37 Questions
What aspect of community structure is highlighted by the distribution of abundance among species?
Species Evenness
Which category of species in a community has high abundance or influence?
Dominants and Rare Species
Which term describes species with outsized ecological impacts relative to their abundance or biomass?
Keystone Species
What are networks of trophic interactions among species in a community called?
Food Webs
Which term refers to categories of species based on their ecological roles, such as trophic levels and guilds?
Functional Groups
Which term describes the phenomenon where changes in one trophic level impact multiple other levels in a food web?
Trophic cascade
What type of interactions involve negative interactions mediated by shared enemies?
Apparent competition
Which concept refers to the variation in environmental conditions that influence species diversity and community structure?
Environmental heterogeneity
What term describes the situation where one species benefits from another's interactions without affecting it directly?
Indirect commensalism
Which type of interaction involves an influential predator species that has a significant impact on the ecosystem?
Keystone predation
What concept suggests that many endangered species are dependent on their host species for survival?
Sixth mass coextinction
How does the sixth mass coextinction impact biodiversity and ecosystem function?
It results in a loss of biodiversity and ecosystem function
Which factor is crucial for comprehensively assessing the conservation status of endangered species according to the text?
Understanding parasite diversity and extinction risk
How do species interactions like competition, predation, and mutualism influence community structure?
They play a role in structuring communities
What does the concept of the sixth mass coextinction highlight regarding species within ecological communities?
Their interdependence and potential consequences of species loss on associated parasites and mutualists
What concept underscores the importance of considering parasite diversity and extinction risk in community ecology studies?
The sixth mass coextinction
Why are host-specific parasites especially vulnerable to extinction?
They rely on a single host species for survival
How does the extinction of a host species impact parasites and mutualists according to the text?
It can lead to the extinction of parasites and mutualists dependent on the host
Which integral components of ecosystems contribute to stability, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity?
Parasites and mutualists
In community ecology studies, what is often overlooked in relation to endangered species?
The potential consequences on associated parasites and mutualists
What does species richness measure in a community?
The total number of different species in a community
How does species evenness contribute to the balance in a community?
By describing how evenly individuals are distributed among different species in a community
What role do dominant species play in a community?
They influence the community by shaping its structure and function
Which component of the biological structure of communities refers to the specific species present and their relative abundances?
Species Composition
In what scenario would a community exhibit high species evenness?
If all species have similar abundance
Which type of species plays a crucial role in maintaining the structure and function of an ecosystem despite their low abundance?
Keystone species
What do keystone species like sea otters and wolves regulate in their respective ecosystems?
Herbivore populations
In a tropical rainforest, which type of tree may overshadow other species and influence the microclimate below their canopy?
Kapok trees
What is the key difference between food chains and food webs in depicting the flow of energy and nutrients through ecosystems?
Food chains show one-way energy flow while food webs show multi-directional interactions
What term describes the disproportionately large impact that certain species like sea otters and wolves have on the structure and function of an ecosystem?
Keystone effect
What aspect of community structure refers to the ecological role and habitat requirements of a species within its ecosystem?
Functional groups: Guilds
In environments with low heterogeneity or high levels of disturbance, what is likely to happen to species evenness?
Decrease
Which term refers to species with outsized ecological impacts relative to their abundance or biomass?
Keystone species
What drives variations in species abundance and community richness along gradients?
Environmental gradients
Which factor can support higher species richness in areas with greater environmental heterogeneity?
Diverse habitats and resources
What may lead to lower species evenness in environments with low heterogeneity?
High competition levels
Which concept refers to the relative abundance of different species within a community?
Evenness
Test your knowledge on the concepts of environmental heterogeneity, species diversity, and species interactions such as apparent competition and indirect commensalism. Explore topics like keystone predation, apparent competition, and indirect commensalism.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
