Chapter 3

Physical conditions and

the availability of resources
Chapter contents
CHAPTER CONTENTS
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Environmental conditions
3.3 Plant resources
3.4 Animals and their resources
3.5 Effects of intraspecific competition for resources
3.6 Conditions, resources and the ecological niche

Key concepts
KEY CONCEPTS
In this chapter you will:
l understand the nature of, and contrasts between, conditions and
resources
l understand how organisms respond to the whole range of conditions
like temperature, but also to ‘extreme’ conditions and to the timing
of both variations and extremes
l appreciate how a plant’s responses to, and its consumption of, the
resources of solar radiation, water, minerals and carbon dioxide are
intertwined
l appreciate the importance of contrasting body compositions in the
consumption of plants by animals, and of overcoming defenses in
the consumption of animals by other animals
l understand the effects of intraspecific competition for resources
l appreciate how responses to conditions and resources interact to
determine ecological niches

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