All organisms live in particular environments where their needs are met. An environment is all of the conditions surrounding an organism. Environments may be hot or cold and on land or in water.
Environments change naturally as resources change.
For example, a population of millipedes lives in an environment with dead plant matter. As the population grows, it needs more food, water, and living space. As these resources decrease, each millipede will have less food, water, and space. Some millipedes will die or move away. More resources will be available for the remaining millipedes. The population will grow, and the cycle will start again. Organisms must change to take advantage of new opportunities and protect themselves from new dangers in a changed environment.
2. Cause and Effect
Use the graphic organizer to list one cause and one effect from the text.