Environmental Science Week 5 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is the Principle of Competitive Exclusion?

A statement that in competition between species that seek the same ecological niche, one species survives while the other expires under a given set of environmental conditions, resulting in each species occupying a distinct niche.

What are resource partitioning and character displacement?

Resource partitioning occurs when two species coexist despite apparent competition for the same resources. Character displacement refers to the divergence of characteristics to reduce competition.

What is a food web?

A system of interlocking and interdependent food chains.

What are producers?

Organisms that produce their own food. Signup and view all the answers

What are consumers?

An organism that obtains energy and nutrients by feeding on other organisms or their remains. Signup and view all the answers

What is a trophic level?

Each step in a food chain or food web. Signup and view all the answers

What is an herbivore?

A consumer that eats only plants. Signup and view all the answers

What is a decomposer?

An organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter. Signup and view all the answers

What is interspecific competition?

A form of competition in which individuals of different species compete for the same resources in an ecosystem. Signup and view all the answers

What is intraspecific competition?

Competition between members of the same species. Signup and view all the answers

What is symbiosis (mutualism)?

A relationship in which both organisms benefit. Signup and view all the answers

What is parasitism?

A relationship between two organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is harmed. Signup and view all the answers

What is an ecological niche?

The sum of a species' use of the biotic and abiotic resources in its environment. Signup and view all the answers

What is a fundamental niche?

The term for what an organism's niche would be in the absence of competition from other species. Signup and view all the answers

What is a realized niche?

The actual space that an organism inhabits and the resources it can access as a result of limiting pressures from other species. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Principles of Competitive Exclusion

Describes competition between species targeting the same ecological niche.
One species outcompetes the other under specific environmental conditions.
Leads to distinct niche occupation for each species.

Resource Partitioning and Character Displacement

Resource partitioning allows coexistence of species despite competition.
Characteristics evolve to reduce competition among species.
Character displacement refers to the divergence of features when resources are partitioned.

Food Webs

Represents a network of interconnected food chains.
Illustrates interdependencies among different species within an ecosystem.

Producers

Organisms that synthesize their own food through processes like photosynthesis.

Consumers

Organisms that derive energy and nutrients by consuming other organisms or organic remains.

Trophic Levels

Each distinct step within a food chain or food web.

Herbivores

Consumers that exclusively feed on plant material.

Decomposers

Organisms that break down dead organic matter, obtaining energy and nutrients in the process.

Interspecific Competition

Competition among individuals of different species for the same resources in an ecosystem.
Contrasts with interspecific cooperation, which is a form of symbiosis.
Intraspecific competition occurs between members of the same species.

Intraspecific Competition

Refers to competition taking place between individuals of the same species.

Symbiosis (Mutualism)

A relationship where both involved organisms benefit from the interaction.

Parasitism

An interaction between two different species where one organism benefits at the expense of the other.

Ecological Niche

The total use of both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) resources by a species within its environment.

Fundamental Niche

Represents the niche role an organism would occupy in the absence of competition from other species.

Realized Niche

Defines the actual environment and resource access of an organism, influenced by competition and other limiting factors.

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Description

Test your knowledge with these flashcards covering key concepts from Environmental Science Week 5. This quiz includes essential terms such as the Principle of Competitive Exclusion and resource partitioning, crucial for understanding ecological relationships. Challenge yourself and reinforce your learning on these important themes in ecology.