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Questions and Answers
What does the term 'niche' refer to in ecology?
What does the term 'niche' refer to in ecology?
- The evolutionary adaptations of a species
- The range of biotic and abiotic conditions a species can tolerate (correct)
- The specific habitat where a species lives
- The total number of individuals within a community
What characterizes an ecotone?
What characterizes an ecotone?
- A sharp boundary created by significant environmental changes (correct)
- A stable community with no changes
- A diverse area with many species
- A gradual transition between two communities
Which perspective suggests that communities are composed of interdependent organisms?
Which perspective suggests that communities are composed of interdependent organisms?
- Holistic perspective (correct)
- Niche theory
- Ecosystemic approach
- Individualistic perspective
What does Henry Allan Gleason argue about communities?
What does Henry Allan Gleason argue about communities?
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In the experimental determination of interdependence, what is the purpose of studying 'focal species'?
In the experimental determination of interdependence, what is the purpose of studying 'focal species'?
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Study Notes
Lab Week 3 Highlights
- Field trip planned; important to meet the bus and check weather conditions.
- 'Clements v Gleason' reading assigned in Lecture 4 Blackboard folder.
- Results interpretation and narration assignment due at the start of the lab.
Community Zonation Concepts
- Niche: Refers to the biotic and abiotic conditions that a species can tolerate within its environment.
- Communities may exhibit distinct or gradual boundaries.
Key Community Boundary Types
- Ecotone: Represents an abrupt transition with significant environmental changes over a short distance, leading to major shifts in species composition.
- Ecocline: Describes a gradual and continuous change in species composition across an environmental gradient.
The Nature of Communities
- Frederic Clements: Proposed that communities act as interdependent units or “superorganisms,” reflecting a holistic approach.
- Henry Allan Gleason: Argued that communities consist of independent organisms, each responding to environmental changes in an individualistic manner.
Research Methods in Community Ecology
- Experimental studies focus on ‘focal species’ to assess interdependence and facilitation.
- Neighbors of the focal species may be removed to monitor outcomes related to interactions, both positive and negative.
Important Study Reference
- Refer to Callaway 2002, published in Nature, for experimental determination of interdependence in ecological studies.
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