Animals that Live in Groups & in Solitary

Note: Generally, most solitary animals are predators while their prey usually

live in groups.

Animals live in...

groups

live together

with other

members of

their species in a

habitat

advantages

can

cooperate

to hunt for

food

can help

each other

to defend

themselves

from

enemies

can help

each other

to build

their nest

solitary

live and hunt for

food alone

except when

mating or

rearing the

young

advantages

can avoid

competition

for food

can avoid

competition

for space

Examples of Group Animals

a mob/clan of

meerkats

a pack of

wolves

a school of fish

a swarm of

jellyfish

a herd of

elephants

a pride of lions

a flock of

crows

a colony of

penguins

a flamboyance of

flamingos

Examples of Solitary Animals

lizard

spider

leopard

panda

octopus

tapir

snake

tiger

pangolin

Interaction Among Living Things

Note: Competition does not threaten species of plants and animals to the

brink of extinction.

Types of Interaction Among Animals

Interaction

interdependence

among living

things

for food, shelter

and protection

can either be in

the form of

cooperation or

competition

Animals

compete for

food

water

shelter

territory (space)

breeding partner

Plants

compete for

nutrient

water

sunlight

root space

produce new generations

of individuals that are

stronger and fitter

control the populations

of living things in a

habitat

reduce overcrowding

in one habitat

maintain

balance of nature

Importance of

Competition Among

Living Things

• living things cooperate with one another in order to

survive

• get benefits from each other

• get food, protection or transportation

Cooperation

• when two species are competing for the same limited

amount of resources

• only one of the animals gets the benefits

• compete for food, water, shelter, territory (space) and

breeding partner (only for same species)

Competition

Cooperation among Animals of Same Species

Cooperation among Animals of Different Species

Examples of Cooperation of Same Species

Buffalo in a herd

help protect each

other.

Each member of

a honey bee

colony has a specific

role. All contribute

to the survival of

the colony.

Ants work together

to build their nest.

Musk oxen live in

herds. The herd

forms a defensive

circle with calves

inside as protection

against wolves.

Wolves in a pack

help hunt together.

Dolphins rely on

each other to find

food,

communicating

through clicks and

squeaks.

Examples of Cooperation of Different Species

The ox pecker gets

food without any

threat or

competition and in

turn the buffalo gets

the benefit of

getting rid of the

annoying insects

from its skin.

Clownfish receives

food, shelter, and

protection from Sea

Anemone. In return,

it protects Anemone

by chasing away

Butterfly Fish that

like to bite off the

ends of Anemone’s

tentacles.

The shark is getting

cleaned and

groomed while the

remora is getting

fed and transported.

Competition among Animals of Same Species

Competition among Animals of Different Species

Note: (1) Interspecies did not compete for breeding partner.

(2) To avoid competition, populations in an ecosystem often have different

food requirements.

Intraspecies (same species) Competition

Territory (space)

This clown fish lives with a sea anemone. It

will defend its small territory against other

clown fish.

Breeding Partner

Deers compete with

each other for the

pick of the females

to mate with.

Shelter

Number of swallows

grows, competition

for boxes increases.

Food

Two roosters fighting

over a worm.

Water

Zebras have to

compete for the

limited water during

dry season.

Interspecies (different species) Competition

Food

A few birds competing with a

squirrel for limited food.

Water

Animals in a same habitat have

to compete for limited water

during drought.

Shelter

Polar bear will defend its den

from being taken over by other

animals such as wolf.

Territory (space)

The woodpecker is prepared to

fight with the squirrel for its

territory.

Competition between Plants

Note: Competition for sunlight, water, nutrients and space has resulted in

trees of different heights in the forest.

Extinct and Endangered Species

Plants compete because of limited...

...sunlight that can reach them.

Plants need sunlight to make

their own food. Plants of the

same height should be planted

together to avoid competition for

sunlight.

...nutrients.

Plants need nutrients for healty

growth. Avoid planting too many

plants in a small area which will

result in unhealty growth.

...water resources.

One of the basic needs for plants

to make their own food. Roots of

some plants grow extensively to

compete for water.

...space.

Plants cannot grow well in

limited space. Plants should be

planted further apart to avoid

competition for space.

Extinct

Species

are species that no

longer exist or entire

species died

due to change in

climate and weather on the earth

as well as human

activities such as

excessive hunting and destruction

of their habitats

tasmanian wolf

auk bird

dinosaur

Examples of Extint Animals

quagga

dodo bird

caspian tiger

mammoth

Endangered Animal Species

hunted for its fur

hunted for its feather, meat and

beak

hunted for live-animal

trade

hunted for its meat and

shell

hunted for its meat and

teeth

hunted for its tusk

hunted for its skin and

bones

hunted for sports and

its meat

hunted for its horn

hunted for its meat and

fats

Endangered

Species

are species of animals

or plants that are

facing the threat of

becoming extinct

more members of

species lose natural

habitat

hard to obtain basic

needs

caused by:

illegal and excessive logging

illegal and excessive hunting

excessive deforestation for

development

Endangered Plant Species

rafflesia

venus flytrap

pitcher plant

mangrove tree

slipper orchid

Preventing Animal and Plants from Extinction

Impact of Human Activities on Environment

• conservation – the intelligent and proper managementand a systematic use of natural resources such as livingthings to prevent waste, loss and damage to theresources

• preservation – keep natural resources such a livingthings and the environment in their original andbalanced state

through

• protect natural habitat from being destroyed

• protect natural resources being depleted

• maintain population of endangered species

• maintain a balanced ecosystem to minimize destructionof natural habitat

to

• preservation – setting up forest reserved; setting upmarine parks

• conservation – selective logging, leaving some maturedplants and many small plants; replanting cut down areas

• education – create awareness on preservation andconservation importance; campaign againstexcessive/illegal logging; avoid using products madefrom endangered species

• law enforcement – authorities taking action againstlawbreakers

steps

• due to excessive logging

• soil exposed when trees are cut down

soil erosion

• soil erosion causes soil to become loose and fall downhill as landslide

landslides

• soil erosion causes soil to flow into rivers and they become shallow

• during heavy rain, the rivers overflow and cause flash floods

flash flood

• due to logging and mining activities

• soil erosion causes soil to be washed into rivers and they become muddy

• excessive use of fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides

• also due to improper waster management

water pollution

• due to improper air pollutants management in factories

• also due to heavy use of motor vehicles

air pollution