post midterm env s 60

What is a niche in ecology?

The entire range of environmental conditions under which a species can survive and reproduce.

What factors do plants need to survive and reproduce?

Water, light, soil and/or water nutrients, and physical space.

What factors do animals need to survive and reproduce?

Food (nutrients, water), territory, and mating partners.

Can two species with the same fundamental niche coexist?

No, due to the competitive exclusion principle, one species will outcompete the other.

What is the competitive exclusion principle?

Two species cannot coexist in the same ecological niche if resources are limited.

What is a realized niche?

The subset of the fundamental niche describing the conditions under which an organism actually lives, restricted by species interactions.

What does the Paradox of the Plankton illustrate?

Hundreds of species of phytoplankton can coexist due to their interactions with each other, defying competitive exclusion.

What is interference competition?

When individuals or populations behave in a way that reduces exploitation efficiency of another individual or population.

What is allelopathy?

The use of secondary chemicals by one species to inhibit the growth, survival, or reproduction of another.

Define intraspecific competition.

Competition between individuals of the same species.

Define interspecific competition.

Competition between individuals of different species.

What does the term 'carrying capacity' refer to?

The maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely.

What is demographic pattern?

Growth rate equals birth rate.

What does r represent in population dynamics?

Per capita population growth rate, indicating how fast a population changes.

What is logistic growth?

Population growth that takes into account limited resources and density-dependent factors.

What is the significance of the Lotka-Volterra equations?

They describe the dynamics of predator-prey interactions and competition coefficients.

What are top-down controls in a community?

When the structure of a community is determined by consumers.

What are bottom-up controls in a community?

When the structure of a community is determined by resource availability.

What is a keystone species?

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

What is the difference between autogenic and allogenic engineers?

Autogenic engineers alter the environment through their own physical structures, while allogenic engineers alter the environment by building structures.

What type of feedback mechanism does increased evaporation lead to as a result of warming?

Negative feedback loop.

What is the greenhouse effect?

The trapping of heat in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases, leading to global warming.

What distinguishes anthropogenic climate change from natural climate change?

Anthropogenic climate change is caused by human activities, while natural climate change occurs due to natural cycles.

What is the meaning of 'connectance' in community ecology?

The number of interactions between species in a community, indicating how interconnected the community is.