facilitative interactions

Question 1

What are the two types of interactions in which both species benefit and neither is harmed?

Answer 1

• Commensalism: One species benefits, while the other is not harmed.
• Mutualism: Both species benefit.

Question 2

What are the main types of individual interactions in ecosystems?

Answer 2

• Trophic interactions
• Facilitative interactions
• Competition for common resources

Question 3

How does mutualism between corals and fishes work?

Answer 3

• Corals provide protection.
• Fish provide protection, aeration, and nutrients.
• Colonies with symbiont fish have 10-fold less sediment-induced mortality and higher chlorophyll and protein concentrations.

Question 4

How do farming damselfish facilitate mutualism?

Answer 4

• Damselfish facilitate algae turf in their territories, creating a niche for mysid shrimp.
• The shrimp supply nutrients to the algae.

Question 5

What are the key characteristics and functions of sponges (Porifera) in coral reef ecosystems?

Answer 5

• Filter-feeding animals.
• Provide habitat, nutrient cycling, nitrification, and cementation.
• In the Caribbean, sponges are more diverse and abundant than scleractinian corals.

Question 6

How does cleaning behavior on coral reefs relate to mutualism?

Answer 6

Cleaning was previously considered “behavioral parasitism,” but research by Grutter showed it to be beneficial for clients, thus a form of mutualism.

Question 7

What are some methods used to quantify behavior in ecological studies?

Answer 7

• Video recordings
• Ethogram
• Replicates
• Before/after design to account for individual variation

Question 8

How does fish presence influence anemone growth?

Answer 8

• Fish grow faster in larger anemones, regardless of food availability.
• Anemones also grow faster when fish are present, showcasing phenotypic plasticity.