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Chapter 55: Community Ecology Flashcards

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3445886365communityAll of the species that interact in a certain area.0
3445886366fitnessAbility to survive and produce viable, fertile offspring.1
3445886367commensalismA symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is not harmed2
3445886368competitionIn ecology, the interaction of two species or two individuals trying to use the same limited resource. May occur between individuals of the same species.3
3445886369mutualismA symbiotic relationship between two organisms that benefits both.4
3445886370coevolutionA pattern of evolution where two species influence each other's adaptations over time.5
3445886371coevolutionary arms raceA repeating cycle of reciprocal adaptation.6
3445886372intraspecific competitionCompetition that occurs between members of the same species.7
3445886373interspecific competitionIndividuals from different species use the same limiting resources.8
3445886374nicheThe range of resources that the species is able to use, or the range of conditions it can tolerate.9
3445886375symmetric competitionEcological competition between two species in which both suffer similar declines in fitness.10
3445886376asymmetric competitionEcological competition between two species in which one species suffers a much greater fitness decline than the other.11
3445886377competitive exclusion principleTwo species that occupy the same niche cannot coexist.12
3445886378fundamental nicheThe total theoretical range of environmental conditions that a species can tolerate.13
3445886379niche differentiationAn evolutionary change in resource use, caused by competition over generations.14
3445886380character displacementThe evolutionary change that occurs in species' traits, and that enables species to exploit different resources.15
3445886381herbivoryThe practice of eating plant tissues.16
3445886382herbivoresAn animal that eats primarily plants and rarely or never eats meat.17
3445886383parasitismA symbiotic relationship between two organisms that is beneficial to one organism but detrimental to the other.18
3445886384parasiteAn organism that lives on a host species or in a host species and that damages its host.19
3445886385hostAn individual that has been invaded by an organism such as a parasite or a virus, or that provides habitat or resources to a commensal organism.20
3445886386predationThe killing and eating of one organism by another.21
3445886387carnivoresAn animal whose diet consists predominantly of meat, or other animals.22
3445886388standing or constitutive defensesA defensive trait that is always manifested even in the absence of a predator or pathogen.23
3445886389mimicryPattern of one spieces resembling another.24
3445886390Batesian mimicryA type of mimicry in which a harmless or palatable species resembles a dangerous or poisonous species.25
3445886391Mullerian mimicryA type of mimicry in which two harmful species resemble each other.26
3445886392inducible defensesPhysical, chemical, or behavioral defensive traits that are induced in the prey in response to the presence of a predator.27
3445886393meta-analysisA study of studies, meaning an analysis of a large number of data sets on a particular question.28
3445886394integrated pest managementStrategies to maximize crop and forest productivity while using a minimum of insecticides or other types of potentially harmful compounds.29
3445886395climax communityThe stable, final community that develops from ecological succession.30
3445886396planktonDrifting organisms in aquatic environments.31
3445886397keystone speciesA species that has an exceptionally great impact on the other species in its ecosystem relative to its abundance.32
3445886398food webThe network of exchanges of energy and nutrients among producers, consumers, and decomposers in an ecosystem.33
3445886399disturbanceAny strong, short-lived disruption to a community that changes the distribution of living and/or nonliving resources.34
3445886400disturbance regimeThe characteristic disturbances that affect a given ecological community.35
3445886401successionIn ecology, the gradual colonization of a habitat after an environmental disturbance, usually by a series of species.36
3445886402primary successionThe gradual colonization of a habitat of bare rock or gravel, usually after an environmental disturbance that removes all soil and previous organisms.37
3445886403secondary successionGradual colonization of a habitat after an environmental disturbance that removes some or all previous organisms but leaves the soil intact.38
3445886404pioneering speciesThose species that appear first in recently disturbed areas.39
3445886405weedA plant that is adapted for growth in disturbed soils.40
3445886406facilitationIn ecological succession, the phenomenon in which early-arriving species make conditions more favorable for later-arriving species.41
3445886407toleranceIn ecological succession, the phenomenon in which early-arriving species do not affect the probability that subsequent species will become established.42
3445886408inhibitionIn ecological succession, the phenomenon in which early-arriving species make conditions less favorable for the establishment of certain later-arriving species.43
3445886409species richnessA simple count of how many species are present in a given community.44
3445886410species diversityA weighted measure that incorporates the species' relative abundance.45
3445886411Explain why niche differentiation does not involve a conscious choice by the individuals involved.The individuals do not choose or try to have traits that reduce competition--they simply have those traits (or not). Resource partitioning just happens, because individuals with traits that allow them to exploit different resources produce more offspring, which also have those traits.46
3445886412Explain what a coevolutionary arms race is and give an example.When species interact via consumption, a trait that gives one species an advantage will exert natural selection on individuals of other species who have traits that reduce that advantage. This reciprocal adaptation will continue indefinitely. An example is the interaction of Plasmodium with the human immune system: The human immune system has evolved the ability to detect proteins from the Plasmodium and kill infected cells; in response, Plasmodium has evolved different proteins that the immune system does not detect.47
3445886413Explain how early successional species after the environment in ways that make growing conditions more difficult for themselves.The shade provided by early successional species increases humidity, and decomposition of their tissues adds nutrients and organic material to the soil. These conditions favor growth by later successional species, which can outcompete the early successional species.48
3445886414Explain how the presence or absence of a species like alder, where nitrogen fixation occurs, might alter the course of succession.The presence of absence of a plant species where nitrogen fization occurs would dramatically alter nutrient conditions, and thus the speed of succession and the types of species that could become established. For example, species that require high nitrogen would be favored on sites where alder grew, and species that can tolerate low nitrogen would thrive on sites where alder is absent.49
3445886415You should be able to give an example of how mutualistic relationship can evolve into a parasitic one.A mutualistic relationship becomes a parasitic one if one of the species stops receiving a benefit. The treehopper-ant mutualism becomes parasitic in years when spiders are rare, because the treehoppers no longer derive a benefit but pay a fitness cost.50
3445886416You should be able to predict the effects of an invasive species on community structure.An invasive species could have a large impact on community structure by replacing the dominant plant species that creates physical structure, which in turn affects other members of the community; by replacing a keystone species that has an indirect effect on many other species; or by outcompeting many species, causing a direct reduction in species richness.51
3445886417You should be able to explain why climate makes the three successional pathways documented in Glacier Bay similar, and why chance historical events make them different.All species at Glacier Bay must be able to survive cold climate with the local amount of precipitation. The species earliest in the successsion must also be able to grow in rock exposed as the glacier melts. But change, historical differences in seed sources, and presence or absence of alder created differences in the species present.52
3445886418You should be able to propose how the theory of island biogeography could be applied by conservation biologists to species richness in a national park.Many national parks are surrounded by altered habitats, so they are functionally similar to islands. Species richness in the park is more likely to be preserved if it is large and located nearby other wilderness areas.53
3445886419True or False? Species act as agents of natural selection when they interact.True54
3445886420What is a niche differentiation?the evolution of traits that reduce niche overlap and competition55
3445886421The relationship between ants and treehoppers in the presence of spider is an example ofmutualism56
3445886422What is one advantage of inducible defenses?They make efficient use of resources, because they are produced only when needed.57
3445886423Pioneer species tend to have high ____ and lower survivorship.fecundity58
3445886424Which of these factors is not generally correlated with species diversity?longitude59
3445886425The text claims that species interactions are conditional and dynamic. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Cite species examples to support your answer.Yes-- the treehopper-ant mutualism is parasitic or mutualistic, depending on conditions; competition can evolve into no competition over time if niche differentiation occurs; arms races mean that the outcome of host-parasite interactions can change over time, and so forth.60
3445886426Why does the phrase "coevolutionary arms race" appropriately characterize the long-term effects of species interactions?Adaptations that give one species a fitness advantage in an interaction are likely to be countered by adaptations in the other species that eliminate this advantage.61
3445886427Biologists have tested the hypotheses that communities are highly predictable versus highly unpredictable. State the predictions that these hypotheses make with respect to (a) changes in the distribution of the species in a particular community over time and (b) the communities that should develop at sites where abiotic conditions are identical. Which hypothesis appears to be more accurate?(a) If a community composition is predictable, then the species present should not change over time. But if composition is not predictable, then species should undergo significant changes over time. (b) If community composition is predicatble, then the two sites with identical abiotic factors should develop identical communities. If community composition is not predictable, then sites with identical abiotic factors should develop variable communities. In most tests, the data best match the predictions of the "not predictable" hypothesis, though communities show elements of both.62
3445886428What is a disturbance? Consider the role of fire in a forest. Compare and contrast the consequences of high-frequency versus low-frequency fire, and high versus low severity fire.Disturbance is any short-lived event that changes the distribution of resources. Compared to low-frequency fires, high-frequency fires would tend to be less severe and would tend to exert more intense natural selection for adaptations to resist the effects of fire. Compared to low-severity fires, high severity fires would open up more space of pioneering species and would tend to exert more intense natural selection for adaptations to resits the effects of fires.63
3445886429Summarize the life-history attributes of early successional species. Why are these attributes considered adaptations?Early successional species are adapted to disperse to new environments (small seeds) and grow and reproduce quickly (reproduce at an early age, grow quickly). they can tolerate severe abiotic conditions (high temperature, low humidity, low nutrient availability) but have little competitive ability. These species are able to enter a new environment (with no competitors) and thrive. These attributes are considered adaptations because they increase the fitness of these species.64
3445886430Explain why high productivity should lead to increased species richness in habitats such as tropical rain forests and coral reefs.The idea is that high productivity will lead to high population density of consumers, leading to competition and intense natural selection favoring niche differentiation that leads to speciation.65
3445886431Some insects harvest nectar by chewing through the wall of the structure that holds the nectar. As a result, they obtain a nectar reward, but pollination does not occur. Suppose that you observed a certain bee species obtaining nectar in this way from a particular orchid species. Over time, how might you expect the characteristics of the orchid population to change in response to this bee behavior?Natural selection will favor orchid individuals that have traits that resist bee attack: thicker flower walls, nectar storage in a different position, a toxin in the flower walls, and so on. Individuals coud also be favored if their anthers were in a position that acoomplished pollination even if bees eat through the walls of the nectar-storage structure.66
3445886432You are walking, talking community that includes trillions of bacterial and archeal cells. Your gut, in particular, contains a complex microbial community. In some circumstances, the use of probiotics, which stimulate the rapid growth of bacteria that are mutualistic or commensal with humans, can eliminate the need to use antibiotics, which can wipe out helpful bacteria along with harmful bacteria. The use of probiotics is an example of which process?competitive exclusion67
3445886433Suppose that a two-acre lawn on your college's campus is allowed to undergo succession. Describe how species traits, species interactions, and the site's history might affect the community that develops.The exact answer will depend on the location of the campus. The first species to appear must posses good dispersal ability, rapid growth, quick reproductive periods, and tolerance for very harsh and sever conditions. The two-acre plot is likely to be colonized first by pioneer species that have very "weedy" characteristics. But once colonization is under way, the course of succession will depend more on how the various species interact with each other. The presence of one species can inhibit of facilitate the arrival and establishment of another. For example, an early-arriving species might provide the shade and nutrients required by a late-arriving species. The site's history and nearby ecosystems may influence which species appear at each stage; for instance, an undisturbed ecosystem nearby could be a source for native species. The pattern and rate of this succession is also influenced by the overall environmental conditions affecting it. Only species with traits appropriate to the local climate are likely to colonize the site.68
3445886434Design an experiment to test the hypothesis that increasing species richness increases a community's productivity.One reasonable experiment would involve constructing artificial ponds and introducing different numbers of plankton species to different ponds, but the same total number of individuals. (Any natural immigration to the ponds would have to be prevented.) After a period of time, remove all of the plankton and measure the biomass present. Make a graph with number of species on the x-axis and total biomass on the y-axis. If the hypothesis is correct, the line of best fit through the data should have a positive slope.69

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