Topic 24

Question 1

Interaction strength

Answer 1

number of trophic connections of a species

Question 2

Weak interactors

Answer 2

functionally not significant- low relative influence of biological structure

Question 3

Strong interactors

Answer 3

functionally dominant- species influence the biological structure of a community disproportionately to their numerical abundance

Question 4

Foundation spp.

Answer 4

species have a dominant number or mass of individuals relative to other species

Question 5

Keystone spp.

Answer 5

species that influence the biological structure of a community disproportionally to their numerical abundance

Question 6

Ecosystem engineers

Answer 6

species that create/eliminate habitat

Question 7

very few rare species and many common species is..

Answer 7

typical pattern of communities

Question 8

Foundation spp. are essentially the ..

Answer 8

habitat for the whole community (forests and reefs)

Question 9

Keystone spp. may create the..

Answer 9

habitat that other (more abundant species) can exploit

Question 10

Ex keystone spp.

Answer 10

beavers: many Canadian forest communities by increasing habitat. different stages of dam building by beavers offer habitat for large number of other species. formation of Ox Bows

Question 11

Describe species interactions by focusing on..

Answer 11

feeding relationships or how species interact in the process of acquiring food/energy to describe biological structure of communities

Question 12

Acquisition of food/energy is most..

Answer 12

fundamental process in nature

Question 13

Food chain

Answer 13

pathway of food/energy transfer between species

Question 14

Food webs

Answer 14

numerous food chains interconnect to form a complex web

Question 15

Simplify complex food web by ..

Answer 15

• trophic levels

- guilds

Question 16

Trophic levels

Answer 16

groups of species that derive food energy form similar source.

Question 17

Guilds

Answer 17

group of species within each trophic level that exploit a common resource in a similar manner

Question 18

Basal species

Answer 18

food on no other spices but are fed upon by others (primary producers)

Question 19

Primary producers =

Answer 19

plants

Question 20

Intermediate species

Answer 20

feed on other specie and are prey for other species (primary consumers and secondary consumers)

Question 21

Top predators

Answer 21

feed on other species but are not prey for other species (omnivores and cannibals)

Question 22

Omnivores

Answer 22

feed on more than one trophic level

Question 23

Cannibals

Answer 23

feed on itself

Question 24

Phase shifts

Answer 24

transition in species relative abundances and community composition

Question 25

Historical phase shifts from key forest to urchin barrens

Answer 25

• kelp = ecosystem engineer

- sea otter = keystone species