Adaptation, Niche, and Species Interactions

These flashcards cover key concepts of adaptation, ecological niches, and species interactions including various factors influencing these concepts.

What are the categories of factors in Fry's Paradigm that affect metabolism and growth?

Lethal factors, controlling factors, limiting factors, masking, directive.

What does Shelford’s Law of Tolerance state?

The distribution of species is controlled by the environmental factor for which the species has the narrowest tolerance.

What is an adaptation?

A heritable response to abiotic and biotic factors that may be morphological, physiological, or behavioral.

Name two abiotic factors that drive adaptation in aquatic ecosystems.

Temperature and light.

What biotic factors drive adaptation?

Competition and predation.

What is the goal of adaptation?

To increase fitness.

What is the Eltonian Niche?

It refers to the functional role of a species within a community.

What is the difference between fundamental niche and realized niche?

Fundamental niche is the potential mode of existence while realized niche includes the actual conditions in which the species exists.

What is niche compression?

The contraction of habitat use in response to competition.

What is character displacement?

A gradual separation of species by a shift in character traits due to competition.

What is the difference between intraspecific and interspecific competition?

Intraspecific competition tends to broaden resource use, while interspecific competition tends to restrict it.

What are two ways to study competition in ecology?

Competitive displacement and character displacement.

What types of interactions fall under positive interactions?

Commensalism and mutualism.

What role can positive interactions play in ecosystems?

They can influence species abundance, distribution, and growth.

Give an example of a positive interaction in ecosystems.

Mixed shoals of fish.