2.5 a) The Parasite Niche Flashcards
What is an ecological niche?
a multi-dimensional summary of tolerances and requirements of a species
An ecological niche is a ___-dimensional summary of ___ and ___ of a s___.
multi-dimensional, tolerances, requirements, species
When are fundamental niches occupied?
When are realised niches occupied?
In absence of interspecific competition
in response to/presence of interspecific competition
What is a realised niche?
What is a fundamental niche?
* not exam language
‘better than nothing’
perfect/ideal situation
What can occur as a result of interspecific competition?
competitive exclusion
What is competitive exclusion?
when the niches of two species are so similar, that one goes extinct.
Competitive exclusion is when the ___ of two species are so ___, that one goes ___.
Competitive exclusion is a result of ___ ___.
niches, similar, extinct.
interspecific competition
When realised niches are sufficiently ___, potential ___ can survive by ___ ___.
different, competitors, resource partitioning.
What is resource partitioning?
when resources are shared between species to avoid interspecific competition
Resource partitioning is when resources are ___ between species to avoid ___ ___.
shared, interspecific competition
What is the competitive exclusion principle?
interspecific competition causes the extinction of the weaker species
The competitive exclusion principle states that ___ between two species will cause…
competition, extinction of the weaker species
What is a vector?
something that transmits a parasite
What is parasitism?
a symbiotic interaction between a parasite and its host (+/-)
Explain why parasitism is +/-
because the parasite benefits in terms of nutrients, at the expense of the host
Unlike other symbiotic relationships, the ___ potential of the parasite is ___ than that of the host
reproductive, greater
Parasites tend to have very ___ niches, as they are ___ ___.
narrow/specialised, host specific
Why are many parasites degenerate?
What does ‘degenerate’ refer to?
because the host provides for so many of the parasite’s needs.
the fact that the parasite lacks many structures and organs which other organisms have
Since the ___ provides for so many of the parasite’s ___, many parasites are ___, and so lack ___ and ___ that are found in other organisms.
host, needs, degenerate, structures and organs.
What is meant by…
An endoparasite?
An ectoparasite?
an endoparasits lives within the tissues of its host
an ectoparasite lives on the surface of its host
