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Questions and Answers
What defines the fundamental niche of a species?
What defines the fundamental niche of a species?
What is the primary result of niche overlap between two species?
What is the primary result of niche overlap between two species?
What is the term for the portion of the fundamental niche that a species actually occupies?
What is the term for the portion of the fundamental niche that a species actually occupies?
According to Connell’s experiments with barnacles, what happened to the distribution of Chthamalus when Balanus was removed?
According to Connell’s experiments with barnacles, what happened to the distribution of Chthamalus when Balanus was removed?
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In Gause's experiment on competitive exclusion, what was the outcome when two species had overlapping niches?
In Gause's experiment on competitive exclusion, what was the outcome when two species had overlapping niches?
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Which of the following accurately describes a multidimensional niche space?
Which of the following accurately describes a multidimensional niche space?
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What best describes the effect of competitive exclusion on a species?
What best describes the effect of competitive exclusion on a species?
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What is a key factor that helps determine the interactions within an ecological community?
What is a key factor that helps determine the interactions within an ecological community?
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What outcome does the Competitive Exclusion Principle suggest when two species occupy the same niche?
What outcome does the Competitive Exclusion Principle suggest when two species occupy the same niche?
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Which of the following describes resource partitioning?
Which of the following describes resource partitioning?
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What aspect of resource partitioning did MacArthur study among warbler species?
What aspect of resource partitioning did MacArthur study among warbler species?
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What is character displacement?
What is character displacement?
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Which factor contributes to the occurrence of character displacement?
Which factor contributes to the occurrence of character displacement?
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What is the difference between a fundamental niche and a realized niche?
What is the difference between a fundamental niche and a realized niche?
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Which statement correctly describes the role of evolutionary change in resource partitioning?
Which statement correctly describes the role of evolutionary change in resource partitioning?
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In which way do shorebirds partition resources?
In which way do shorebirds partition resources?
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Study Notes
Ecological Niche
- A species' ecological niche encompasses the complete range of environmental conditions (biotic and abiotic) within which a species can survive.
- Species interactions are influenced by their unique ecological niches.
- Niches are affected by numerous factors, including abiotic factors (e.g., temperature, rainfall) and biotic factors (e.g., predator-prey relationships, competition).
- Architectural niches are recesses or cavities in walls, typically used to house statues, vases, etc.
Niche Characteristics of the American Dipper
- Their environment consists of fast-flowing mountain streams.
- The streams feature cascades, riffles, and are unpolluted.
- Streambeds are composed of cobbles or coarse gravel.
- Midstream or streamside boulders are present along with large woody debris.
- Waterways are ice-free during winter.
- Various creatures like aquatic insects, insect larvae, small fish, and fish eggs are present.
- They prefer vertical surfaces along stream banks.
- Moss presence is common in their environment
Niche is not a Habitat
- A habitat is a geographic area or region with specific abiotic and biotic characteristics where organisms reside.
- An ecological niche is the role a species plays in an ecosystem, not its location.
Hutchinson's Niche Concept
- Niche is described as an n-dimensional hypervolume.
- The dimension refers to factors represented as axes on a graph.
- The hypothetical number (n) of factors defines a species' niche.
Species' Niche
- A species' niche is a set of conditions and resources essential for survival.
- An example niche is a hypothetical species defined by temperature and food availability, where a suitable combination of temperature and food availability yields a suitable niche.
Fundamental vs. Realized Niche
- The fundamental niche encompasses the full range of conditions where a species can survive.
- The realized niche is limited by coexisting species, implying the actual range a species occupies.
Connell's Barnacles
- Chthamalus and Balanus are two barnacle species that inhabit a rocky intertidal ecosystem.
- Connell's experiments revealed that the distribution of Chthamalus was affected by the presence of Balanus, while the distribution of Balanus was not affected by the presence of Chthamalus.
Competitive Exclusion
- When two species have overlapping niches, one often goes extinct due to competition for limited resources.
- This principle illustrates how competition shapes species interactions in a community.
Resource Partitioning
- An alternative outcome to competition is resource partitioning, where competing species evolve differences that allow them to use different resources.
- This can manifest as differences in morphology or behavior.
- Shorebirds, for instance, demonstrate resource partitioning with differing beak shapes and sizes for capturing different prey items.
Warbler Resource Partitioning
- MacArthur observed feeding and nesting behaviors of similar warbler species.
Character Displacement
- Character displacement is a special case of resource partitioning, particularly prevalent in sympatric species (those that coexist in the same geographic area).
- This is illustrated in the case of Darwin's finches in the Galapagos Islands, with distinct beak sizes signifying a resource partitioning effect.
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Description
Explore the ecological niche of the American Dipper, focusing on the environmental conditions essential for its survival. This quiz examines the influence of biotic and abiotic factors in their habitat, specifically in fast-flowing mountain streams. Understand the interactions within their unique ecological niche and discover the characteristics that define their environment.
