Parasitism a) (i) Niche (ii)The Parasite Niche Flashcards
An ecological niche is a…
Multi-dimensional summary of tolerances and requirements of a species
A fundamental niche is…
What a species occupies in the absence of any interspecific competition
A realised niche is…
Occupied in response to interspecific competition
As a result of interspecific competition…
Competitive exculsion can occur, where the niches of two species are so similar that one declines to local extinction.
When REALISED niches are sufficiently different…
Potential competitors can co-exist by resource partitioning
Resource partitioning is…
when the physical traits or tolerances of a species determines the resources used in an environment. If the traits/tolerances (realised niche) are suffiniently different between potential competitors, resources can be different enough for them to co-exist. - eg. birds with different beak lengths will eat different animals and so can co-exist
REFRESHER: An ecological niche is…
An organisms role in an ecosystem. To understand an organisms niche, you must consider all the relationships that the organism has with its environment, with other organisms and the populations of its environment, eg. a multi-dimensional summary of an organism’s tolerances and requirements. These dimensions can include abiotic and biotic factors/interactions.
Traits of a parasite include…
- A parasite benefits in terms of nutrients at the expense of the host. 2. The reproductive potential of a parasite is greater than that of the host. 3. Most parasites have a narrow (specialised) niche as they are very host- specific.
HOST-SPECIFIC
As the host provides so many of the parasites needs, many parasites are…
DEGENERATE, lacking structures and organs found in other organisms.
NOT DEFICIENT
An ectoparasite lives…
On the surface of its host
An endoparasite lives…
Within the tissue of its host.
