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?
What does mutualism refer to?
+/+
Competition occurs when __________.
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What are the results of strong competition?
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What does the competitive exclusion principle state?
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The ecological niche of a species is the total of the _____ and ______ used by the species.
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Resource partitioning enables similar species to coexist within a community.
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An example of resource partitioning is:
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Which of the following best describes resource partitioning?
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What is character displacement?
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Which of the following is an example of character displacement?
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Niche partitioning enables species to coexist by:
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What is predation?
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Which of the following is not a feeding adaptation of predators?
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Which of the following is not a behavioral defense of prey?
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What is herbivory?
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What is symbiosis?
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Which of the following isn't an example of symbiosis?
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What is parasitism?
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What is mutualism?
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What is commensalism?
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What is species richness?
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What is relative abundance?
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Which of the following isn't true about trophic structures?
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A disturbance is an event that _____ a community.
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What is the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis?
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What is ecological succession?
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What is primary ecological succession?
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What is secondary ecological succession?
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Why is disturbance an important component of succession?
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According to the Island Equilibrium Model, which of the following does not influence species richness?
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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.
