Author: Janine Ty; Sources: BBC, Unsplash

Competition in Ecosystems

INTRODUCTION

Competition between organisms in the same ecosystem occurs when both need access to the same limited resource. 

“Animals compete for food, water and space to live. Plants compete for light, water, minerals and root space.” —BBC

 

ACTIVITY 1

Searching for Food

Materials: Colorful 1 inch x 1 inch cubes // Duration: 10 minutes

  • Make sure that there are half the number of cubes as there are participants. For example, if there are 30 students, there should be 15 cubes.

  • Inform the students that they are animals and the colorful cubes represent the food that they need to survive.

  • The cubes should be hidden in random places within the room and everyone will be given 10 minutes to find one.

  • Make sure they are only taking one cube per person.

  • Once someone finds a cube, they will keep it with them and sit down.

  • The game is over once all of the cubes have been found or time runs out.

  • Explain to students that what they just experienced is similar to the competition animals in the wild must undergo in order to get resources needed for survival.

LESSON

Every ecosystem has a limited amount of each resource available. When there isn’t enough for all of the organisms living within an ecosystem, they are forced to compete for access to what they need. Sometimes, this competition will end in death.

 
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