24 Questions
What is the term for a group of species populations that share similar ecological roles or life histories?
Functional group
What is the main force structuring the species composition of islands, according to the 1975 study on bird species composition patterns on Bismarck Archipelago?
Competition
What is the term for the idea that coexisting species must differ in certain aspects to exploit different resources?
Limiting Similarity
What is the mechanism by which species that are too similar are led to character displacement, enabling exploitation of different resources?
Selection
What is the term for the specific role and position of a species within its environment?
Ecological Niche
What is the process by which species divide a shared resource, enabling coexistence?
Resource Partitioning
What is the term for the exclusion of one species by another due to competition for the same resource?
Competition
What is the method used to test whether species compositions follow certain rules or are random?
Assembly rules
What does competition predict among coexisting species?
certain morphological patterns
What is character displacement, and how does it relate to natural selection?
Character displacement is the phenomenon where morphological differences between species are greater than expected by chance; it is a result of natural selection.
What is the role of habitat-filtering in shaping the coexistence of species?
Habitat-filtering leads to smaller morphological differences between species than expected by chance, allowing for coexistence through resource partitioning.
What is the expected outcome of competition in stable systems with limited resources and K-selected life histories?
Competition is expected to occur in these systems.
What is an example of a guild/assemblage of species that exhibit co-occurrence and syntopy?
A guild/assemblage of small cats, such as the caracal and jungle cat.
What is the role of adaptation in enabling species to coexist in the same environment?
Adaptation allows species to coexist through resource partitioning, where each species occupies a different micro-niche.
What is the relationship between morphological differences and resource partitioning?
Morphological differences between species are often smaller than expected by chance, allowing for resource partitioning and coexistence.
What is the significance of finding ecological situations where competition can be tested?
These situations allow us to test hypotheses about competition, coexistence, and adaptation.
What is the predicted outcome of competition at local scales, in terms of co-occurrence of closely related species, according to the competition hypothesis?
Competitive exclusion, thereby limiting co-occurrence of closely related species.
How do deterministic filters, such as competition and prey defenses, influence the community structure of animals like insectivorous bats?
They have a strong influence, leading to a community structure with low levels of relatedness.
What is the expected outcome of character displacement in terms of morphological adaptations?
The development of distinct morphological adaptations in co-occurring species, allowing for resource partitioning.
How do phylogenetic relatedness and ecological niches interact in shaping community structure, according to the 'phylogenetic signal' concept?
Closely related species tend to have similar traits, which leads to similar niches and increased competition, making them less likely to coexist.
What is the key difference between the competition hypothesis and the habitat-filtering hypothesis in terms of co-existing species' relatedness?
The competition hypothesis predicts that co-existing species are more distantly related, while the habitat-filtering hypothesis predicts that they are more closely related.
At what spatial scales do biotic processes, such as competition, operate most effectively?
Narrow spatial scales.
What is the expected outcome of limiting similarity in terms of co-occurrence of closely related species?
Co-occurrence of closely related species is primarily restricted.
How do the predicted patterns of co-occurrence of closely related species depend on scale?
They are likely dependent on scale, with different patterns emerging at different spatial scales.
Study Notes
Natural Selection and Competition
- Competition among coexisting species predicts certain morphological patterns, including character displacement.
- Limiting resources can lead to bigger morphological differences between species, but this is not always observed.
Habitat-Filtering and Coexistence
- Habitat-filtering can lead to smaller morphological differences between species than expected by chance.
- Coexistence among species can occur through different micro-niches, enabling adaptation and resource partitioning.
Ecological Situations and Hypotheses
- Stable systems with limited resources and K-selected life histories are expected to have competition.
- Guilds/assemblages of species, such as small cats, can be used to test hypotheses about competition and coexistence.
Community Structure and Phylogeny
- Closely related species have similar traits and are prone to competition, leading to low levels of relatedness in communities.
- Phylogenetic relatedness should be less than expected by null models due to deterministic filters like competition and prey defenses.
- The community structure of animals like insectivorous bats is influenced by competition and prey defenses.
Competition and Habitat-Filtering Hypotheses
- The competition hypothesis predicts that co-existing species are more distantly related than expected by chance.
- The habitat-filtering hypothesis predicts that co-existing species are more closely related than expected by chance.
Assembly Rules and Community Structure
- Assembly rules describe the patterns of species composition in communities.
- Species compositions may follow certain rules or be random, and testing hypotheses requires formulating rules and finding ecological situations to test them.
- The 1975 study of bird species composition on the Bismarck Archipelago found that certain combinations of related species do not exist in nature, suggesting that competition, not random immigration, structures species composition.
Limiting Similarity and Ecological Niche
- Coexisting species must differ in certain aspects to exploit different resources, and their similarity cannot exceed a certain "limiting similarity".
- If species are too similar, competition will lead to the exclusion of one of the species, and selection will lead to character displacement and exploitation of different resources.
- Species using the same limiting resource cannot coexist in the same evolutionary time at the same place.
This quiz covers various species of Felidae, including the sand cat and wildcat, and their phylogenetic relationships and ecological niches. It also explores community structure and competition among closely related species.
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