Lecture 12- Community Ecology Flashcards
what is a biological community?
when different species live in close proximity, close enough for potential interaction
what are interspecific interactions?
the positive (+), negative (-) or no effect (0) of species survival and reproduction
what is interspecific competition?
(-/-) interaction
occurs when species compete for the same resource thats in short supply, this leads to the competitive exclusion principal
what is the competitive exclusion principal?
two species competing for the same limiting resources cannot coexist in the same place
what is exploitation/ predation?
(+/-) interaction
the predator kills and eats the prey
what are different techniques that predators use to capture prey? (2)
mimicry
feeding adaptations (claws, teeth, fangs, stingers, poison)
what are different techniques that prey use to not get captured by predators? (6)
hiding
fleeing
forming herds
alarm calls
self defense (mechanical and chemical)
mimicry
what is mechanical self defense?
an example is needles and porcupines
what is chemical self defense? (3)
skunk
warning coloration (animals will change color so that predators are less likely to capture and eat them)
cryptic coloration (camouflage)
what is batesion mimicry?
prey mimics a harmful species
what is exploitation/ parasitism?
(+/-) interaction
the parasite derives nourishment from its host
what is the difference between ectoparasites and endoparasites?
ectoparasites, parasites that live on the external surface of the host
endoparasites parasites that live inside the host
how can the parasite increase their own fitness?
they change the behavior of the host (can affect their survival, reproduction and density) to increase their own fitness
what is mutualism?
(+/+) interaction
benefits both species. can be obligate or facultative
what is an obligate interaction?
one species cannot survive without the other
