Ecological Communities Flashcards

1
Q

what holds communities together and determines their nature and stability

A

species interactions

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2
Q

Exploitative interactions

A

Interactions where one member exploits another for its own gain

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3
Q

examples of exploitative interactions

A
  1. predation
  2. paraistism
  3. herbivory
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4
Q

7 main categories of species interactions

A
  1. competition
  2. predation
  3. paratisim
  4. communalism
  5. Mutualism
  6. Herbivory
  7. Amensalism
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5
Q

competition

A

occurs when resources are limited

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6
Q

describe the effect of competition on two species

A

each species has a NEGATIVE effect on the OTHER species as each takes resources away from the other

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7
Q

describe the effect of PREDATIOn on two species

A

negative effect on one species while a positive effect on the other

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8
Q

describe the effect of parasitism on two species

A

negative effect on one species and positive on the other

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9
Q

describe the effect of herbivory on two species

A

negative effect on one species and positive on the other

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10
Q

describe the effect of mutualism on two species

A

both species benefit from the interaction

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11
Q

describe the effect of commensalism on two species

A

One species benefits while the other is not affected

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12
Q

Amensalism

A

Variation of competitive relationship where one organisms in harmed and the other is unaffected (not benefiting)

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13
Q

intraspecific competition vs interspecific competition

A

intraspecific:
Competition between members of the same species

interspecific:
Competition between members of different species

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14
Q

which type of competition can lead to competition exclusion

A

interspecific competition

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15
Q

competition exclusion

A

If one species is a better competitor than the other, they might exclude another species from using the resource entirely

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16
Q

how does competition create species coexistence

A

○ When neither competing species fully excludes the other and they can live side by side at a certain ratio of population size

○ Species adjust to their competitors to minimize competition between them

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17
Q

fundamental vs realized niche

A

fundamental:
the full niche of the species

realized:
Individual that plays only part of its role because of competition or other species interactions

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18
Q

Resource partitioning

A

The species in an area divide or partition the resources they use in common by specializing in different ways

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19
Q

what can lead to character displacement in species

A

resource partitioning

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20
Q

character displacement

A

○ Competition species evolve physical characteristics that reflect their reliance on the portion of the resource they use

○ Becoming more different = reduced competition

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21
Q

Predation

A

Process where individuals of one species (predators) hunt and consume other species (prey)

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22
Q

what species interaction structure food webs and influence community composition

A

predation

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23
Q

Evolutionary ramifications of predation

A

○ Predators that are more adept in capturing prey will likely live longer, healthier lives and provide better for offspring

○ Evolutionary adaptions that lead predators to be better hunters

*Prey face selective pressures to avoid predators

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24
Q

Parasitism

A

Relationship where one organisms (the parasite) depends on another (the host) for nourishment, support… While harming the host organism

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25
Q

Parasitoids

A

Insect parasites on other insects which kills them in the process

26
Q

which species interaction results in coevolution

A

parasitism

27
Q

coevolution

A

Host and parasite repeatedly evolve new responses to the other’s latest advancement

28
Q

Herbivory

A

Occurs when animals feed on the tissues of plants

29
Q

how does herbivory affect plants

A

Often does not kill a plant outright but instead affect its growth and reproduction

30
Q

Mutualism

A

Relationship where two or more species benefit from interacting with each other

31
Q

example of mutualism

A

symbiosis (Mutualism occurring between organisms that live physically close together)

32
Q

Commensalism

A

Interaction where one species benefits and the other is unaffected

33
Q

Community

A

Group of populations of organisms that live in the same area at the same time

34
Q

Ecological communities relates to

A

Which species coexist
how they relate to one another
how communities change through time

35
Q

trophic Levels

A

Rank in the feeding hierarchy of a food chain where organisms at a higher level consume those found at a lower level

36
Q

where does the energy that drives interactions like predation ultimately come from

A

the sun via photosynthesis

37
Q

first trophic level

A

producers/autotrophs

38
Q

second trophic level

A

primary consumers (Consumers that eat producers; herbivores)

39
Q

third trophic level

A

secondary consumers (Consumers that prey on primary consumers)

40
Q

higher trophic levels (above third)

A

Tertiary consumers (Predators that eat secondary consumers which eat primary consumers like owls)

41
Q

Detritivores vs decomposers

A

Detritivores ; Scavenge the waste products or the dead bodies of other community members

decomposers ; Break down leaf litter and other nonliving matter further into simpler constituents that can be taken up and used by plants

42
Q

what are detritivores and decomposers known as

A

saprotrophs

43
Q

where is most of the energy consumed in trophic levels

A

First trophic level with the producers contain a large amount of energy

44
Q

______ amounts of energy is transferred to higher trophic levels

A

small

45
Q

which trophic level contains the least amount of energy

A

tertiary level

46
Q

why is the trophic levels shown in a Trophic pyramid diagram

A

Pyramid shape because biomass, energy and number of individuals decrease upward through the trophic levels

47
Q

food webs vs food chains

A

food web:
a visual map of feeding relationships and energy flow that shows the many paths energy passes among organisms as they consume each other

food chain ;
a linear series of feeding relationships
which focuses on the movement of energy and distribution of biomass in the system

48
Q

Keystone species

A

Species that has a particular strong or far-reaching impact where their removal from an ecosystem will alter a large portion of the food web

49
Q

Trophic cascade

A

Where the disappearance of a top predator leads to dramatic changes at lower trophic levels

50
Q

resistance vs resilience

A

resistance ;
When a community resists change and remain stable despite major disturbances

resilience ;
The community does change in response to the disturbance but returns to it’s original state quickly

51
Q

Succession

A

A disturbance is sever enough to eliminate all or most of the species in a community that results in a series of changes in the composition and structure of a community

52
Q

importance of pioneer species

A

Species that arrive first at a primary succession site and colonize the new ground

53
Q

best pioneer species

A

lichen (part fungi and part algae)

54
Q

Climax community

A

A community that remains in place with little modification until some disturbance restarts succession

55
Q

two types of succession

A

primary succession and secondary succession

56
Q

primary succession vs secondary succession

A

primary succession ;
Follows a disturbance that no vegetation or soil life remains from the community meaning It starts with a clean slate and the biotic community is built from scratch
(like with volcanic deposits)

secondary succession ;
A disturbance dramatically alters an existing community but does not destroy all living things or organic matter in the soil (like a fire or flood)

57
Q

Invasive species

A

A species that spread widely and rapidly becomes dominant in a community and interferes with the community’s normal functioning after being introduced to an ecosystem - it is not native

58
Q

when do invasive species become pests

A

Invasive species where their negative impacts outweigh the benefits

59
Q

Two main characteristics of invasive species

A
  1. ability to spread rapidly and unimpeded in the new environment
  2. The negative impact on the native species, communities and ecosystems
60
Q

What role does Natural selection play in predation

A

has led to adaptions in both prey and predator populations (venom, camouflage, mimicry, chemical detection…)