Community Ecology

Question 1

Composition

Answer 1

A listing of the different species in a community

Question 2

Diversity

Answer 2

Includes both species richness and species eveness

Question 3

Island biogeography

Answer 3

Made by MacArthur and Wilson. Explains and predicts how the community diversity of an island is affected by the distance from the mainland and the size of the island.

Question 4

Equilibrium species richness

Answer 4

A balance between immigration and extinction

Question 5

Predation

Answer 5

Expected to increase the abundance of the predator and reduce the abundance of the prey

Question 6

Parasitism

Answer 6

expected to increase the abundance of the parasite and reduce the abundance of the hosts

Question 7

Interspecific Competition

Answer 7

When 2 different species compete, the abundance of both species is negatively impacted. Members of different species require the same resource, but the supply is limited

Question 8

Ecological niche

Answer 8

The role a species plays in its community, it includes its habitat and its interactions with other organisms.

Question 9

Fundamental niche

Answer 9

All conditions under which the organism can survive, no biotic interactions (interactions with other organisms)

Question 10

Realized niche

Answer 10

Set of conditions under which it actually exists in nature, biotic interactions (interactions with other organisms) are present.

Question 11

Competitive Exclusion Principle

Answer 11

No two species can occupy the same niche at the same time. Resource partitioning decreases competition and this can lead to character displacement

Question 12

Resource partitioning

Answer 12

When different organisms split up an area so they will not compete for the same resources.

Question 13

Character displacement

Answer 13

An evolutionary change that occurs when two species inhabit the same environment (birds develop different sizes beaks to go after different food)

Question 14

Prey defenses

Answer 14

mechanisms that lower the possibility of being eaten by the predator. (spines, tough skin, poison, camouflage, bright colors, staying in groups).

Question 15

Mimicry

Answer 15

One species resembles another one.

Question 16

Batesian mimicry

Answer 16

Mimic lacks defense of the organism it resembles (a frog adapting to become red, because red frogs are poisonous and they want predators to think they are poisonous too even though they’re not)

Question 17

Mullerian mimcry

Answer 17

Mimic shares some protective defense. (a frog adapts to become red, because it is poisonous and all red frogs are poisonous.)

Question 18

Symbiosis

Answer 18

Interactions in which there is a close relationship between members of 2 species. (parasitism, commensalism, and mutualism)

Question 19

Parasitism

Answer 19

A type of symbiosis. Parasite gets is nourishment from the host, and uses the host as a habitat and mode of transmission. The parasite benefits while the host suffers.

Question 20

Commensalism

Answer 20

Symbiotic relationship. One species benefits and the other isn’t impacted either way. (bird follows a tiger to feed on the leftovers from it’s kills)

Question 21

Mutualism

Answer 21

Symbiotic relationship where both members benefit. Often help each other get food or avoid predators. (bacteria in intestines)

Question 22

Ecological Succession

Answer 22

Predictable pattern of change in species following a disturbance.

Question 23

Primary succession

Answer 23

Occurs in areas where there is no soil present at the start (cooled magma)

Question 24

Secondary succession

Answer 24

Begins in areas where soil is present at the start.

Question 25

Pioneer species

Answer 25

Associated with early succession

Question 26

Climax species

Answer 26

associated with late succession.