Option C: ECOLOGY (C1 + C2)

Describe the effects of limiting factors on communities 

Example of distribution of an animal species to illustrate limits of tolerance and zones of stress

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Polar Bear - habitat: artic; limiting factors - temperature, territory, food supply

Example of distribution of an plant species to illustrate limits of tolerance and zones of stress 

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Marrem Grass - habitat: Coastal Sand Dunes; limiting factors: soil salinity (cannot tolerate high salinity)

Describe the use of transects

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Method used to determine effects of liming factors on a sample of organisms in area

* help determine zone of tolerance
* best with immobile organisms

Describe ecological niche 

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species unique and important role to play in contributing to the environment

* spatial habitat, nutrition, relationships

Distinguish between fundamental and realized niche 

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fundamental niche: broadest possible niche with no competition (theoretical)

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realized niche: actual niche

* includes liming factors and competition; realized is always smaller than fundamental niche

Discuss Gause’s experiment and findings

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competitive exclusion; worked with 2 species of paramecium

* no 2 species can occupy same niche in habitat

Distinguish between interspecific competition and intraspecific competition 

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organisms interact with other is linked to their niche

* competition can occur
* intraspecific: same species
* interspecific: different species

Describe and provide an example for predation

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consumers feeding on another consumer (prey)

number of predators affects number of prey and vice versa

ex: Canadian lynx and snowshoe hare

Describe and provide an example for herbivory

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primary consumer feeds on a producer

ex: caterpillar or beetle eating leaves

Describe and provide an example for parasitism

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one organism feeds on or off another and does harm to the other

ex: tapeworm in cow intestines

Describe and provide an example for mutualism

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two species living together where both benefit

ex: clownfish and sea anemone, Zooxanthellae and coral

Describe the relationship between zooxanthellae and coral

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Coral provides compounds for photosynthesis and habitat

Zooxanthellae provides food for coral to help secrete the calcium carbonate needed for reef building

Describe and provide an example for commensalism

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one organism benefits while other is unaffected

ex: remora fish and whales

Define keystone species 

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exhibits a strong control over structure of community

* creates stability in ecosystem
* not necessarly abundant

Discuss Paine’s experiment and findings

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* suspected sea star was keystone species
* removed it from intertidal area
* mussels took over
* before sea star removal: 15-20 species present
* after removal: 5 species present
* Sea Star: keystone species

Describe a food web 

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Describe how omnivores can occupy multiple trophic levels in foodweb

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