# Explain how interdependence between organisms in a community means that a change in one population can affect many other populations.

> AQA GCSE Biology (8461) — 4.7.2 Organisation of an ecosystem · Explain · 4 marks

> In a meadow ecosystem, a disease kills most of the rabbit population. Rabbits eat grass and are eaten by foxes.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Organisms in a community depend on each other for resources such as food / shelter / pollination
2. A fall in rabbit numbers means less food is available for foxes, so the fox population decreases
3. With fewer rabbits eating grass, the grass / producer population increases
4. This shows that a change to one population disrupts the whole community / affects multiple trophic levels

## Key terms

- [interdependence](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/interdependence)
- [community](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/community)
- [population](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/population)

## Related

- [Revision notes for AQA GCSE Biology (8461)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-how-interdependence-between-organisms-in-f7a394a8) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.