Biological Community and Interactions
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Questions and Answers

What is a biological community?

Assemblage of populations of various species living close enough for potential interaction.

Which of the following are types of interspecific interactions?

  • Competition
  • Mutualism
  • Predation
  • All of the above (correct)

    • What does mutualism refer to?

    +/+

    Competition occurs when __________.

    <p>species compete for a resource in short supply.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the results of strong competition?

    <p>Competitive exclusion, local elimination of the competing species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the competitive exclusion principle state?

    <p>Two species competing for the same limiting resources cannot coexist in the same place.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The ecological niche of a species is the total of the _____ and ______ used by the species.

    <p>abiotic and biotic resources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Resource partitioning enables similar species to coexist within a community.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    An example of resource partitioning is:

    <p>Living in different portions of the habitat.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes resource partitioning?

    <p>Slight variations in niche allow similar species to coexist.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is character displacement?

    <p>Tendency for characteristics to be more divergent in sympatric populations of two species than in allopatric populations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of character displacement?

    <p>Variations in beak size of two finches</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Niche partitioning enables species to coexist by:

    <p>Avoiding direct competition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is predation?

    <p>(+/−) Interaction where one species kills and eats the other.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is not a feeding adaptation of predators?

    <p>Camouflage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is not a behavioral defense of prey?

    <p>Claws</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is herbivory?

    <p>(+/−) Interactions in which a herbivore eats parts of a plant or alga.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is symbiosis?

    <p>Relationship where two or more species live in direct and intimate contact with another.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following isn't an example of symbiosis?

    <p>Competition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is parasitism?

    <p>(+/−) One organism derives nourishment from another organism and harms the host in the process.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is mutualism?

    <p>(+/+) An interspecific interaction that benefits both species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is commensalism?

    <p>(+/0) One species benefits and the other is unaffected.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is species richness?

    <p>Total number of different species within the community.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is relative abundance?

    <p>Proportion each species represents of the total individuals in the community.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following isn't true about trophic structures?

    <p>It is not a key factor in community dynamics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A disturbance is an event that _____ a community.

    <p>changes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis?

    <p>Hypothesis predicts species diversity will be highest at intermediate levels of disturbance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is ecological succession?

    <p>Sequence of community and ecosystem changes after a disturbance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is primary ecological succession?

    <p>Occurs where no soil exists; pioneer species arrive first.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is secondary ecological succession?

    <p>Begins in an area where soil remains after a disturbance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is disturbance an important component of succession?

    <p>Tends to promote earlier successional stages.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the Island Equilibrium Model, which of the following does not influence species richness?

    <p>Population size</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Biological Community

    • An assemblage of populations of various species living in proximity for potential interactions.

    Interspecific Interactions

    • Various forms include competition, predation, herbivory, symbiosis, parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism.

    Mutualism

    • Identified by a positive-positive interaction (+/+), where both species benefit.

    Competition

    • Occurs when species vie for limited resources (-/-), resulting in strong competition leading to competitive exclusion.

    Competitive Exclusion Principle

    • States that two species competing for the same limited resources cannot coexist in the same habitat.

    Ecological Niche

    • Defined by the total abiotic and biotic resources utilized by a species.

    Resource Partitioning

    • Differentiates ecological niches, enabling coexistence of similar species within a community.

    Character Displacement

    • Involves the divergence of species’ characteristics more in overlapping ranges (sympatry) than in separate ranges (allopatry).

    Two-Species Interactions

    • Impact classification based on species effects: competitive interactions harm both species, while niche partitioning allows coexistence by avoiding direct competition.

    Predation

    • Characterized as a negative-positive interaction (+/-) where one species kills and consumes another.

    Feeding Adaptations of Predators

    • Include claws, teeth, fangs, and stingers; camouflage does not fit this category.

    Behavioral Defenses of Prey

    • Such as hiding, fleeing, forming herds or schools, and alarm calls; claws are offensive, not defensive actions.

    Herbivory

    • A negative-positive interaction (+/-) where herbivores consume parts of plants or algae.

    Symbiosis

    • A close and direct relationship between two or more species that can include mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.

    Non-Examples of Symbiosis

    • Competition is not considered a form of symbiosis.

    Parasitism

    • Described as a negative-positive interaction (+/-), where one organism benefits at the host's expense.

    Mutualism

    • Interaction benefiting both species (+/+).

    Commensalism

    • A positive-neutral interaction (+/0) where one species benefits with no effect on the other.

    Species Richness

    • Refers to the total number of different species within a community.

    Relative Abundance

    • The proportion each species contributes to the total number of individuals in a community.

    Trophic Structures

    • Represent feeding relationships within a community and are key to community dynamics; food chains and webs illustrate these relationships.

    Disturbances

    • Events altering a community, removing organisms, or changing resource availability.

    Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis

    • Suggests diversity peaks at intermediate levels of disturbance due to significant influences on community structure.

    Ecological Succession

    • The sequence of changes in community and ecosystem composition following a disturbance.

    Primary Ecological Succession

    • Occurs in areas without existing soil; initiated by pioneer species.

    Secondary Ecological Succession

    • Takes place in areas where soil remains post-disturbance.

    Role of Disturbance in Succession

    • Promotes earlier successional stages, supporting the recovery of ecosystems.

    Island Equilibrium Model

    • Species richness influenced by island size, distance from the mainland, and extinction rates, while population size does not directly affect richness.

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    Description

    Explore the dynamics of biological communities and the interspecific interactions that shape them. This quiz covers concepts such as mutualism, competition, and resource partitioning, along with the competitive exclusion principle. Test your understanding of how species coexist and interact within their ecological niches.

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