Science Assessment ~ Topics ~ Interdependence in Ecosystems

Topic: Interdependence in Ecosystems

Below is a list of key ideas related to Interdependence in Ecosystems. Select a key idea to see the sub-ideas, assessment items, results from our field testing, student misconceptions, and NGSS statements for that idea.

All organisms, both land-based and aquatic, are connected to other organisms by their need for food. This results in a global network of interconnections, which is referred to as a food web.

In all environments, individual organisms that depend on the same resource may compete for that resource when it is limited. Resources that can be limited include food, space, water, shelter, and light.

Given adequate resources and an absence of disease or predators, populations of organisms in ecosystems can increase at rapid rates. Finite resources and other factors limit their growth.