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What is competitive exclusion?

One species outcompetes another, leading to local extinction.

Define resource partitioning.

Dividing resources to reduce competition among species.

What is character displacement?

Species evolve differences where they overlap to minimize competition.

How does predation lead to changes in coloration?

Predation promotes aposematic coloration (warning colors) and cryptic coloration (camouflage).

What is Batesian mimicry?

A harmless species mimics a harmful one to avoid predation.

What is Müllerian mimicry?

Two harmful species evolve to look alike, reinforcing predator avoidance.

Give an example of mutualism.

Bees pollinating flowers; both benefit from the interaction.

Give an example of parasitism.

Tapeworm in a host; the tapeworm benefits while harming the host.

What are foundation species?

Species that have large effects on the environment due to high abundance or biomass.

What are keystone species?

Species that have large effects on the community despite low abundance.

Define biodiversity.

The variety of species in a community.

How is biodiversity measured?

Through species richness and relative abundance of species.

What does the Shannon Diversity Index calculate?

It calculates species diversity based on richness and evenness.

How do food chains differ from food webs?

Food chains are linear representations of feeding relationships, while food webs show complex, interconnected feeding relationships in an ecosystem.

Why is there less energy at higher trophic levels?

Energy is lost at each trophic level due to metabolic processes (approximately 90% is lost).

What is a disturbance in ecology?

An event that changes a community, like a fire or storm.

What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?

Primary succession occurs on bare surfaces with no soil, while secondary succession occurs in disturbed areas where soil is still present.

How do climate and area affect community structure?

Climate influences species survival, and area can affect species richness (larger areas usually contain more species).

What does island biogeography theory predict?

It predicts that species richness is affected by island size and distance from the mainland; larger and closer islands have more species.

What regions have the highest net primary productivity (NPP)?

Tropical rainforests and estuaries have the highest NPP due to favorable conditions for growth.

What is the difference between GPP and NPP?

GPP is total primary production, while NPP is GPP minus the energy used by producers for respiration.

How do ecosystems differ in energy flow versus matter cycling?

Energy flows in one direction through ecosystems, while matter cycles between biotic and abiotic components.

Why is nitrogen considered a limiting nutrient?

Despite being abundant in the atmosphere, nitrogen is often unavailable to organisms in usable forms.

How do community interactions contribute to emergent properties?

Interactions like mutualism, predation, and competition shape community dynamics, resilience, and functionality.

How do energetic and environmental factors affect trophic structure?

They influence the composition and number of species, determining community dynamics and energy flow.

What is the 10% rule in ecology?

It states that only about 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next.

What is biogeochemical cycling?

The movement of matter (like carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water) through ecosystems.

What is the role of primary producers?

They produce biomass from sunlight or chemicals, forming the base of the food chain.

What are ecosystem services?

Benefits gained by humans from ecosystems, like clean air and water.

What is biological magnification?

The increase in concentration of toxins at higher trophic levels.

What is sustainability in environmental science?

Using resources in a way that does not deplete them for future generations.

What is the intermediate disturbance hypothesis?

It suggests that moderate disturbances foster greater diversity in communities.

What is the importance of effective population size?

It indicates the number of individuals contributing to the next generation, affecting genetic variability.