Ecology Chapter on Niche and Competition

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Questions and Answers

What is the fundamental niche of a species?

The type of prey a species can consume.

Everything the species would need to survive under ideal conditions. (correct)

The range of habitats a species can occupy.

The actual conditions the species exists in.

Which statement best describes competitive exclusion?

Two species will thrive together in the same niche.

One species will adapt to occupy a different niche.

Interspecific competition leads to the extinction of one species. (correct)

Resources are shared equally between competing species.

What distinguishes generalists from specialists in ecological niches?

Specialists can occupy more habitats.

Generalists thrive in stable environments.

Specialists have more specific resource needs. (correct)

Generalists are more vulnerable to environmental changes.

Which of the following best defines K strategists?

Grow slowly and invest in fewer offspring. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of biogeography in ecology?

Understanding why organisms are found where they are. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during primary ecological succession?

Development of a community in previously unoccupied land. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following traits is common among r strategists?

High reproduction rates and rapid growth. Signup and view all the answers

What is secondary succession primarily characterized by?

Following a disturbance in an established community. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Ecological Risk Assessment (EcIA) evaluate?

The likelihood of adverse ecological effects from various stressors Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following stages is NOT part of the Ecological Impact Assessment process?

Assessment of socio-economic impacts Signup and view all the answers

Which abiotic parameters are considered in an EcIA?

Soil, air, and water quality Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of specific receptor assessments within an EcIA?

To determine necessary follow-up studies based on initial data Signup and view all the answers

What type of studies are concentrated on when focusing on the ecology receptor in an EIA?

Surveys and assessments of ecological factors Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of conducting an Ecological Impact Assessment (EIA)?

To evaluate potential environmental impacts of a development project Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the three major goals of an Ecological Impact Assessment?

To maximize the economic benefits of the project Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) in the context of EIAs?

To oversee the implementation of EIAs and coordinate federal environmental efforts Signup and view all the answers

Which types of projects are required to undergo an EIA?

Projects that will have a significant environmental impact Signup and view all the answers

What factors are considered during the screening process for determining the necessity of an EIA?

Size, resource usage, and type of waste produced Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of remediation for brownfield sites?

To prepare the site for development Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors influences the prediction of ecological impacts?

The resilience of the ecosystem Signup and view all the answers

How does the Leopold matrix assess ecological impacts?

By evaluating spatial magnitude and importance Signup and view all the answers

What does mitigation primarily aim to achieve in ecological impact assessments?

To eliminate negative impacts before they occur Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant challenge related to post-construction monitoring of ecological impacts?

Difficulty accessing sites for assessment Signup and view all the answers

Which approach is NOT considered a method for mitigating ecological impacts?

Allowing natural regeneration without intervention Signup and view all the answers

What happens when a project is granted approval after an Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA)?

Impact and mitigation monitoring is usually required Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes providing replacement areas for biological resources lost due to development?

Compensation Signup and view all the answers

What is a critical factor in determining the importance of an ecological impact?

The rarity and ecological significance of the habitat Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered the least respectful approach to mitigating ecological impacts?

Complete prevention of development Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of habitat value?

The habitat is declining or vulnerable Signup and view all the answers

Which receptor type is associated with the presence of animals in an ecosystem?

Fauna-based receptors Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does NOT influence site value?

Presence of non-native species Signup and view all the answers

What defines ecosystem service value?

The combination of site, habitat, and species values Signup and view all the answers

Which type of impact includes effects from ongoing operational activities?

Operation impact Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant ecological process influenced by plants and animals in an ecosystem?

Pollination Signup and view all the answers

What describes a cumulative effect in ecological terms?

The sum of all pollution impacts over time Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an example of a process-based receptor?

Habitat fragmentation Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main benefits of evaluating ecosystem service value?

To assess processes that benefit humans Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic increases the ecological value of a site?

High species richness Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Niche

Fundamental Niche: The ideal conditions a species needs to survive. This includes factors such as food, temperature, and habitat.
Realized Niche: The actual conditions a species exists under, influenced by interactions with other species, like competition.

Competition

Competitive Exclusion Principle: Two species cannot occupy the same niche indefinitely. One species will either leave or die out.

Specialists vs. Generalists

Generalists: Have a wide fundamental niche, able to survive in various habitats and consume diverse food sources. (e.g., raccoons).
Specialists: Have a narrow fundamental niche due to specific needs, making them more susceptible to environmental change. (e.g., pandas, reliant on bamboo)

Evolution

Co-evolution: Species evolve adaptations in response to each other, driven by natural selection.

Diversity of Life History Traits

Life History: The set of traits related to an organism's development, growth, reproduction, and lifespan.
Interspecific Interactions: Interactions between different species create selection pressures that drive adaptations in life history.
r vs. K Strategists:
- r-strategists: Focus on high growth rates (r). They reproduce quickly, have many offspring, and often have short lifespans. They thrive in unstable environments and are often generalists.
- K-strategists: Focus on reaching carrying capacity (K), the maximum stable number of individuals an environment can support. They reproduce slowly, have fewer offspring, and tend to have longer lifespans. They require stable environments.

Patterns in Ecology

Biogeography: The study of the geographical distribution of organisms and the factors that influence their location.
Geographic Range Limits: Are shifting due to climate change, impacting species distribution.
Ecological Succession: The gradual change in an ecological community over time.
- Pioneer Species: (r-strategists) First to colonize a new or disturbed area.
- Climax Community: (K-strategists) The stable community that eventually develops in a particular environment.
- Primary Succession: Occurs on land not previously occupied by a community, such as bare rock or volcanic ash.
- Secondary Succession: Occurs after a disturbance to an existing community, such as fire, flooding, or human disturbance.

Invasive Species

Exotic species introduced to an area outside their native range can disrupt the ecological balance.

Ecological Impact Assessment (EIA)

Any new type of infrastructure is considered development.
An EIA is a formalized process assessing the impact of a proposed development.
An EIA must assess current conditions, likely impacts, and propose mitigation strategies for negative effects.

EIA Goals

Ensures proposed projects meet legislative requirements.
Determine environmental acceptability.
Minimize environmental impacts.

History

EIAs are conducted in over 140 countries.
The first EIA was created in the US.
The US National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was inspired by Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" (1962).
The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) was established by NEPA.
CEQ coordinates federal environmental efforts, oversees EIA implementations, and acts as a referee between agencies.

EIA Screening

Large environmental impact projects (mining, large developments) always require an EIA.
Projects with no potential for significant environmental impact are excluded.
Projects in the "gray area" are screened for potential risks to determine if an EIA is necessary.
Screening factors include:
- Project size.
- Resource use.
- Amount and type of waste produced.
- Land use: Existing site conditions, environmental sensitivity and surrounding land use.
- Potential impact: Severity, probability, and geographical extent.

EIA Receptors

EIA receptors are determined through surveys.
Receptor examples include:
- Abiotic parameters: Soil, air, water.
- Landscape/ecology: Visual intrusion and ecology.
- Emissions: Waste, pollution, greenhouse gasses.
- Material assets: Heritage and archeology.
- Population: Economy, infrastructure, employment, and noise pollution.
- The focus is on the ecology receptor.

Ecological Risk Assessment (EcIA)

EcIA evaluates the likelihood of adverse ecological effects caused by chemical, physical, or biological stressors.
EcIA is considered for almost every EIA.

Stages of EcIA

Baseline stage: Uses secondary data like NEPAssist.
Primary data collection: Uses field studies like bird point counts and semi-quantitative vegetation surveys.
Detailed follow-up studies are conducted for specific receptors such as:
- Habitat receptors: Condition, type, fragmentation, corridors, and connectivity.
- Flora-based receptors: Presence of plants.
- Fauna-based receptors: Presence of animals.
- Process-based receptors: Pollination, seed dispersal, and symbiotic relationships.

Ecological Value Definitions

Site value:
- Statutory designation: State/national park or wildlife refuge.
- Habitat heterogeneity: More diverse habitats = higher value.
- High species richness: Higher biodiversity = higher value.
- High population percentage: A location with over 1% of a species' population is valuable.
- Social value: Public connection to a site often correlates with high biodiversity and habitat heterogeneity.
Habitat value:
- Rarity: National or international rarity.
- Decline: Declining or vulnerable habitat.
- Specialty: Highly specialized habitat or restricted location.
- Difficulty of recreation: Ancient forests are hard to recreate.
- Human Usefulness: Wetlands for flood control.
Species value:
- Legal protection: International, federal, or state protection.
- Rarity: IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) conservation status.
- Ecosystem engineers: Important species like beavers, even if not rare.
- Economic importance: Value to human livelihoods.
- Non-native species: How to manage non-native species during development.
Ecosystem service value:
- Combination of site, habitat, and species values that benefit humans.
- Processes/services: Pollination, water filtration, carbon sequestration.

Assessing Project Impacts

Prediction and uncertainty: Assessing impacts involves considerable prediction and uncertainty.
Impacts are assessed for the project's full life cycle:
- Construction.
- Operation.
- Decommissioning.
- Regeneration: Returning the site to a natural state after decommissioning.

Types of Impact

Direct: Direct impact from development, such as pumping waste from a power plant.
Indirect: Indirect impacts from development, such as waste water polluting a river and causing harmful algal blooms (HABs).
Cumulative effect: Exceeding a threshold, like thermal pollution in a large body of water.
Ecological benefits: Potential positive impacts from development activities that can benefit the environment.
- Remediation of brownfields or superfund sites can be considered an ecological benefit.
Magnitude: The spatial scale of the impact: The area being impacted.
Importance: The severity of the impact and the ecological importance of the area.

Impact Prediction Methods

Expert opinion: Using existing ecological knowledge.
Peer-reviewed literature: Consulting published ecological research.
Previous projects and monitoring: Using data from previous projects and post-construction surveys.
Modeling approaches: Using predictive models, which can be inaccurate.
Leopold matrix: A tool used to assess impacts based on magnitude and importance.

Impact Mitigation

Mitigation measures: Reducing negative impacts before they happen.
- Avoidance: Preventing the development or reducing its scale to minimize impacts.
- Reduction: Implementing measures to lessen the severity of impacts.
- Containment: Keeping impacts localized.
- Rescue: Relocating threatened species or habitats.
- Remediation: Removing and recovering from environmental issues.
- Spatial approach: Altering site location or movement patterns.
- Temporal approach: Altering timing to avoid sensitive periods (spawning season).
- Development alterations: Design and construction changes.
- Translocations: Moving species or habitats off-site (controversial).
Compensation: Compensating for losses by creating replacement habitats or providing financial incentives.

Outcomes of EcIA

Granted: With mitigation conditions and post-development monitoring.
Withheld: Pending implementation of mitigation measures or alternative sites.
Denied: Impact too high or insufficient mitigation.

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Description

This quiz explores the concepts of fundamental and realized niches, competition among species, and the distinctions between generalists and specialists. Additionally, it covers co-evolution and life history traits, providing a comprehensive understanding of ecological interactions.