Ch. 4.1: Species' Interactions

list the 5 main kinds of interactions

predation, competition, parasitism, mutualism, commensalism

intra-specific

interaction between members of the same species

inter-specific

interactions between members of different species

what are the three types of symbiotic relationships

parasitism, mutualism, commensalism

Predation

predator eats prey

Carnivores

predators eating animals

herbivores

predator eating plants

omnivores

predators eat plants and animals

what do predator-prey relationships influence

both species’ population size and where 

what type of consumers are not considered predators? why?

detritivores and decomposers because they feed on dead matter

what does natural selection favor in predators?

adaptations that increase ability to capture prey

list some adaptations of predators

speed, camouflage, teeth, venom, webs

what does natural selection favor in prey?

adaptations that avoid being captured or ward off predators

list some adaptations of prey

speed, camouflage, deceptive markings, chemicals

plant physical defenses

thorns, spines, tough leaves

plants chemical defenses

poisons

what are the secondary compounds in plants a by-product of

metabolism

Mimicry

one species closely resembles another species

Batesian mimicry

harmless species looks like harmful species

what side of batesian mimicry is benefited

harmless species

Müllerian mimicry

two dangerous species look alike

what side of Müllerian mimicry is benefited

both species

Coevolution

two species evolve with each other

Competition

interaction between two or more individuals of the same or different species for the same limiting resources

what does inter-specific competition result in

lower numbers of one or both species

how can competition result in the elimination of a species

one species is better adapted, and dominates the habitat

Competitive Exclusion Principle

one species can be eliminated from a community because of competition for the same resource

what causes the competitive exclusion principle

one species is better adapted to use the resource

explain the paramecium competition experiment

caudatum and Aurelia both feed on bacteria, thrived apart but caudatum died when put together

explain the barnacle competition experiment

Semibalanus and Chthalamus live on intertidal zone, with chthalamus on top and semibalanus on bottom, since ch. is better in drier conditions and sem. is better at wetter conditions

Niche

biotic role and abiotic location that a species plays in an environment

niche examples

place in food web, role in cycles, habitat

Fundamental Niche

range that an organism could tolerate

Realized niche

actual range that the organism uses

what happens when two niches overlap? what changes the more they overlap?

competition, the more they overlap the greater the competition

Generalist

species with a wide range of feeding habitats and habitat type

being a generalist results in what?

larger fundamental niche

Specialist

species with a narrow range with respect to feeding or living conditions

what does being a specialist result in

narrow fundamental niche, more susceptible to disturbances

Resource partitioning

competing species becoming more specialized to use different parts of an available resource, or use at different times

if niche overlaps, resource partitioning can do what?

reduce competition between species

Evolutionary Divergence

all come from one common ancestor to reduce competition

Symbiosis

close long term relationship between two organisms or species

Parasitism

parasite benefits from the negatively-affected host

why is parasitism not like predation

do not cause immediate death of the host

Ectoparasites

feed on the outside of the host

Ectoparasite examples

ticks, leeches, fleas

Endoparasites

feed on the inside of the host

Endoparasite examples

tapeworms and heartworms

Vectors

parasite that transmits disease or another parasitic species from one host to another

Mutualism

two species benefit from each other

mutualism examples

nutrition, reproduction, or protection

Commensalism

one species benefits, other is unaffected

commensalism may be a form of _____

mutualism or parasitism

Native Species

species that occupy an area by evolutionary means

Endemic species

found only in one specific area, are vulnerable

where are endemic species typically found 

islands or tropical rainforests where they have become highly specified

Cosmopolitan Species

found in larger and more areas and are less susceptible to extinction

Non-Native/ Introduced Species

species that have been located into a new habitat by humans

Naturalized Species

introduced species that over time has become part of the ecosystem

Invasive Species

species introduced into a new habitat and are adversely affecting the native species

10% rule

10% of introduced species can live in the new habitat, 10% of those become an invasive species

the abiotic part of the ecosystem determines what?

where species are found

Range of Tolerance

each species of an ecosystem requires specific ranges, sunlight, amount of water, temperature ranges

Limiting Factor Principle

too much or too little of an abiotic factor limits population growth even when everything else is within range

the limiting factor principle is one method of what?

population control required for sustainability

what are the typical limiting factors on land

water availability, nutrient availability in soil and temperature

what are the limiting factors in water

temperature, sunlight, nutrient availability, salinity, oxygen content