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Questions and Answers
What is the purpose of plants producing chemicals that make herbivores sick?
What is the purpose of plants producing chemicals that make herbivores sick?
Why are caterpillars able to feed on a poisonous weed without being harmed?
Why are caterpillars able to feed on a poisonous weed without being harmed?
Why do plants face a severe problem when dealing with herbivores compared to animals?
Why do plants face a severe problem when dealing with herbivores compared to animals?
What is the main method of defence used by plants against herbivores?
What is the main method of defence used by plants against herbivores?
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What role do cardiac glycosides play in the Calotropis plant's interaction with herbivores?
What role do cardiac glycosides play in the Calotropis plant's interaction with herbivores?
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According to Darwin, what did he consider to be a potent force in organic evolution?
According to Darwin, what did he consider to be a potent force in organic evolution?
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What is a key point made in the passage about competition?
What is a key point made in the passage about competition?
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According to the passage, what is the best way to define competition?
According to the passage, what is the best way to define competition?
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What example is provided in the passage to illustrate competition between totally unrelated species?
What example is provided in the passage to illustrate competition between totally unrelated species?
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Which statement is true regarding competitive exclusion in nature, based on the passage?
Which statement is true regarding competitive exclusion in nature, based on the passage?
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In what situation might interference competition occur based on the information provided?
In what situation might interference competition occur based on the information provided?
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What did Gause and other experimental ecologists demonstrate according to the passage?
What did Gause and other experimental ecologists demonstrate according to the passage?
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Study Notes
Defence Mechanisms in Plants
- Some insects, like the monarch butterfly, acquire toxicity by feeding on poisonous weeds during their caterpillar stage.
- Plants have evolved various defence mechanisms against herbivores since they cannot flee from predators.
Morphological Defences
- Plants like Acacia and Cactus have developed morphological defences such as thorns to deter herbivores.
Chemical Defences
- Plants produce and store chemicals that can make herbivores sick, disrupt their reproduction, or even kill them when ingested.
- Examples of these chemicals include nicotine, caffeine, quinine, and strychnine, which are extracted from plants on a commercial scale.
Competition in Nature
- Interspecific competition occurs when different species compete for the same resources.
- Competition can occur even when resources are abundant, due to interference from other species.
- The fitness of one species can be significantly lower in the presence of another species.
Evidence of Competition
- Laboratory experiments have demonstrated the effects of competition on species fitness.
- In some cases, competitive exclusion can lead to the elimination of one species by another.
- Evidence of competitive exclusion in nature is not always conclusive, but circumstantial evidence does exist.
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Description
Explore the relationship between herbivores and predators in ecology. Learn about how plants defend themselves against herbivorous insects and the impact of predators on plant survival.
