3.1 Specialist vs. Generalist Species

Question 1

What is a specialist species?

Answer 1

Animals that need to be in a habitat that remains constant.

Question 2

What is a generalist species?

Answer 2

Animals that thrive best in conditions or habitats that are changing.

Question 3

What are some characteristics of specialist species?

Answer 3

Specialist species have:

1) A smaller range of tolerance
2) Specific food requirements
3) Less ability to adapt to new conditions.
4) Narrower niche makes them more prone to extinction

Question 4

What are some characteristics of generalist species?

Answer 4

Generalists species have:

1) Larger range of tolerance
2) Boarder niche makes them less prone to extinction
3) High adaptability
4) Board food requirements

Question 5

What are K- selected species?

Answer 5

Large animals that have few offspring and invest many years in taking care of their offspring.

Question 6

What are R- selected species?

Answer 6

Small animals that produce many offspring, but spend little time in raising them.

Question 7

What is biotic potential?

Answer 7

The maximum reproductive rate of a population in ideal conditions.

Question 8

What are some characteristics of K - selected species?

Answer 8

1) Hard to recover after a disturbance
2) High parental care (means death of parents)
3) Less likely to go extinct
4) Invasives (usually r) out compete for resources with high biotic potential

Question 9

What are some characteristics of R - selected species?

Answer 9

1) High biotic potential
2) Can recover after a disturbance
3) Low parental care
4) Not impacted by invasive species (they are the invasives species)

Question 10

What is an survivorship curve?

Answer 10

A line that displays the relative survival rates of a cohort (a group of individuals of the same age) in a population from birth to death

Question 11

What does a faster drop line mean?

Answer 11

Individuals die-off quicker

Question 12

What does a slow drop line mean?

Answer 12

Individuals live longer

Question 13

Describe Type 1 curve.

Answer 13

• High survivorship early in life due to high parental care
• High survivorship in mid-life due to large size and defensive behavior
• Rapid decrease in surviorship in late life as old age sets in
  (Most mammals)
  (Mostly K-selected)

Question 14

Describe Type 2 curve.

Answer 14

• Steadily decreasing survivorship throughout life.

In between R and K species

Question 15

Describe Type 3 curve.

Answer 15

• High mortality early in life due to little to no parental care
• Few make it to mid-life; slow, steady decline in survivorship in mid-life
• Even fewer make it to adulthood; slow decline in survivorship in old age
  (mostly insects, plants, fish)
  (mostly R-selected)