Chapter 6

Question 1

Interspecific competition

Answer 1

Competition in which individuals of different species compete for the same resources in an ecosystem.

Question 2

Fundamental niche

Answer 2

The entire set of conditions under which a species can survive and reproduce.

Question 3

Realized niche

Answer 3

The conditions actually used by a species after interaction with other species have been taken into account.

Question 4

Niche differentiation

Answer 4

Process by which competing species use the environment differently in a way that helps them to coexist

Question 5

Differential resource utilization

Answer 5

The situation in which similar species utilize different resources in different ways, in order to coexist.

Question 6

Competitive exclusion principle

Answer 6

Competitor species can coexist as a result of niche differentiation, but one competitor species may exclude another by denying it a realized niche.

Question 7

Character displacement

Answer 7

An evolutionary change that occurs when two similar species inhabit the same environment, and natural selection favors a divergence in morphology.

Question 8

Niche complementarity

Answer 8

The tendency for coexisting species which occupy a similar position along one niche dimension to differ along another.

Question 9

Guild

Answer 9

A group of species that exploit the same resources, or that exploit different resources in related ways.

Question 10

Ecological release

Answer 10

A population increase or explosion that occurs when a species is freed from limiting factors in its environment.