Lec 4 - Strategies and functional types

Question 1

Common “functional types”

Answer 1

Annual vs. Perennial
Deciduous vs. Evergreen
Herbaceous vs. Woody

Question 2

Fundamental niche

Answer 2

Sum of all of the conditions under which a species

can survive in the absence of competitors.

Question 3

Realized niche

Answer 3

Niche a plant actually holds after competition

from neighbors taken into account.

Question 4

Niche partitioning (differentiation)

Answer 4

Varies over space and time (e.g. early successional)
If species compete for the same resources in the
same space, one will outcompete the other.
Coexistence thanks to specialization.

Question 5

Important trade-offs

Answer 5

Annual versus perennial
Evergreen versus deciduous
Growth rate versus defense
Seed size vs. dispersal distance
Seed size vs. seed number
Plant size vs. recruitment rate

Question 6

Theory of plant life strategies

Answer 6

(CSR)
-Competitive
Need high nutrient levels
Fast growing

-Stress Tolerant
Slow growing, traits to avoid nutrient
loss
Can tolerate low nutrient conditions

-Ruderal
Weeds
Able to rapidly colonize sites
Fast growing but poor competitors

Question 7

Theory 2

Answer 7

Turn to nature.

Observe traits

Question 8

Leaf type tradeoff

Answer 8

Longer lived leaves cost
less to maintain (evergreen, wintergreen)
Lower respiration
rates per unit mass

-Longer lived leaves have
lower % nitrogen
Less tasty to
herbivores
Lower risk of losing
investment