Page 165 - Innovator's Science-8

Why do you think is the reason for this?

Let's compare the number of dragonflies, bees, and butterflies in each
pond.

• Pond A (with fish) had fewer dragonflies than Pond B (without fish).
The reason is that fish feed on
Dragonfly
dragonfly larvae, which reduces
the number of dragonflies in the
pond.

Dragonflies eat flies, bees, and
butterflies. So when there are
fewer dragonflies, more of these
Larval
pollinators survive. Pollinators dragonfly
like bees and butterflies help
St. John's
plants by moving pollen from wort
one flower to another, which Fish
Science leads to more seeds being Fish have indirect effect on plants in and around ponds.
Bytes

produced. Therefore, in ponds with fish, there are fewer dragonflies, more
Testimony
In every ecosystem, one pollinators, and therefore, more seeds are produced by nearby flowering
change sets off another. plants.
When the number of one
organism increases or This study shows how living and non-living components (fish, dragonflies,
decreases, it affects pollinators, plants, temperature, water, nutrients) are all connected and
several others in the food
chain. Protec ng each influence each other in an ecosystem.
species helps keep What do you think, could happen if humans over fish these ponds?
nature's balance steady.
Over fishing could drastically reduce the fish population, allowing the
number of dragonflies to rise. As a result, these would be fewer pollinators
like bees and butteflies, which would lead to decline in flowers and seed
production.

This example shows how even small changes can disrupt the delicate
balance of nature.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF INTERACTIONS AMONG
ORGANISMS AND THEIR SURROUNDINGS?

We have learned that plants and animals need air, water, soil, and sunlight
to grow. We call them abiotic (non-living) components of nature. All biotic
(living) organisms such as plants, animals, and microorganisms-depend on
these abiotic components for their survival.

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