Animals that Live in Groups & in Solitary

Examples of Group Animals

Animals live in...

groups

a mob/clan of
meerkats

a swarm of
jellyfish

a flock of
crows

a pack of
wolves

a herd of
elephants

a colony of
penguins

a school of fish

a pride of lions

a flamboyance of
flamingos

solitary

live and hunt for

food alone
except when
mating or
rearing the
young

live together
with other
members of
their species in a
habitat

Examples of Solitary Animals

advantages

can
cooperate
to hunt for
food

can help
each other
to defend
themselves
from
enemies

advantages

can help
each other
to build
their nest

can avoid
competition
for food

can avoid
competition
for space

Note: Generally, most solitary animals are predators while their prey usually
live in groups.

lizard

panda

snake

spider

octopus

tiger

leopard

tapir

pangolin

Interaction Among Living Things

produce new generations
of individuals that are
stronger and fitter

Interaction

interdependence
among living
things

control the populations

of living things in a
habitat

Importance of
Competition Among
Living Things

can either be in
the form of

reduce overcrowding
in one habitat

maintain
balance of nature

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

for food, shelter

and protection

cooperation or
competition

Types of Interaction Among Animals

Cooperation

Animals
compete for

Plants
compete for

food

nutrient

water

water

shelter
territory (space)
breeding partner

sunlight
root space

living things cooperate with one another in order to

survive
get benefits from each other
get food, protection or transportation

Competition
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)

Cooperation among Animals of Same 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.

Cooperation among Animals of Different Species

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 Anemones
tentacles.

The shark is getting

cleaned and
groomed while the
remora is getting
fed and transported.

Competition among Animals of Same Species

Intraspecies (same species) Competition

Competition among Animals of Different Species

Interspecies (different species) Competition

Food
A few birds competing with a
squirrel for limited food.

Territory (space)
This clown fish lives with a sea anemone. It
will defend its small territory against other
clown fish.

Shelter

Food

Polar bear will defend its den

from being taken over by other
animals such as wolf.

Two roosters fighting

over a worm.

Shelter

Water

Number of swallows
grows, competition
for boxes increases.

Animals in a same habitat have

to compete for limited water
during drought.

Breeding Partner

Water

Deers compete with

each other for the
pick of the females
to mate with.

Zebras have to
compete for the
limited water during
dry season.

Territory (space)
The woodpecker is prepared to
fight with the squirrel for its
territory.

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

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

Competition between Plants

Extinct and Endangered Species

Plants compete because of limited...

Extinct
Species

...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.

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

...water resources.
One of the basic needs for plants
to make their own food. Roots of
some plants grow extensively to
compete for water.

...nutrients.

...space.

Plants need nutrients for healty

growth. Avoid planting too many
plants in a small area which will
result in unhealty growth.

Plants cannot grow well in

limited space. Plants should be
planted further apart to avoid
competition for space.

Note: Competition for sunlight, water, nutrients and space has resulted in
trees of different heights in the forest.

tasmanian
wolf

Examples of Extint
Animals

auk bird

quagga

caspian tiger

dinosaur

dodo bird

mammoth

Endangered Animal Species

hunted for
live-animal
trade

hunted for
its fur

Endangered
Species

hunted for
sports and
its meat

hunted for
its meat and
shell

rafflesia
are species of animals
or plants that are
facing the threat of
becoming extinct

hunted for
its tusk

hunted for
its horn

Endangered
Plant Species

more members of
species lose natural
habitat

venus flytrap

pitcher plant

hard to obtain basic

needs

hunted for
its feather,
meat and
beak

hunted for
its skin and
bones

mangrove tree
caused by:

hunted for
its meat and
teeth

hunted for
its meat and
fats

illegal and excessive logging

illegal and excessive hunting
excessive deforestation for
development

slipper orchid

Preventing Animal and Plants from Extinction

Impact of Human Activities on Environment

through

soil erosion

conservation the intelligent and proper management

and a systematic use of natural resources such as living
things to prevent waste, loss and damage to the
resources
preservation keep natural resources such a living
things and the environment in their original and
balanced state

due to excessive logging

soil exposed when trees are cut down

to

flash flood

protect natural habitat from being destroyed

protect natural resources being depleted
maintain population of endangered species
maintain a balanced ecosystem to minimize destruction
of natural habitat

soil erosion causes soil to flow into rivers and they

become shallow
during heavy rain, the rivers overflow and cause flash
floods

steps

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

preservation setting up forest reserved; setting up

marine parks
conservation selective logging, leaving some matured
plants and many small plants; replanting cut down areas
education create awareness on preservation and
conservation
importance;
campaign
against
excessive/illegal logging; avoid using products made
from endangered species
law enforcement authorities taking action against
lawbreakers

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

water pollution

air pollution
due to improper air pollutants management in factories
also due to heavy use of motor vehicles