community ecology

Question 1

community

Answer 1

interactions between populations of multiple species

Question 2

ecological niche

Answer 2

a specie’s lifestyle

Question 3

fundamental niche

Answer 3

full range of environmental conditions where a species can potentially survive and thrive.

-based on biotic factors

Question 4

realized niche

Answer 4

where an organism actually lives

-based on abiotic and biotic factors
-smaller niche due to interactions with other species

Question 5

competition is a ___/___ interaction

Answer 5

lose/lose (reduces population of both parties)

Question 6

what are species in competition over?

Answer 6

limited resources

Question 7

interspecific competition

Answer 7

competition between different species

Question 8

infraspecific competition

Answer 8

competition with members of own species

Question 9

which is worse and why: interspecific competition or infraspecific competition?

Answer 9

infraspecific because you are competing with individuals that share the same niche as you and 100% of your needs overlap

Question 10

competitive exclusion

Answer 10

two species cannot fill the same niche
-one species is a netter competitor and the other is extirpated

Question 11

resource partitioning

Answer 11

dividing up a resource between users to avoid competitive exclusion

Question 12

how does resource partitioning work?

Answer 12

-use different parts or aspects of the resource
-natural selection favors avoiding competition as much as possible

Question 13

example of resource partitioning

Answer 13

Anole (lizard) in the Caribbean all eat insects which puts them in competition. But they eat insects in different places (trunk anoles, shrub anoles, log anoles, leaf anoles, etc.)
-They don’t cross over as much, reducing competition

Question 14

resource partitioning can only occur…

Answer 14

between DIFFERENT species

Question 15

exploitation is a __/___ scenario

Answer 15

win/lose

Question 16

types of exploitation

Answer 16

herbivory, predation, parasitism

Question 17

herbivory

Answer 17

animal benefits while plant/algae is harmed

Question 18

predation

Answer 18

predator benefits while prey os harmed

Question 19

predator and prey often…

Answer 19

evolve characteristics to counter each other

Question 20

parasitism

Answer 20

parasitic species benefits while host is harmed

Question 21

natural selection favors defenses in exploited organisms such as:

Answer 21

physical harm (spines/spikes)
foul taste (chemicals)
toxins (harmful chemicals)

Question 22

exploiting organisms may develop..

Answer 22

resistance

Question 23

how can coloration help against exploitation?

Answer 23

-camouflage
-warning colors: warns that they contain toxic chemicals
-mimicry: copies a foul tasting/toxic organism

Question 24

how can safety in numbers help against exploitation?

Answer 24

-confuse predator (make it confusing and hard to pick an individual to chase)
-protect each other

Question 25

predator prey cycle is said to be

Answer 25

boom and bust

Question 26

predator prey cycle:

Answer 26

1. High prey population 2. High predator population 3. Predators destroy prey population 4. Many predators starve 5. Fewer predators and prey population regrows

Question 27

types of positive interactions:

Answer 27

commensalism, mutualism, facilitation

Question 28

commensalism

Answer 28

o Win- neutral interaction o One species benefits while the other is unaffected

Question 29

mutualism

Answer 29

o Win-win interaction o Both species benefits o Species may become dependent on each other

Question 30

facilitation

Answer 30

o Improves physical environment for another species o Example: coral creates reefs

Question 31

species diversity is higher in..

Answer 31

more complex environments (only 1 species per niche, but greater variety of niches for species)

Question 32

measures of diversity include

Answer 32

species richness species evens

Question 33

diversity buffers community against..

Answer 33

disturbance: communities with low diversity are easier to damage, and they recover more slowly

Question 34

species richness:

Answer 34

# of different species

Question 35

species evenness or relative abundance:

Answer 35

how many of each species compared to total

Question 36

ecotones occur where..

Answer 36

physical environment changes (border between 2 ecosystems)

Question 37

why do ecotones often have higher biodiversity?

Answer 37

Because greater number of niches = more diversity, and between two ecosystems there are more niches available.

Question 38

producers

Answer 38

create energy from the sun -Most important source of energy in most ecosystems

Question 39

consumers

Answer 39

obtain energy from other organisms

Question 40

primary consumers

Answer 40

eat producers

Question 41

secondary consumers

Answer 41

eat primary consumers

Question 42

detritivores

Answer 42

eat dead things

Question 43

trophic structure

Answer 43

feeding relationship between species

Question 44

food chains

Answer 44

linear path that shows what eat what *Transfer of food through trophic levels

Question 45

order of food chain (bottom to top)

Answer 45

primary producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, quaternary consumers

Question 46

food webs

Answer 46

combination of multiple food chains *Feeding relationships between many species

Question 47

bottom up control

Answer 47

-regulation of ecosystem dynamics by the availability of energy or nutrients -reduces the overall energy supply, narrowing the base of the ecological pyramid - it influences every trophic level above it

Question 48

In this scenario, changes at the bottom of the pyramid have widespread effects throughout the entire ecosystem, highlighting the interconnectedness of species and their reliance on resource availability.

Answer 48

bottom up control

Question 49

Top-down control

Answer 49

-Predation pattern of top predators -Changes consumer abundance in lower trophic levels

Question 50

keystone species:

Answer 50

maintain diversity and hold up many species in the environment

Question 51

example of keystone species (otters)

Answer 51

* They eat urchins * Urchins are bad since they eat kelp and destroy forests * Otters facilitate kelp forest habitats, which are one of the most diverse marine systems

Question 52

communities are dynamic:

Answer 52

change as environment changes

Question 53

ecological succession

Answer 53

* Occurs when all vegetation is removed * Predictable progression of plant and animal species * One species prepares environment for next species

Question 54

primary succession

Answer 54

-area that has no established soil -Usually new volcanic island or after glacial retreat -Occurs in stages

Question 55

stages of primary succession

Answer 55

pioneer stage, dryas stage, alder stage (puts nitrogen into soil), spruce stage

Question 56

secondary succession

Answer 56

land that has been destroyed by disaster * Bare soil * Often after fire