Lab 1: Realized Niche and Competition Game

Question 1

Define fundamental niche

Answer 1

Total range of physical conditions that an organism could theoretically survive - without interactions with other species

Question 2

Define realized niche

Answer 2

The actually occupied range of an organism within the fundamental niche

Question 3

Define niche breadth

Answer 3

Range that an organism occupies within a resource spectrum

Question 4

Visualize a niche breadth graph

Answer 4

• x axis: resource spectrum
• y axis: utilization
• specialists occupy a narrower curve (a value closer to 0)
• generalist occupy a wider curve (a value closer to 1)

Question 5

Define niche overlap

Answer 5

Occurs when a resource overlaps between species
- 0 = no niche overlap
- 1 = complete overlap

Question 6

Define competitive exclusion

Answer 6

One species is eliminated when competing with another for a resource

Question 7

What are the three outcomes of competitive exclusion?

Answer 7

1. Extinction
2. Non-overlapping allopatric distribution
3. Overlapping sympatric distribution - forcing the weaker one to use an alternative resource