Chapter 5: Biodiversity, Species Interactions, and Population Control

Name SIX key features of living systems:

interdependence, diversity, resilience, adaptability, unpredictability, limits

Name FOUR characteristics of ecosystems:

physical appearance, nice structure (diversity number of ecological niches), species diversity/richness, species abundance (organisms per species)

What is a species’ role in an ecosystem?

niche

Which niche is the full range of resources a species can use without competition?

fundamental niche

Which niche is part of the fundamental niche used by a species?

realized niche

What describes the resemblance between species with similar niches, therefore similar traits?

convergence

What is the gene pool change of a species causing a change in another species?

coevolution

To avoid competition, species divide resources used in different manners at different times, described as what?

resource partititioning

Which population dynamic is the # of organisms in the population?

population size

Which population dynamic is the # of organisms in the population in a certain place and time?

population density

Which population dynamic is the spatial pattern of population members in their habitat?

population dispersion

Name the THREE patterns in population dispersion:

clumping (small groups throughout), uniform (evenly throughout), random (throughout w/ no order)

What is a population’s capacity for growth?

biotic potential

What is the rate of population growth with unlimited resources?

intrinsic rate of increase (r)

Species with high r include (2):

mice and fruit flies

Factors that act together to limit population growth are called:

environmental resistance

biotic potential + environmental resistance = ?

carrying capacity (k)

Population without resource limits grows _____________

exponentially (J-curve)

Exponential growth with a small population and steady decrease in population growth as population reaches k is?

logistic growth (S-curve)

What causes populations to exceed K?

reproductive lag

Name the THREE population cycles:

• stable cycle - population fluctuates around K

• irruptive cycle - stable then high explosions and crashes

  • cyclic cycle - pattern of sharp increases

Which species have a high intrinsic rate of increase, many small babies, high mortality, and J-curve (ex: bacteria, mice)?

r-strategist species

Which species have a low intrinsic rate of increase, few large babies, low mortality, and S-curve (ex: humans, elephants)?

K-strategist species

What shows the survivors in each age group of a species?

survivorship curve

Name the THREE survivorship curves:

[from bottom to top]

• early loss (r-strategists)

• constant loss (constant mortality)

• late loss (K-strategists)

Which ecological succession involves gradually building of community in never lived in area?

primary succession

Which ecological succession involves re-building a community in a previously lived in area?

secondary succession

Name the FOUR steps of primary succession:

• pioneer species arise b/w concrete

• early successional species (grass) break down rock and build soil

• midsuccessional species (shrubs/herbs)

  • late successional (trees) tolerate shade and form climax community (stable)

Name THREE factors affecting succession:

facilitation (keystone), inhibition (competition), tolerance (range)

Name THREE aspects of ecological stability in living systems:

• inertia/persistence (resist disturbances)

• constancy (maintain population w/ resources)

• resilience (recuperate after disturbance)