CH. 10 - Community ecology Flashcards
What is a community?
All populations of all species that occupy same area
What’s intraspecific Competition (-/-)
Competition between same species for resources (food, water, territory)
What’s interspecific Competition (-/-)
Different species compete for a resource
Competition (-/-):
Competitive exclusion
Species that is inferior will be eliminated
Competition (-/-):
Ecological niche
Total use of biotic and abiotic resources in environment by a species
Competition (-/-):
Resource partitioning
Same food source in eco niches overlap but can coexist because of some differences (ex: location) in niches
What’s fundamental niche vs Realized niche
Fundamental: Potential niche if there’s no competitions
Realized: The actual niche
Character displacement?
Micro-evolutionary changes in phenotype that occur when 2 species coexist and share same resources
Predation (+/-): What is it?
1 species benefits other loses (predator prey)
Predator adaptions:
Claws, sharp teeth, poison, stingers, camo for ambush
Prey adaptations:
Alarm calls, quills, camo, armour
What is the adaption for camoufage?
Crypsis
What is the adaption for standing out in surroundings (ie. poisonous species)
Aposematism
What is crypsis?
Camouflage
What is aposematism?
Stand out in surroundings (poisonous species)
What is Batesian mimicry?
Non poisonous species mimics poisonous (appearance and behaviours)
Mullerian mimicry?
2+ poisonous species resemble each other
Herbivory (+/-): What is it?
1 species benefits (primary consumer) by eating other (photoautotroph: plant, algae)
Plant adaptations that deter herbivores?
Thorns, hairs, toxins
Herbivore adaptations help them … (give examples)
Digest the tough cellulose walls of plants;
- Multi-chamber stomach
- Coprophagy: eating feces
- Flat teeth
What are the relationships in symbiosis?
1) Parasitism (+/-)
2) Mutualism (+/+)
3) Commensalism (+/0)
What are the interspecific interactions?
1) Competitions -/-
2) Predation +/-
3) Herbivory +/-
4) Symbiosis (parasitism, mutualism, commensalism)
What is parasitism?
Parasites feed off hosts (benefit from association)
What do parasitic fungi absorb?
Nutrients from liv orgs instead of dead organic matter
What is mutualism?
Both species benefit
What is mycorrhizal fungi?
Mycelium connect the plants in a forest tgt ==> Nutrients exchanged
What is lichen?
Symbiotic association: fungus + photosynthetic partner (cyanobacteria or algae)
What makes up the main part of the lichen? What does it do?
Fungus - Provides safe space from desiccation + inorganic nutrients
What does the photosynthetic partner provide to the fungus?
Organic nutrients
What kind of symbiosis does coral have?
Mutualistic: Invertebrate animal (cnidarian) + algae
Coral: What does algae provide to invertebrate?
Glucose + oxygen thru photosynthesis
Coral: What does invertebrate provide to algae?
CO2
What is commensalism (+/0)?
1 species benefits form association - other is neutral
Co-evolution: Species in interspecific relationships co-evolve, what does this do?
Selective pressure to outcompete
When considering species diversity look at:
Species richness and abundance of each species
What is species richness?
Number of species present
What is abundance of each species?
Proportion that each species represents of all indivs
What is niche partitioning?
Species w/different morphological/physiological characteristics can use dif resources to increase productivity ==> Increase bioiversity
Why would a dominant species be abundant?
- Better acquire resources
- Better able to tolerate predation/herbivory
What are keystone species?
Not abundant but have strong influence on community
What is community succession?
New community will arise after severe disturbance
What is primary succession or secondary?
1) Primary: Starting from scratch, no soil, long time
2) Secondary: After clear cutting…, soil is present, less time
