4/11 Predator-Prey Interactions and Mutualistic Interactions Flashcards
Biomass
the amount of material that is wrapped up in any one particular grouping
Biomass between trophic levels
- biomass of plants is always greater than the biomass of herbivores
- the biomass of herbivores is always greater than the biomass of carnivores
this is because energy is lost as trophic level increases
secondary metabolites
a form of chemical defense
- the chemical byproducts of a lot of different chemical reactions that the plants then have evolved to use as a way of decreasing predators
- often bitter tasting
Tannin is a secondary metabolite made by oak trees, it binds to proteins in the plant that makes the tannin undigestible
Constitutive Defenses
a mechanical defense that is always turned on, such as an armadillo shell
Inducible defenses
mechanical defenses that are turned on by noticement of a predator, example zebra running from a cheetah
Crypsis
another word for camoflague
Apopsematic coloring
bright or contrasting colors that draw attention to the organism often because they contain dangerous chemicals (conspicuous signaling unpatability)
ex. milkweed alkaloids and hydrogen cyanide in ladybugs
Mullerian Mimicry
several species using the same coloring to signal unpatability to predators
ex. honeybee, wasp, and bumblebee
Batesian Mimicry
harmless species mimick the appearance of harmful species
ex. mimic octopus, viceroy butterfly, hornet wasp/wasp beetles/hover fly
How does adding in food change population size?
- Adding food to prey population will increase more than if you took away predators
- If you add food and decrease predators, the prey population will be the largest it can get
Parasitism vs. Parasitoidism
- parasitism does not typically kill the host or intend to, parasitoidism does
Ectoparasites vs. endoparasites
Ectoparasites live outside the body (pubic lice, and ticks), endoparasites live inside the body (hookworm/tapeworm)
Commensalism
- (+/0) interaction
- Burdock example
Amensalism
- (-/0) interaction
- Example: Deer steps on bug
Symbiosis
two individuals living in constant contact
Obligate Mutualism
- the relationship is required for the survival or reproduction of the individuals involved in the mutualism
Facultative
the relationship is not a requirement for survival or reproduction of the individuals
Explotative Interactions
- (+/-) interactions
- ex. predator/prey and parasite/host
Why are there more explotative interactions than there are species?
Because all species are food for a number of other species and host to a variety of parasites and pathogens
Which three explotative interactions are considered consumption?
- herbivory
- parasitism
- predation
population inertia
the tendency for a population to move beyond some change and then take awhile to incorporate that change into their dynamic
What are the least available food types?
- high energy plant foods like seeds, fruit, and flowers are the least available food types
search image
a visual and chemical focus on the most abundant or rewarding prey type while ignoring nearby but otherwise good prey for at least as long as the focal prey is the most economical to pursue
Mechanical defenses of plants
- tough epidermis on seed shells, and bark on branches
- entanglement devices thick waxy cuticle and plant hair on leaves and stems entangles and deters small herbivores
- piercing devices cutting edges in wetland species, spines and needles
also, polymers within tissues such as cellulose and lignin are indigestible by herbivores on their own
