction.

1. Interaction between living organisms is important as it helps to maintain the size of populations in an
ecosystem. Hence, this will maintain a balanced ecosystem.
2. In any ecosystem, when a population grows too big, the organisms of the same species will compete among each other for
their basic needs.
3. Some will die and this will reduce the size of the population and maintain a balanced ecosystem.
4. Biological control is the control of pests by the introduction of their natural enemy.
Examples of biological control:
a. Fishes (predator) eat the larvae (prey) of mosquitoes in a pond.
b. Owls (predator) eat the rats (prey) in the oil palm estates.
c. Grass is planted to control the growth of weeds in the garden. (The weeds compete with the grass.)
5. The advantages of using biological control are
a. the population of crop pests can be controlled.
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b. it is free from pollution.
c. other populations are not affected.
d. it is cheap to maintain.
6. The disadvantages of using biological control are
a. the time taken to control the pests is long.
b. the predator may escape and upset the food chain.
c. the increase in the number of predators may become a nuisance to the community, such as the crow
problems in Klang.

2.3 SYNTHESIZING FOOD WEB

1. _________________________are green plants that produce their own food.
2. ___________________ are organisms that eat other organisms as food.
3. A _________________ consumer is usually a herbivore and feeds on plants.
4. A _________________ consumer feeds on the primary consumers.
5. A ____________________ consumer feeds on the secondary consumers.
6. _____________________ are organisms that breakdown dead plants and animals into simpler substances
like nitrates. They are made up of bacteria and fungi.
7. A ____________________is a series of living organisms arranged such that each organism feeds on the one below
it in the series.

Plants Eaten by Animals

(producer) (consumer)

Absorbed Death Excretory waste

Nitrates Decomposers

Relationship between producers, consumers and decomposers in an ecosystem

8. Food web is made up of two or more interconnected food chains.

Producer Primary consumer Secondary consumer Tertiary consumer

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9. In the above food web, there are five food chains.

(a) ____________ —— > Grasshopper —— > ______________ —— > Snake
(b) Plant —— > _____________—— > Hen —— > ________________
(c) ____________ —— > Sparrow —— > ______________ —— > Snake
(d) Plant —— > Grasshopper —— > ______________ —— > Snake
10. Pyramid of numbers is a diagram showing the relative number of organisms at each level of a food
chain.
11.

Referring to Figure
(a) ____________ - producer of the food chain, traps light energy from the Sun.
(b) ______________ - primary consumer, obtains its energy by eating the grass.
(c) ______________ - secondary consumer, obtains its energy by eating the grasshopper.
(d) _______________ - tertiary consumer.
Grasshopper
(primary consumer)
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12. The amount of energy transferred from one level to the higher level in a pyramid of numbers
decreases.

14. If there is a drastic change in any of the populations of living organisms in the ecosystem, it will upset
the whole ecosystem.
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Food web
15. If the population of the grasshopper in Figure above increases,
(a) the population of the frog will___________________.
(b) the population of the snake will__________________.
(c) the population of the plants will __________________.
16. When one population in the food web is missing, decreases or increases, the food web will be imbalanced. It will
take a long time for the ecosystem to be balanced again.

2.4 ANALYSING PHOTOSYNTHESIS

1. _____________________is the process of making food by green plants (producers).
2. _________________ (green pigment) in leaves absorbs light energy from the Sun.
3. In the presence of _____________and________________, green plants use ____________and
_________________ to make food in the form of glucose. Oxygen is released.
sunlight
Carbon dioxide + water chlorophyll ______________ + _____________

Photosynthesis

4. Plants need light, chlorophyll, carbon dioxide and water for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis will not take place
if any of the factors is absent.
5. In order to know whether photosynthesis has taken place, we test for the presence of starch in leaves.
6. The presence of starch can be tested using
iodine solution when the chlorophyll in the leaf
is removed.
7. The area containing starch will turn dark
blue when iodine solution is added.
8. The oxygen cycle
a. Oxygen is released during photosynthesis.
b. Oxygen is used up during respiration by
plants and animals.
c. Oxygen is used up during decomposition by
micro- organisms.
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d. Oxygen is used up during burning of fuels.

respiration respiration

photosynthesis

Combustion
decomposition
of fuel

photosynthesis

The Carbon Cycle

1. Carbon dioxide is released during respiration, combustion and decomposition.
2. Carbon dioxide is removed from the air during photosynthesis.

Carbon dioxide in the air

Green plants Animals

Fossil fuels
2.5 EVALUATING THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION OF
LIVINGORGANISMS.
1. Conservation means maximizing the use of natural resources with the least disturbance to the living
organisms and their environment.
2. Preservation refers to the measures taken to maintain living organisms and the environment in their '
natural balanced state.
3. Steps taken to conserve and preserve living organisms:
a. Build more centres for the endangered species to reproduce.
b. Establish more forest reserves and national parks,
c. Reforestation.
d. Controlling deforestation and extensive fishing.
e. Recycling.
f. Enforce laws to control logging activities.
g. Enforce laws on the protection of wildlife.
h. Increase public awareness on its importance through education.
4. The importance of conservation and preservation of living organisms:
a. Maintaining nature's balance.
b. Preventing extinction of endangered species.
c. Helps to promote eco-tourism.

2.6 EVALUATING THE ROLE OF MAN IN MAINTAINING THE BALANCE IN NATURE

1. The effects of human activities on the balance in nature
a. Change of global climate
b. Destruction of habitat
c. Extinction of species
d. Air, soil and water pollution
e. Loss of wetlands
f. Solid waste management
g. Deforestation
h. Over usage of land
i. Over fishing
2. Steps taken to solve problems related to environment:
a. Establish more forest reserves and replant trees
b. Do not pollute the air, soil and water as the pollutants are harmful to the organisms
c. Enforce laws on illegal hunting
d. Support wildlife preservation
e. Enforce laws concerning disposal of toxic wastes to the environment

GLOSSARY
Biological control (Kawalan biologi) - The control of pests by biological means.
Commensalism (Komensalisme) - An interaction between two organisms in which one benefits and the other is not
affected.
Competition (Persaingan) - An interaction between two or more organisms that share the same basic needs.
Conservation (Pemuliharaan) - Prevention of destruction, waste, loss and damage.
Consumer (Pengguna) - Animal that feeds on other living organisms.
Decomposer (Pengurai) - An organism that breaks down the dead bodies of plants and animals into simpler
substances.
Food chain (Rantai makanan) - A series of organisms through which energy is transferred in the form of food.
Mutualism (Mutualisme) - A relationship between two kinds of organisms such that both benefit from it.
Parasitism (Parasitisme) - A relationship between two kinds of organisms in which one organism benefits and the
other is harmed.
Predator (Pemangsa) - An animal that kills other animals for food.
Producer (Pengeluar) - Green plant that makes food by using light energy during photosynthesis.
Pyramid number (Piramid nombor) - The number of organisms at each level of the food chain.