Unit 3: Community Ecology Flashcards
(22 cards)
Interspecific Interactions
How different species interact with each other
(Resulting in +, -, or 0)
Interspecific Competition
Competition between two different species (-/-)
Resource Partitioning (realized niche)
Specialization on a resource where you have a competitive advantage.
Predation
One species eats another species (+/-)
Behavioral (defenses)
Social interaction, altruism, bluffing
Mechanical (defenses)
Physical defense, harder, better, faster, stronger, spines, horns
Chemical (defenses)
Use damaging or unpleasant toxin/molecule
Aposematic Coloring (defenses)
“Warning colors” advertise chemical defense (uses associative learning in predators)
Cryptic Coloration (defenses)
Camouflage, blending in with environment (both predators and prey can use this)
Mullerian Mimicry (defenses)
Two different dangerous species look alike (+/+)
Batesian Mimicry (defenses)
Harmless species looks like a dangerous species (+/-)
Herbivory
One species eats a plant species (+/-)
Parasitism
One species lives off of a “host” species- steals nutrients
Parasitoid
Parasite that eventually kills host
Mutualism
Both species benefit from interaction (+/+)
Commensalism
One species benefits, other is neutral (+/0)
Bottom-Up Control
Bottom of food web limits complexity/size of food web
Dominant Species
Most abundant species
Ecosystem Engineers
Modify or shape the physical environment
Keystone Species
Has disproportionate impact on stability of food web
Invasive Species
Non-native introduced species has a negative impact on the food web
Top-Down Control
Top of food web can influence the bottom (keystone species)
