CH. 3 - Evolution, Species Interactions, and Biological Communities

Question 1

Explain how tolerance limits to environmental factors determine the distribution of a highly specialized species.

Question 2

What is allopatric speciation? Sympatric speciation?

Question 3

Define selective pressure, and explain how it can alter traits in a species.

Question 4

Explain the three types of survivorship curves shown in Fig. 3.

Question 5

Describe several types of symbiotic relationships. Give an example of a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship.

Question 6

What is coevolution? Provide an example.

Question 7

Competition for resources can be either interspecific or intraspecific. Explain the ways an organism may cope with these types of competition.

Question 8

Explain the idea of k-selected and r-selected species. Give an example of each.

Question 9

Which world ecosystems are most productive in terms of biomass? Which are the least productive? What units are used to quantify biomass accumulation?

Question 10

Describe the process of succession that occurs after a forest fire destroys an existing biological community. Why may a periodic fire be beneficial?

Question 11

What do ecologists mean by the term resilience? In what ways might diversity contribute to resilience in an ecosystem?