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Option C.1 Species and Communities (Species Interactions (Herbivory…
Option C.1 Species and Communities
Survival Factors
Limiting Factors: defines optimal survival conditions according to its effect on a species when in deficiency or excess
Biotic factors: intraspecific or interspecific
Abiotic factors: light, temperature, salinity, rainfall, wind velocity, soil pH, etc.
Law of Tolerance: populations have optimal survival conditions within critical minimal and maximal thresholds. As a population is exposed to the extremes of a particular limiting factor, the rates of survival begin to drop
Zones:
Optimal zone – Central portion of curve which has conditions that favour maximal reproductive success and survivability
Zones of stress – Regions flanking the optimal zone, where organisms can survive but with reduced reproductive success
Zones of intolerance – Outermost regions in which organisms cannot survive (represents extremes of the limiting factor)
Species Distribution
Quadrats are rectangular frames of known dimensions that can be used to establish population densities
The quadrats will show the changing distribution pattern of a species in response to a change in an abiotic variable
This data can be used to identify optimal conditions as well as zones of stress and zones of intolerance
Transects are a straight line along an abiotic gradient from which population data can be recorded to determine a pattern
Ecological Niche
Ecological Niche components
The habitat in which an organism lives
The activity patterns of the organism (e.g. periods of time during which it is active)
The resources it obtains from the environment (e.g. food sources, territorial boundaries, etc.)
The interactions that occur with other species in the community (e.g. predator prey relationships, competition, etc.)
Interspecific competition
Competitive exclusion – One species uses the resources more efficiently, driving the other species to local extinction
Resource partitioning – Both species alter their use of the habitat to divide resources between them (i.e. niche separation)
Fundamental Niche
A fundamental niche is the entire set of conditions under which an organism can survive and reproduce (where it could live)
Realised Niche
A realised niche is the set of conditions used by an organism after including interactions with other species (where it does live)
Species Interactions
Herbivory
Herbivory is the act of eating only plant matter (e.g. primary consumers are considered herbivores)
Predation
Predation is a biological interaction whereby one organism (predator) hunts and feeds on another organism (prey)
Symbiosis
Symbiosis describes the close and persistent (long-term) interaction between two species
Mutialism
Mutualism describes an ongoing interaction between two species whereby both species benefit from the interaction
Commensalism
Commensalism describes an ongoing interaction between two species whereby one benefits and the other is unaffected
Parasitism
Parasitism describes an ongoing interaction between two species whereby one species benefits at the other's expense