Lecture 23 (Community Structure)

Question 1

Keystone species?

Answer 1

species that, despite its low
biomass, exerts strong effects on the structure of
communities they inhabit.

Question 2

Keystone vs Dominant

Answer 2

Keystone species has less biomass but they have a large impact if removed (usually predators/herbaviours… role of consuming)

Dominant species have high biomass therefore have a large impact if removed (usually found at the bottom/base of food web)

Question 3

A simple temperate food web vs subtropical food web

Answer 3

-A simple temperate food web has a low proportion of predatory species

–A subtropical environment has a higher proportion predatory species

Question 4

Ecosystem engineers?

Answer 4

species whose activity

creates, or fundamentally alters, habitat (beavers)