3.1

Question 1

Niche

Answer 1

The specific “job” that an organism performs in its community.

Question 2

Realized Niche vs. Fundamental Niche

Answer 2

A realized niche is what a population occupies in actuality (time active, habitat, food eaten, etc). A fundamental niche is the areas could hypothetically occupy with no competition.

Question 3

Mutualism

Answer 3

A relationship between organisms that is beneficial to both.

Question 4

Commensalism

Answer 4

A relationship where one organism is benefited and the other is not affected.

Question 5

Parasitism

Answer 5

A relationship where one organism feeds off of another for an extended period of time.

Question 6

Predation

Answer 6

A relationship where one animal eats another (usually killed immediately).

Question 7

Herbivory

Answer 7

A relationship between an animal and a plant where the animal eats the plant.

Question 8

Facultative vs. Obligatory

Answer 8

A facultative relationship is one where the organisms involved in it could survive without each other. An obligatory relationship is one where neither can survive without the other. Both are types of mutualism.

Question 9

What is likely to happen if the niches of two species overlap a little? Overlap a lot?

Answer 9

If the niches of two species overlap a little, they will likely partition their niches through adaptation and evolution. If they overlap a lot, one will likely outcompete the other, and the one that is outcompeted will go extinct.

Question 10

How can niche partitioning increase the biodiversity of a community? What are some ways that species can partition their niches?

Answer 10

Niche partitioning causes different types of animals to develop, rather than every animal being very similar to each other. Niches can be partitioned by types of food, time of day that they are active, and where they live.