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Questions and Answers
What does a fundamental niche represent?
What does a fundamental niche represent?
Which of the following best defines the realized niche?
Which of the following best defines the realized niche?
What is a potential outcome of competitive exclusion?
What is a potential outcome of competitive exclusion?
In a scenario where two species have an overlapping distribution, what might result from competition according to the principle of competitive exclusion?
In a scenario where two species have an overlapping distribution, what might result from competition according to the principle of competitive exclusion?
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How can niche breadth and niche overlap values be interpreted?
How can niche breadth and niche overlap values be interpreted?
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What distinguishes a hypothesis from a prediction?
What distinguishes a hypothesis from a prediction?
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In the context of resource partitioning, what is a likely benefit for species that alter their resource use?
In the context of resource partitioning, what is a likely benefit for species that alter their resource use?
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Which statement about the relationship between fundamental and realized niches is true?
Which statement about the relationship between fundamental and realized niches is true?
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What is the primary purpose of the Chi-Square Goodness of Fit test?
What is the primary purpose of the Chi-Square Goodness of Fit test?
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In the Chi-Square formula, what does $O_i$ represent?
In the Chi-Square formula, what does $O_i$ represent?
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Which of the following is NOT a requirement for a scientific hypothesis?
Which of the following is NOT a requirement for a scientific hypothesis?
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What does the term 'mechanism' refer to in the context of a scientific hypothesis?
What does the term 'mechanism' refer to in the context of a scientific hypothesis?
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Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between hypotheses and predictions?
Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between hypotheses and predictions?
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Study Notes
Lab 1: Niche and Competition Game
- Overview: Participants simulate resource partitioning and competition's effect on realized niches.
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Objectives: Participants will be able to:
- Perform a competition simulation
- Define fundamental and realized niches
- Explain competition's outcomes
- Formulate hypotheses about competition
- Differentiate hypotheses and predictions
- Interpret niche breadth and overlap
- Predict species interactions based on resource limitation
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Connections to Lecture: The lab relates to:
- Niche definition
- Fundamental vs. realized niches
- Competition outcomes
- Fundamental Niche: The full range of conditions where a species could survive, assuming no interactions with other species. This includes all tolerable environmental factors (water, temperature, etc.).
- Realized Niche: The portion of the fundamental niche that a species actually occupies. Interactions with other species restrict this portion.
- Pre-Lab Quizzes: Pre-lab quizzes are due before each lab. Check eClass for details.
- Critical Resources: Food, space, and sunlight are vital for species survival.
- Competitive Exclusion: When two species compete for a resource, one might displace the other, leading to its extinction or range shift.
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Outcomes of Competitive Exclusion:
- One species entirely replaces the other
- One species is eliminated from part of its range
- Both species coexist, but the more competitive one uses a different resource.
Chi-Square (χ²) Goodness of Fit Test
- Use: The Chi-Square Test is used to determine if observed data matches expected data.
- Formula: χ² = Σ [(Oᵢ - Eᵢ)² / Eᵢ], where Oᵢ is observed and Eᵢ is expected.
- Degrees of Freedom: (Number of categories - 1)
- p-value: Probability that the observed differences are due to chance. A p-value of less than 0.05 typically suggests statistically significant differences.
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Excel Formulas: Use Excel's
CHISQ.TESTfunction for p-value andCHISQ.INV.RTfor the chi-square test statistic. - Data Reporting: (χ² Test statistic, Degrees of Freedom, p-value).
Hypotheses and Predictions
- Hypothesis: A testable explanation for an observed phenomenon.
- Directional: Hypotheses indicate the direction of a relationship (e.g., higher, lower, more, less).
- Mechanistic: Hypotheses include a biological reason for the relationship.
- Predictions: Specific outcomes expected if the hypothesis is correct. They are more measurable than hypotheses.
- Example Hypothesis: "Global warming extends the range of deciduous species by creating more habitats with moderate temperatures."
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Examples of Predictions (based on the example hypothesis):
- Range limits of a species are further north than historical records
- Germination rates for seeds depend on average annual temperature.
- Notice: Predictions should specify measurable values to reflect the study.
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Description
This quiz focuses on the principles of niche definition and competition in ecological contexts. Participants will explore the differences between fundamental and realized niches and engage in a simulation to understand resource partitioning. By interpreting species interactions, participants will enhance their understanding of ecological competition outcomes.
