Chapter 41 Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is a community
Assemblage of populations of various species
Interspecific interactions
Relationships between species in a community
When does interspecific competition occur
When species compete for resources
Ecological niche
The total of a species’ use of biotic and abiotic resources
A population of caribou has a value of K =800 and N=900. What is likely to happen to this population
It will decline until K=N
Fundamental niche
Potentially occupied by that species
Realized niche
The niche actually occupied by that species
What is cryptic colouration
Camouflage
Species richness
Total number of different species in the community
Relative abundance
The proportion of each species represents the total individuals in the community
Trophic structure
Refers to feeding relationships between organisms in a community
Keystone species
Exert strong control on a community by their ecological roles or niches (NOT NECESSARILY ABUNDANT)
Ecological succession
The sequence of community and ecosystem changes after a disturbance
Primary succession
Occurs when no soil exists when succession begins
Secondary succession
Begins in an area where soil remains after a disturbance
