Unit Eight: Community Ecology- module c

Why do communities and ecosystems change

by basis of interactions among populations and disruptions to enviroments

How is the structure of a community measured and described

in terms of species composition and species diversity

What is the Simpson’s Diversity Index

What determines how populations access energy and matter within a community

interactions

What are the characterizations of relationship interactions

positive and negative

What are examples of positive and negative characterized interactions

predator/prey interactions

trophic cascades

niche partitoring

What can drive population dynamics

competition

predation

symbiosis

What are the types and results of symbiosis

parasitism- positive/negative

commensalism- postive/neutral

mutualism- positive/positive

What does cooperation or coordination between organisms, populations, and species result in

enhanced movement of matter and energy

What communities are less resilient to changes within the environment

communities with low component parts and little diversity

What can influence the organization of the ecosystem

diversity of species

What is important about keystone species

regardless of abundance, they hold up ecosystems, removal almost always results in ecosystem collapse