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Community Ecology Flashcards

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5094347762CommunityAll species that exist in a certain area + interact - directly and indirectly0
5094351934How to species interact indirectlyVia an intermediate species1
5094353814FitnessAbility to survive + produce fertile, viable offspring2
5094356971Interaction affects:1) Distribution + abundance 2) Natural selection + coevolution 3) Dynamic + conditional3
5106526408Coevolution2 species reciprocally influence each other's adaptations e.g. prey gets faster, so predator gets faster4
5094367744CommensalismOne species benefitted, one unaffected; conditional5
5094373711Problem of neutral effectsDifficult to quantify6
5094375768CompetitionLowers fitness for both species using the same resources7
5094379662When do interspecific interactions occur?When niches overlap8
5094386163NicheRange of resources species can use or range of conditions in can tolerate9
5094393579Symmetric CompetitionBoth species in overlap area persist, but at reduced population sizes10
5094403000Asymmetric CompetitionOne species suffers greater fitness decline; dependent on extent of niche overlap11
5094415101Competition Exclusion2 species cannot coexist if they have identical niches - asymmetric competition12
5094435470Fundamental nicheTotal theoretical range of niche13
5094437072Realised nichePortion of fundamental niche species actually occupies - barriers, predators, competition etc. could be in way14
5106543492Niche ModelingUsing geo-referenced data from history collections + databases - get latitude + longitude points and their bioclim data15
5106551841What do you use Niche Modeling for?Use software to predict distribution of fundamental niche; predict spread of introduced species; suggest new places to start recording abundance16
5106564507How to do experiments with competitionRemove one of competitors - observe response of other17
5106570891Niche DifferentiationEvolutionary change in resource use caused by competition over generations18
5106582112Character DisplacementEvolutionary change in species' traits enabling it exploit different resources - allows for niche differentiation when sympatric + asymmetric speciation19
5106591702Resource PartitioningOccupying slightly different parts of habitat or using same resource slightly differently e.g. Warbler birds on a tree20
5106598966SympatricSpeciation alongside other species21
5106600856AllopatricSpeciation in separate areas22
5106611249ConsumptionIncreases consumer's fitness, decreases prey's fitness23
5106612968HerbivoryHerbivores consume plant tissues24
5106617869Meta-AnalysisStudy of studies- analysis of large data sets25
5106627563Top-down control of herbivoresHerbivore populations limited by predation + disease26
5106629185Bottom-up limitationPlant tissues offer poor nutrition + well defended - have less than 10% nitrogen found in animal tissues of equal weight27
5106642898Why can't herbivores just eat more food to solve the nutrient problem?Risk of predation too dangerous28
5106645432ParasitismHost suffers, parasite gains29
5106648090Brood ParasitismBirds lay eggs in nests of other species30
5106651429Controlling hosts/manipulationMust transmit self between hosts; Zombie ants + fungus, flatworms controlling snails so the climb higher and look like caterpillars so eaten by birds31
5106656431Benefit of ParasitesStop certain species dominating areas if populations get too large32
5106661825Social parasitesUsing other species to raise young33
5106692353Why are parasites not all fatal?Often much smaller than host34
5106698890PredationPredator kills + consumes all/most of another individual35
5106704691Constitutive DefencesPermanent defenses against predation; present even in absence of predators, including cryptic colouration, escape behaviour, toxins36
5106711248Aposematic ColourationOrganisms that produce toxins are colourful37
5106714101Disruptive ColourationWhen in a herd - cannot pick out individuals38
5106723042MimicryOne species resembling another39
5106726646Batesian mimicryHarmless or tasty species mimics a harmful one (Bates a companion of Wallace on Brazil trip)40
5106735229Mullerian mimicry2 toxic species look similar - increases likelihood that predators learn to avoid them41
5106739324Aggressive mimicryPredators mimic harmless species - innocent looking fly trap42
5106798965Inducible defencesPhysical/chemical/behavioural traits induced in prey when predator present43
5106803485ExampleMussels have thicker shells when crabs present44
5106809489Benefits of inducible defenses over constitutive defencesEnergetically efficient but slow to produce45
5106820205Phenotypic PlasticityGenotype can produce different phenotypes depending on environment46
5106829283How do plants show inducible defencesProduce proteins e.g. radishes producing glucosinolates and trichome hairs when exposed to herbivores47
5106835985Indirect Inducible Defence by plantsAttract other predators to attack herbivores48
5106847132Prey's intrinsic growth rate (rmax) compared to predatorsLarger - physically smaller animals, produce more offspring, mature earlier49
5106849730What is the Rmax valueMax. population growth rate achievable under ideal conditions50
5106864256Proof that predators still efficient in reducing prey populationsPopulation cycles, predator removal, biological control51
5106870128Predators advancesSpeed, nocturnal vision, venom, surprise, strength, herd cooperation Owls - binocular vision, fringed feathers for silent flying52
5106874899Arms raceDue to predator + prey interactions and coevolution; traits increasing efficiency become more abundant - humans and plasmodium53
5106909247BiocontrolUsing predators or parasites to control pests - helps maximize production whilst minimizing use of insecticides/other harmful compounds54
5106919395Problem of biocontrolCould be introducing invasive species55
5106922313MutualismFitness benefits for both species involved56
5106928417Rewards from mutualismTransporting gametes; getting food; housing; protection57
51069313753 types of mutualism1) Resource-resource based 2) Resource-service based 3) Service-service based58
5106940031Alternative nameReciprocal parasitism (Judith) - not a form of species simply being nice to one another59
5106944345Deceitful mutualismDeceit pollinators - attractive but provide no pollen, or nectar robbing - takes nectar without pollinating: cheaters; natural selection favours these60
5106948879Dynamic or static?Dynamic - could switch from positive affects to one organism suffering in particular conditions - switches from parasitism, mutualism, to competiton61
5106956010Is sharing always equal?No - can be asymmetrical e.g. plant roots and mycorrhizal fungi62
5106971288Increasing other species fitness instead of your own?Natural selection does increase fitness of other species; but must increase own fitness too63
5106974467AmmensalismNeutral effect on one species, negative on the other64
5106982350What does community structure depend on1) Total # of species 2) Relative abundance of each species 3) Sum interactions among all species 4) Physical attributes of community - its abiotic factors and biotic factors65
5107005781Clements' Views on Community Predictability1) Communities stable, orderly + predictable 2) Coevolution important - species unlikely to exist if other is not present too 3) Will reach the stable Climax Community - determined by environment66
5107024909Gleason's Views1) Communities neither stable nor predictable 2) Matter of chance if community develops in same area after a disturbance 3) Believes less in importance of biotic factors and species interactions67
5107038183Experimental test on ponds and 2 possible hypotheses1) If community predictable: each pond should develop in the same way 2) If community unpredictable: each pond should develop differently68
5107044478RealityBoth hypotheses partially correct; both biotic interactions + climate and chance + history important in determining species presence - range is independent69
5114057829Keystone speciesOne that has a large impact on community structure - greater impact of distribution + abundance of surrounding species than its abundance + total biomass would suggest - typically consumers/predators; maintains biodiversity/species richness70
5114063129How could the structural species be removed?Harvesting, disease, competition with an invasive species, climate change71
5114068112Food WebNetwork of exchanges of energy + nutrients among producers, consumers + decomposer - focuses on feeding interactions72
5114072093Use food webs to look atEffects of keystone species73
5114073410Food chainSingle path within a food web74
5114074939Trophic levelPosition of organism within a food chain75
5157027509ProducerProduces own biomass from inorganic compounds76
5157030987ConsumerCannot produce own biomass from inorganic compounds, so consumers other organisms77
5157039531DecomposerFungi/bacteria that produce biomass by breaking down dead organisms78
5114081618DisturbanceStrong, short lived disruption to community - changes distribution of organisms + resources79
5114087996Examples of disturbancesFires, windstorms, floods, tree falls, disease epidemics80
5114092225What resources could be changed?Light levels, nutrients, unoccupied space81
5114102635Disturbance RegimePredictable frequency and severity in particular areas - characteristic disturbance82
5114112228Why need a regime?To maintain communities in good condition, must ensure normal regime or community composition changes dramatically83
5114115694Post-disturbanceOrganisms replace those lost84
5114118294Primary SuccessionDisturbance removes soil + organisms - after floods, volcanic eruptions, landslides85
5114124280How does soil reform?Weathered rock; dead organisms and faeces add to the substrate organic matter; thick enough and roots can take hold86
5114130149Secondary SuccessionDisturbance removes some organisms from area but leaves soil in tact - after fires + logging87
5114141965Pioneer species characteristicsShort-lived; small size; high dispersal range; small seeds; rapid growth; high reproductive rate; mature young; extreme condition tolerance88
5114147966Climax speciesLong lived; large size; large seeds; good competitors89
5114153613What determines area's successional pathwayTraits of species involved; species interactions; historical + environmental conditions90
5114160836How are pioneers "weedy"Adapted to disturbed soils; tolerant serves abiotic conditions e.g. light levels, poor nutrient availability, desiccation; devote most energy to reproducing not competing91
5114167410FacilitationEarly arriving species make conditions more favourable e.g. providing space, nutrients92
5114170132ToleranceExisting species that don't affect subsequent species establishing93
5114172771InhibitionMakes establishment of subsequent species harder e.g. trees blocking sunlight94

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