Ecology Ch 6

Front 1

Some experiments concerning interspecific competition have monitored both the population densities of the species involved and their impact on resources. Why is it helpful to do both?

Back 1

TBD

Front 2

Interspecific competition may be a result of exploitation of resources or of direct interference. Give an example of each and compare their consequences for the species involved.

Back 2

TBD

Front 3

Define fundamental niche and realized niche. How do these concepts help us to understand the effects of competitors?

Back 3

TBD

Front 4

With the help of one plant and one animal example, explain how two species may coexist by holding different resources at levels that are too low for effective exploitation by the other species.

Back 4

TBD

Front 5

Define the Competitive Exclusion Principle. When we see coexisting species with different niches is it reasonable to conclude that this is the princple in action?

Back 5

TBD

Front 6

Explain how environmental heterogeneity may permit an apparently 'weak' competitor to coexist with a species that might be expected to exclude it.

Back 6

TBD

Front 7

What is the 'ghost of competition past'? Why is it impossible to prove an evolutionary effect of interspecific competition?

Back 7

TBD

Front 8

Provide one example each of niche differentiation involving physiological, morphological and behavioral properties of coexisting species. How may these differences have arisen?

Back 8

TBD

Front 9

Define 'niche compmplementarity' and, with the help of an example, explain how it may help to account for the coexistence of many species in a community.

Back 9

TBD

Front 10

Discuss the pros and cons of the neutral model approach to evaluating the effects of competition on community composition.

Back 10

TBD