Interdependency

Big word

Can you say it?

Do you know what it means?

By Moira Whitehouse PhD

Let’s first look at the word “dependent” which is found within this big word. What does it mean?

A tiny baby before it can crawl, walk or talk is pretty much dependent on grownups to meet all its needs.

Someone must give the tiny baby food and water.

Someone must put on the baby’s clothes and wrap it in a blanket to keep it. warm Gown-ups

provide a home for the baby.

The tiny baby is completely dependent on others to satisfy its needs.

The baby needs someone else to provide it food, water and shelter.

But what about the people who take care of the baby? Are they dependent on the baby for any of their needs?No, babies cannot take care of their parents. Babies and parents are not interdependent. Things that are interdependent depend on each other to satisfy their needs.

Now let’s look at some animals that are interdependent, they are dependent upon each other.

A crocodile invites plovers into its mouth but not to eat them. The plover picks meat out of the crocodile’s teeth keeping them clean and free from infection. The hungry bird, in turn, gets a “free” meal.

Interdependency of crocodiles and plovers:

What about plants and animals, are they interdependent—do they dependent on one another?

First let’s look at animal side of that question. Are animals dependent upon plants?

The two animals depend on one another—they are interdependent.

What do animals like bison and antelope eat?

What do animals like giraffe eat?Animals such as bison, antelope and giraffe eat blades of grass or leaves which are “p _ _ _ _ _”.

One of these birds is eating berries found on a plant; the other seeds from a flower.

Both the hummingbird and butterfly drink a sweet liquid called nectar that is found in some flowers.

These plant eating animals (herbivores) are dependent on plants for _________.What about animals that eat other animals? (carnivores)

Carnivores eat animals such as rabbits and mice but these animals eat plants. So in the long run, all animals, even carnivores are “d_ _ _ _ d _ _ t” on plants for food.

What are some things besides food do animals need to survive?

What about an animal’s need for oxygen? Do plants help provide oxygen for animals?

Remember when plants make food they take in carbon dioxide from the air and give off oxygen. Animals in turn breathe in that oxygen.

Plants add oxygen to the air. Without plants to replace the oxygen in air that animals need, animals would die.

So we know that animals depend on plants for food and oxygen. But what else?

Birds often build nests in ________.

The mother deer hides her fawn in the________.

Some birds use holes in cacti or trees for their homes.

Small animals like possums live in hollow trees.

These animals are dependent on plants to satisfy their need for “s _ _ l _ _ r.” Living in trees, cacti and grass protects the animals and their babies from weather and from their enemies.

So animals are always dependent on plants for “f_ _ _” and “o_ y _ _ n” and sometimes for “sh_ _ _ _ _.”

What about their need for water?.

Most animals find their drinking water from puddles, ponds, river or lakes.

Tortoises get water from cacti and other plants.

However, some animals that live in deserts, where there is very little water, have a harder time. They must get their water by eating plants.

Let’s review: Can you remember the ways that animals depend on plants?

So without plants, animals would not have any “f_ _ _” and would die.

Which living things make food?a. animals b. plants

Animals either eat “_ _ _ _ t _” or they eat animals that do eat “_ l _ _ _ _”.

Which living things do not make food?a. animals b. plants

In places with little rainfall, some animals get their water from a. drinking out of wellsb. digging pondsc. eating plants

While making food, plants give off “o_ _ _ _ _” which animals need to live.

Some animals dig holes in the ground for shelter from the weather and protection from enemies. Can you think of three kinds of shelter animals might build or find in or on plants?1. _______________________________

2. _______________________________

3. _______________________________

We have seen how animals use plants to satisfy many of their needs. How about animals? Do they help plants stay alive?

Do plants need animals for food?

Plants do not need animals for food becausea. they don’t need foodb. they get their food from the soil.c. they make their own food

We know that plants need carbon dioxide and water to make food. Do animals have anything to do with providing carbon dioxide for animals?

Yes. Remember animals breathe out carbon dioxide which plants can use to make food.

Animals don’t provide much water for plants, but there other things that animals can do to help plants survive?

One thing is that they help plants reproduce by carrying the pollen from the male part of the plant to the female part so that the flower can make seeds. Without this important work, usually done by insects or small birds and animals, many plants could not make new plants.

Insects getting food by drinking nectar from the flowers and at the same time moving the pollen gathered on their bodies onto other flowers where needed by the plant to make seeds.

Animals also help plants by carrying the seeds of the plant to a different place.Some plants, like burrs, have sticky barbs that get tangled in animal fur or feathers and are then carried far away to new places where the plant has room to grow.

Some animals like squirrels bury seeds to save for eating when it is cold. However, if they do not return to get the it, the seed can grow into a new plant.

So in review:Animals help plants by:a. putting oxygen into the air.b. putting carbon dioxide into the air.

Some animals help plants by:a. carrying pollen so the flower can

make new seeds.b. carrying the plant’s seeds to a new

place to grow. c. making food for the plant.d. Both a and b.

Some mother and father birds like these robins bring food to the babies and build a nest to protect them from enemies and bad weather. The baby birds are “_ _ p _ _ d _ _ _” on their parents for survival.

However, the robin’s parents are not dependent on the the babies for survival. So the babies and parents are not:a. relatedb. interdependent c. members of the same familyd. the same color

Tiny birds eat ticks and lice that live on a zebra’s skin. The bird gets food while zebra gets rid of bothersome biting insects. We say these two animals are interdependent because: a. Only the bird depends on the zebra.b. Only the zebra depends on the bird.c. They both depend on one another.

Plants and animals are said to be interdependent because:a. Only plants depend on animals for survival. Animals do not depend on plants.b. Only animals depend on plants for survival. Plants do not depend on animals.c. Plants and animals both depend on one another for survival.