Ecological Competition: Interspecific vs. Intraspecific
Explore ecological competition, including interspecific competition between different species and intraspecific competition within the same species. Learn about competitive exclusion, where resource competition prevents long-term coexistence in the same habitat. Understand the difference between competitive exclusion and local extinction.
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Ecological Competition: Interspecific vs. Intraspecific
Quiz • 10 Questions
Ecological Competition: Interspecific vs. Intraspecific - Flashcards
Flashcards • 10 Cards
Study Notes
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List of Questions10 questions
- Question 1
- Lions and hyenas competing for the same zebra carcass on the African savanna.
- A group of ants from the same colony working together to carry a large food particle.
- Different species of bacteria living in the same test tube, consuming different sugars.
- Two male deer battling for the attention of a female during mating season.
- Question 2
- One species will eventually outcompete and eliminate the other from the habitat.
- The two species will evolve to occupy slightly different niches, reducing competition.
- Both species will experience a decline in population size but will continue to coexist indefinitely.
- The two species will eventually hybridize and merge into a single species.
- Question 3
- Interspecific competition.
- Mutualistic relationships.
- Resource partitioning.
- Intraspecific cooperation.
- Question 4
- A species of fish disappears from one lake because of pollution, but thrives in other nearby lakes.
- Two closely related bird species compete for nesting sites, leading to one species developing a different nesting strategy.
- A population of rabbits is completely wiped out by a new, highly contagious disease.
- A species of plant is outcompeted by an invasive grass, leading to a smaller population size for the plant.
- Question 5
- Species can coexist indefinitely even with completely overlapping resource needs, provided the environment is stable.
- Intraspecific competition is always a stronger force than interspecific competition in determining species survival.
- Two species can coexist if they evolve to use exactly the same resources at different times of the day.
- Complete competitors cannot coexist; one will inevitably exclude the other.
- Question 6
- A stronger predator species drives a weaker predator species to local extinction due to resource scarcity.
- Two bird species adapt to consume different types of insects, reducing direct competition.
- Several plant species develop different root depths to access water and nutrients.
- Two squirrel species adjust their active foraging times, one becoming diurnal and the other nocturnal.
- Question 7
- One plant species rapidly absorbs soil nutrients, reducing the availability for a slower-growing species.
- Two plant species attract different pollinators, reducing the chance of interspecies pollen transfer.
- Two plant species directly compete for sunlight, with the taller species shading out the shorter one.
- One plant species releases chemicals into the soil that inhibit the growth of neighboring plants.
- Question 8
- A fundamental niche is the potential niche a species *could* occupy, while a realized niche is where it *actually* lives accounting for competition.
- A fundamental niche includes biotic factors, while a realized niche includes abiotic factors.
- A fundamental niche describes the habitat, while a realized niche describes the species' role in the ecosystem.
- A fundamental niche is the actual niche a species occupies, while a realized niche is the potential niche.
- Question 9
- Niche differentiation
- Interference competition
- Exploitation competition
- Apparent competition
- Question 10
- By reducing interspecific competition through the utilization of non-overlapping resources or habitats.
- By creating a competitive exclusion scenario, leading to the local extinction of weaker competitors.
- By allowing species to occupy the same ecological role, increasing biodiversity.
- By intensifying resource overlap, forcing species to evolve more efficient resource acquisition strategies.
List of Flashcards10 flashcards
- Card 1HintThink 'inter' as in 'international' - different nations competing.Memory TipInterspecific: 'Inter' = Different, like an 'inter'national competition.
- Card 2HintThink 'intra' as in 'intranet' - within a single organization.Memory TipIntraspecific: 'Intra' = Within, like an 'intra'mural sport.
- Card 3HintOnly one species can win the competition in a given ecological niche.Memory TipExclusion: Think of musical chairs. When the music stops, someone is out.
- Card 4HintLike a 'local' business closing down.Memory TipLocal extinction: Gone from one place, still exists in others
- Card 5HintNamed after a biologist.Memory TipGause's principle: Gause rhymes with 'cause,' the 'cause' of exclusion.
- Card 6HintThink of direct confrontation. What action directly limits another's access?Memory TipImagine a bully directly blocking access to resources.
- Card 7HintConsider how resources can be depleted without direct contact.Memory TipThink of silently 'exploiting' a shared resource before others get to it.
- Card 8HintThink of each species finding its own specialized role or space.Memory TipDifferent roles = less competition.
- Card 9HintImagine a species living in a perfect, ideal world.Memory TipThink of a 'fantasy' niche, free of all constraints.
- Card 10HintThis is the niche in which a species actually lives, not a theoretical perfect one.Memory TipThink of 'reality' – niches get impacted by competition.