Assembly of Ecological Communities Flashcards
What are ecological networks?
Set of ecological interactions within a community
What are the types of ecological networks?
Trophic networks
Host-parasitoid networks
Mutualistic networks
What does a food web summarize?
The feeding relationship in a community
What do arrows depict in a food web?
They depict species consumed by other species
What trophic level are primary producers/autotrophs?
1
What trophic level are heterotrophs?
2
What trophic levels are primary and secondary predators?
3 and above
What is the biomass pyramid?
Illustrates the abundance of trophic levels
What are keystone species?
Species that, despite their low biomass, exert strong effects on the structure of the communities they habitat
Rare, but vital to the ecosystem
What do keystone species do?
Keep the number of prey populations below the prey’s carrying capacity which decreases competition, creates ecological niches, and increases diversity within communities
What type of species are keystone species usually?
Predators, but not always
What are ecosystem engineers?
Species whose activity creates, or fundamentally alters, habitat
What is an example of an ecosystem engineer?
Beavers
They build dams and flood areas which creates habitat for other organisms and influences nutrient cycling and water levels
