Herbivory Overview Quiz
22 Questions
100 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is herbivory?

Process in which an animal consumes a plant or plant-like organism, e.g., cacti, seaweed, that get their energy via photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

What are two benefits of herbivory to herbivores themselves?

  • Reduces plant growth rates
  • Provides great nutritional value to diet (correct)
  • Maximizes amount of energy consumed per pound (correct)
  • Increases competition among plants

    • What are two effects of herbivory on the environment?

  • Promotes monoculture practices
  • Regulates composition of plant species in a community (correct)
  • Increases levels of decomposition
  • Controls magnitude of primary production (correct)

    • What is the main importance of herbivory to the food web?

    <p>Primary consumers connect energy from plant material to the animals at higher trophic levels.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does biomass change with increasing trophic levels?

    <p>Biomass decreases with increases in trophic level.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The herbivore diversity and abundance reflects what?

    <p>Plant species diversity and abundance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what two ways can plant communities be controlled?

    <p>Bottom-up control via growth limiting resources</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is top-down control?

    <p>Control or influence of consumers on ecosystem processes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Give an example of top-down control.

    <p>In kelp forest ecosystems, sea otters preying on sea urchins allows macroalgae to thrive.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is bottom-up control?

    <p>Control of community structure and ecosystem through resource access.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are two examples of bottom-up control?

    <p>Increased vegetation due to monsoons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a specialist?

    <p>Organisms that feed on one or few closely related plant species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are two benefits of being a specialist?

    <p>Ability to consume plants with chemicals or physical defenses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a generalist?

    <p>Organisms that feed on several non-related plant species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a hypothesis for the diet diversity of generalists?

    <p>The strategic objective of food selection in generalists is to obtain the best mix of nutrients within a fixed total intake.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the relative distributions of specialists and generalists?

    <p>Specialists have small, local distributions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are heterotrophic organisms?

    <p>Animals that acquire organic nutrients via consuming other organisms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is grazing?

    <p>Eating grasses and other small plants from the ground</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is browsing?

    <p>Feeding on leaves, shoots, and fruits higher off the ground.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is burrowing?

    <p>Burrowing into their food while eating out a tunnel as they move.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are three examples of organisms that fruit, seed, nectar and pollen eaters?

    <p>Bears, birds, moths</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is filter feeding?

    <p>A common technique used in an aquatic environment that allows animals to extract small food items from the water.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Herbivory Overview

    • Herbivory refers to animals consuming plants or plant-like organisms that derive energy from photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

    Benefits to Herbivores

    • Maximizes energy intake per pound of consumed food.
    • Provides significant nutritional value in their diet.

    Environmental Effects of Herbivory

    • Regulates plant species composition within communities.
    • Influences primary production, decomposition, and energy flow in food chains.

    Importance in Food Webs

    • Primary consumers act as a bridge, transferring energy from plants to higher trophic levels.

    Biomass and Trophic Levels

    • Biomass decreases as trophic levels increase, with herbivores outnumbering secondary and tertiary consumers.

    Herbivore Diversity

    • The diversity and abundance of herbivores are reflective of the diversity and abundance of plant species.

    Control of Plant Communities

    • Bottom-up control involves resource limitations like nutrients.
    • Top-down control is driven by consumer predation.

    Top-Down Control Example

    • In kelp forests, sea otters (keystone predators) regulate sea urchin populations, allowing macroalgae to thrive.

    Bottom-Up Control

    • Community structure and ecosystem health are determined by resource availability (e.g., nutrients, light).
    • Increased resources elevate the base of the ecological pyramid, affecting higher trophic levels.

    Bottom-Up Control Examples

    • Algal blooms from nutrient runoff can lead to harmful conditions and anoxia.
    • Monsoons increase vegetation, subsequently boosting rodent populations.

    Specialist vs. Generalist

    • Specialists (stenophagous) feed on a few closely related plant species.
    • Generalists (euryphagous) consume a variety of unrelated plant species.

    Benefits of Specialists

    • Can utilize plants with chemical defenses for predation protection.
    • Often get all necessary nutrients from a limited food source.

    Generalist Diet Diversity Hypothesis

    • Generalists aim for an optimal nutrient mix within a fixed total intake.

    Geographic Distribution of Feeders

    • Specialists have small, localized distributions, tied to specific plant co-evolution.
    • Generalists possess large geographic ranges due to varied diets.

    Heterotrophy

    • All animals are heterotrophs, obtaining organic nutrients through consumption of living or dead organisms.

    Grazing

    • Involves consuming grasses and small ground plants, as well as scraping algae from water surfaces.
    • Nutritional yield is low; hence, herbivores must consume large quantities.
    • Common grazing organisms include cows, grasshoppers, and rodents.

    Browsing

    • Refers to feeding on leaves and shoots from trees and shrubs.
    • Common browsers include goats, caterpillars, and pandas.

    Burrowing

    • Involves eating while tunneling through food; serves to create shelter.
    • Examples of burrowers include bark beetles, leaf miners, and termites.

    Plant Parts Eaters

    • Fruit Eaters: Birds, monkeys, bears.
    • Seed Eaters: Ants, squirrels, birds.
    • Nectar Eaters: Bees, flies, moths.
    • Pollen Eaters: Bees, flies, beetles.

    Filter Feeding

    • Technique used by aquatic organisms to extract small food items like plankton from water.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Description

    Test your knowledge on herbivory with this quiz. Explore key definitions, benefits for herbivores, and the environmental effects of plant consumption. Enhance your understanding of the role of herbivory in ecosystems.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser