Ecology Chapter on Niche and Competition

Study Notes

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.

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

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)

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

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.

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.