41 - Species interactions Flashcards
Primary Succession
This occurs in an area where there is no soil or where the soil is incapable of sustaining life. It begins in essentially lifeless areas such as bare rock exposed by a retreating glacier or cooled lava flows.
Secondary Succession
This occurs in areas where an existing ecosystem has been disturbed or destroyed, but soil remains intact. Common causes of such disturbances include forest fires, hurricanes, logging, and agriculture.
Volcano erupts describe the regrowing of the area Primary / Secondary?
Primary Succession
Pioneer stages
Barren rock due to glacier / volcanic eruption - (NO SOIL)
Lichens (liverworts) move and start to develop the substrate
Small annual plants start to grow, lichens continue to develop and maintain soil
Perennial herbs start to show up and grow (Attraction of herbivores)
Intermediate stages
Larger plants start to show up trees, shrubs, ect… attracting more herbivores and predators
Climax stage
Shade-tolerant plant start to arrive tree, shrubs, etc. larger predators may arrive
Rivers with dams or natural flow is more diverse
Dam - Less diverse because the dams limit the flow of water and disrupt the natural occurrence of flooding and animal travel. In some cases even trapping animals behind the dams. Increased erosion can also be a side effect
Natural - In a naturally flowing river, there is greater diversity because animals are allowed free travel allowing for movement of species up and down the river. This is good for reproduction and diversity in rivers. Natural flooding can also occur which is good for soil health and vegetation.
Intermediate disturbance hypothesis?
It’s the idea that while large and little disturbance may be bad for the environment(removal of organisms/change in resource availability, intermediate disturbance may foster greater diversity. An example in a forest would be flooding in some regions, fires in some areas, and controlled logging.
Foundation species
Create the environment/habitat substrates – provides the foundation for life
Keystone species
Have an unproportionately large effect on the ecosystem due to their abundance
Engineer species
Alter/change the environment
Invasive species
come from a different geographic region / are new to an ecosystem
Food chain
Is a simple format to show how energy flows from one animal to another (producer to consumers / flows one way)
Food web
More complex format shows how energy flows plus within an ecosystem and how the species interact within the ecosystem (flows Mutiple ways can be described as many food webs)
Supply food for the environment/base level get energy from the sun
Producers
Plants are the primary source of energy
Primary consumer
Consumer are the primary consumers of energy
Secondary consumer
no threats other than food scarcity
Apex predator
Eat away at organic material to return nutrients to the environment
Decomposer
High abundance, low richness
There are many species within the area meaning there is high biodiversity but the total of the represented species in the area is low
Low abundance, high richness
There are large numbers of few species meaning biodiversity is low, but the abundance of present species is high.
How have plants and herbivores adapted to predation?
Animals -
Camphage
Color warning
Mimicry
Phycialdefenses - spikes
Chemical - poisonous
Plants -
Can produce toxic chemicals, making them inedible for up to two years
Thorns / physical defenses as well.
Competitive exclusion principle
Principle that states two species cannot co-exist with one another indefinitely within a given area. One will outcompete the other, limiting its population or both populations can suffer. However, it can also lead to RESOURCE PARTITIONING, where certain species inhabit certain areas of the ecosystem to limit competition and allow for co-existence
Competition
Animals cannot co-exist with each others
Red and Grey squirrels
Competitive exclusion
Competition
Limited food source because of specialization
Darwin’s finches
Niche specialization
Competition
Same area natural selection take over to alter one species
Evolution of birds for their food types
Character displacement
Exploitation
The animal eats another animal. One doesn’t
Wolf - Deer
Predation
