20. Community ecology: predation, disease and parasitism

Question 1

Predation/ Carnivory

Answer 1

*Prey is killed, usually
*Predator generally larger than prey
*Multiple prey individuals per predator

Question 2

Grazing/ herbivory

Answer 2

*Plant survives, usually

Question 3

Parasitism/ disease

Answer 3

*Host may or may not survive
*Host generally larger than parasite
*Multiple parasites per host

Question 4

What does Lotka- Volterra models for predator-prey interaction tend to look like?

Answer 4

cycles

Question 5

reciprocal adaptation

Answer 5

Prey evolve defenses; predators evolve
counter-adaptations to overcome defenses

Question 6

Competition tends to…

Answer 6

decrease biodiversity; superior competitors exclude inferior competitors

Question 7

Enemy release hypothesis

Answer 7

predicts that a species will be successful in a new habitat when its former enemies (e.g., parasites) are not present

Question 8

direct life cycle of parasites=

Answer 8

Some parasites have a single host species (roundworm & zoonotic diseases)

Question 9

complex life cycles of parasites=

Answer 9

Many parasites require two or more host species to complete their life cycle (The parasite that causes malaria passes through two hosts, a mosquito and a human)

Question 10

Dilution effect

Answer 10

diverse ecological communities limit disease spread via several mechanisms

Question 11

Amplification effect

Answer 11

more host or vector species can support larger populations of disease-causing
organisms, increasing risk to humans or animals (malaria)

Question 12

antigen

Answer 12

is a substance that triggers the production of antibodies

Question 13

pathogen

Answer 13

are harmful microorganisms that can cause diseases.