Community Ecology Flashcards
community ecology
examines the effect on fitness due to interactions between species (+, -, ø)
4 interaction types
competition (-/-)
consumption (+/-)
mutualism (+/+)
commensalism (+/ø)
competition (-/-)
competition for the same resources (-/-)
interspecific: between different species
intraspecific: between same species
6 types
consumption (-/-)
type of competition
2 interact for same nutrient resource
ex. deer/rabbit compete for browse
preemptive
type of competition
competition for space
ex. intertidal organisms competing for substrate
overgrowth (plants)
type of competition
many plants competing for access to sun
numerous strategies that come at a cost (negative effect on fitness)
chemical
type of competition
production of chemicals to prevent competition for resources
ex. plants allelopathy mustard plant produces toxins to prevent other plants from growing near
territorial
type of competition
animal territoy defense
ex. wolves
encounter
type of competition
physical interaction to access resources
ex. lion/hyena/vulture interact over a corpse
consumption interaction
one species consumes another (+/-)
3 types
herbivory
type of consumption
herbivores consuming plants
ex. deer (+) eats a willow (-)
predation
type of consumption
animal eats another animal (predator/prey)
ex. lion (+) eats an antelope (-)
parasitism
type of consumption
a parasite is typically much smaller than its host, and doesn’t kill it but consumes a small portion for nutrients
ex. malaria
mutualism
both species benefit from interaction (+/+)
commensalism
one species benefits and the other has no effect on fitness (+/ø)
