Ecology Lecture 2

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Questions and Answers

What are the three fundamental features of a community?

Species diversity, trophic structure, species richness

Species diversity, feeding relationships, interspecific interactions (correct)

Species diversity, relative abundance, trophic levels

Species richness, trophic levels, interspecific interactions

What are the two components of species diversity in a community?

Species abundance and trophic levels

Species diversity and interspecific interactions

Species richness and trophic structure

Species richness and relative abundance (correct)

What is the role of producers in a trophic structure?

They have no specific role in the trophic structure

They are the decomposers recycling biomass

They are the autotrophs of a community and all organisms rely on them (correct)

They are the top carnivores in a food chain

What is a food web in a trophic structure?

A branching food chain with complex trophic interactions Signup and view all the answers

What do decomposers do in a community?

Recycle all biomass Signup and view all the answers

What is the proportion each species represents of all individuals in the community called?

Relative abundance Signup and view all the answers

What are the different levels of heterotrophic organisms called in a trophic structure?

Consumers Signup and view all the answers

What is the variety of organisms that make up a community called?

Species diversity Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the specific set of biotic and abiotic resources used by an organism?

Niche Signup and view all the answers

Which interaction occurs when two species compete for a limited resource?

Competition Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for interactions where both species benefit?

Mutualism Signup and view all the answers

Which organism eats parts of plants or algae?

Herbivore Signup and view all the answers

What type of interaction occurs when one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed?

Commensalism Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for an organism that derives nourishment from another organism, its host, which is harmed in the process?

Parasite Signup and view all the answers

What may occur if two species’ niches overlap?

Competition Signup and view all the answers

Which interaction between a consumer and another species involves the consumer feeding upon the other species?

Predation Signup and view all the answers

What are interactions between populations in a community called?

Community dynamics Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the interactions between populations in a community categorized by their effect on the survival and reproduction of each species?

Interspecific interaction Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Fundamental Features of a Community

Community structure includes species diversity, species interactions, and the physical environment.
A community has both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components that interact.

Components of Species Diversity

Species richness refers to the number of different species in a community.
Species evenness indicates how evenly individuals are distributed among those species.

Role of Producers in Trophic Structure

Producers, primarily plants and phytoplankton, convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
They form the base of the food chain, supporting all other trophic levels.

Food Web in Trophic Structure

A food web consists of interconnected food chains, illustrating the complex feeding relationships among organisms in a community.
It represents multiple pathways of energy flow and nutrient cycling.

Role of Decomposers

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning vital nutrients to the soil.
They play a crucial role in recycling materials within the ecosystem.

Proportion of Species in a Community

The term for the proportion each species represents of all individuals in the community is relative abundance.

Levels of Heterotrophic Organisms

Heterotrophic organisms are categorized into primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers based on their feeding levels in the trophic structure.
Primary consumers eat producers, secondary consumers eat primary consumers, and tertiary consumers eat secondary consumers.

Variety of Organisms in a Community

The variety of organisms within a community is referred to as biodiversity.

Specific Set of Resources for an Organism

The specific set of biotic and abiotic resources an organism uses is known as its ecological niche.

Competition Between Species

Competition occurs when two species vie for limited resources such as food, space, or mates.

Beneficial Interactions

Mutualism describes interactions where both species involved benefit from the relationship.

Organisms That Eat Parts of Plants or Algae

Herbivores are organisms that consume parts of plants or algae.

Neutral Interactions

Commensalism is the interaction where one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Parasitism

Parasitism involves an organism deriving nourishment from a host, which is harmed in the process.

Consequences of Overlapping Niches

If two species’ niches overlap significantly, it may lead to competition, potential exclusion, or evolutionary adaptations.

Consumer-Target Species Interaction

Predation is the interaction where a consumer feeds on another species, potentially leading to its death.

Population Interactions in a Community

Interactions between populations in a community are known as community ecology.

Effects of Interactions Between Populations

The term for interactions between populations categorized by their effects on survival and reproduction is species interactions or ecological interactions.

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Description

Test your knowledge of community ecology with this quiz! Explore the interactions between different populations in the same area, including species diversity, feeding relationships, and interspecific interactions. Learn about species richness, relative abundance, and other fundamental features of a community.