EcologyLesson 3 of 3 in the course Population and Community Ecology

Community Ecology: Interactions, Biodiversity, and Succession

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Populations of one species rarely live in isolation. The interacting populations that occupy a habitat form an ecological community. Community diversity refers to the species present and their relative abundance. Even places with low species diversity, such as Antarctic glaciers, contain many kinds of organisms; extremely diverse communities, such as tropical rainforests, can be difficult to assess completely.

All flashcards

What is a community in ecology?
A community is the interacting populations of different species living in the same habitat.
What is herbivory?
Herbivory is the consumption of plants for food.
Why do lynx numbers lag behind hare numbers?
A rise in hare abundance provides more food for lynx, but lynx population growth takes time. Increased predation can later reduce hare numbers, followed by a decline in lynx.
What is warning coloration?
Conspicuous coloration that signals to predators that an organism is toxic, distasteful, or otherwise defended.
What is mimicry in predator defense?
Mimicry is resemblance to another organism. A harmless species may resemble a defended one, causing predators to avoid it.

Quiz questions

  1. What does the competitive exclusion principle predict about two species with precisely the same niche in one habitat?Answer: They cannot occupy that niche indefinitely.
  2. Termite gut protists help digest cellulose and receive food and shelter from the termite. What type of interaction is this?Answer: Mutualism, because both partners benefit.
  3. What distinguishes a keystone species from a foundation species?Answer: A keystone species has an unusually large effect relative to its abundance.
  4. Where does primary succession begin?Answer: On newly formed or exposed surfaces with little or no soil.
  5. Which description fits an invasive species?Answer: A non-native organism that alters the community it enters.

Based on Concepts of Biology by Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James Wise (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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