C.E.P & Resource Partitioning

Community Interactions

Types of Community Interactions

Positive Interactions

  • Mutualism:

    • Both species benefit from the interaction.

    • Example: Bees and flowering plants.

      • Bees pollinate plants while obtaining nectar for food.

      • Results in:

        • Successful reproduction for plants.

        • Food source for bees.

  • Commensalism:

    • One species benefits while the other is unaffected.

    • Example: Barnacles and whales.

      • Barnacles attach themselves to whales for mobility.

      • Gain access to nutrient-rich waters without harming the whale.

Negative Interactions

  • Competition:

    • Occurs when two species compete for limited resources (food, space, etc.).

    • Types:

      • Intraspecific: Between members of the same species.

      • Interspecific: Between different species.

    • Consequences:

      • Decreased growth and reproduction.

      • Possible decline in survival rates.

  • Predation:

    • Involves a predator benefiting at the expense of prey.

    • Example: Wolves and deer.

      • Predators hunt and consume prey.

      • Affects population dynamics and evolution of both species.

  • Parasitism:

    • One species (the parasite) benefits while the other (the host) is harmed.

    • Example: Tapeworms and mammals.

      • Parasites rely on hosts for nutrients.

      • Can lead to illness or death for the host.

Principle of Competitive Exclusion

  • States that two species competing for the same resource cannot coexist indefinitely.

  • Over time:

    • One species becomes more efficient, leading to the extinction of the other (inferior competitor).

  • Highlights the importance of resource management in ecosystems.

Ecological Niche

  • Definition:

    • The role and position a species occupies in its environment.

    • Includes interactions with biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors.

  • If two species share identical niches, they cannot coexist indefinitely.

Resource Partitioning

  • A mechanism allowing species to coexist by dividing resources.

  • How it works:

    • Differences in behavior, time, or spatial use of resources.

  • Example:

    • Two bird species forage for insects at:

      • Different times of day.

      • Varying heights in trees.

  • Decreases direct competition; evolves through natural selection as species adapt to utilize different resources.

Diversity

  • Refers to the variety of species within an ecosystem.

  • Importance:

    • Enhances ecosystem resilience, productivity, and stability.

    • Benefits:

      • Better ability to withstand environmental changes.

      • More effective recovery from disturbances (fires, floods, etc.).