Species Interactions Flashcards
1
Q
- Interactions between organisms in nature may range from mutualistic to antagonistic. Give examples of mutualistic versus antagonistic interactions and discuss some ecological and evolutionary consequences of these interactions. Some models conclude that mutualisms should be less common in nature; critique that position, either for or against.
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2
Q
- Direct and indirect interactions between species strongly influence the dynamics of populations and the structure of communities. Describe the nature of indirect interactions, giving examples that illustrate the different kinds of indirect interactions. Explain the relative importance of indirect interactions, relative to direct interactions, in mediating population and community processes.
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3
Q
- Discuss and explore models and hypotheses (e.g., the carbon-nutrient balance hypothesis) that make predictions about how and when plants should allocate resources to chemical or morphological defenses. Which models or hypotheses currently have the most support?
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4
Q
- Predation influences demography and individual fitness in some ecological settings. Discuss scenarios where predation plays an important ecological role and others where it appears to be less important. In cases where predation has a lower impact on population processes, discuss potential mechanisms for this lack of effect.
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5
Q
- Plants defend themselves against herbivores using a variety of mechanisms, including constitutive and induced defenses. Describe these two major categories of defenses, with examples. What evidence is there for costs and benefits associated with these strategies? Do the same concepts (of constitutive and induced defenses) have any utility outside of plants?
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