Community Ecology Flashcards
biological community
consists of all of the species that interact in a certain area
3 themes of species interactions
- species interactions can affect the distribution and abundance of a particular species
- species act as agents of natural selection when they interact
- the outcome of interactions among species is dynamic and conditional
coevolution
a pattern of evolution where 2 species influence each others adaptations over time
- deer vs wolves
coevolutionary
repeating cycle of reciprocal adaptations
-new weapons race
4 general types of species interactions
- commensalism (+/0)
- competition (-/-)
- consumption (+/-)
- Mutualism (+/+)
intraspecific
competition between members of the same species
interspecific
competition with individuals from different species using the same limiting resources
niche
range of resources that the species is able to use, range of conditions it can tolerate
symmetric competition
both species can persist despite decreasing population numbers
asymmetric competition
one species suffers greater than the other
competitive exclusion principle
two species that occupy the same niche cannot coexsist
types of niches
- fundamental: total theoretical range of environmental conditions that a species can tolerate
- realized: fundamental niche that a species actually occupies given factors
fitness trade offs
compromises in adaptation
niche diferenttiation
evolutionary change in traits which reduces the amount of niche overlap
Top down consumption
predators influence other species
