Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Population Characteristics
Density- # of individuals per
unit of area
Determined by
counts
sample size estimate
indirect indicators
mark-recapture
Emigration
Movement out of
an area
Type II
Constant death rate
throughout lifespan
Ex: lizards
Type III
More death of young
individuals
Ex: Sea turtles
K-selected
(equilibrial)
Long maturation &
lifespan
Few (large) offspring;
usually several (late)
reproductions;
extensive parental care
Low death rate
competition
predation
stress/crowding
waste accumulation
Density-independent factors
weather/climate
periodic disturbances
Community Ecology
Community
an assemblage of
populations living
close enough
together for
potential
interaction
Community Structure
Richness (number of species) &
abundance
Species diversity
Hypotheses:
Individualistic- chance assemblage
with similar abiotic requirements
Interactive- assemblage locked into
association by mandatory biotic
interactions
Interactions
Interspecificinteractions between
populations of
different species
within a community:
Predation
Includes herbivory and
parasitism
Competition
Commensalism
Mutualism
Predation Defense
Cryptic (camouflage) coloration
Aposematic (warning) coloration
Mimicry- superficial resemblance
to another species
Batesian- palatable/ harmless
species mimics an unpalatable/
harmful model
Mullerian- 2 or more unpalatable,
aposematically colored species
resemble each other
The Niche
Ecological niche- the sum total
of an organisms use of biotic
and abiotic resources in its
environment; its ecological
role
Fundamental- the set of resources a
population is theoretically capable
of using under ideal conditions
Realized- the resources a population
actually uses
Competition Evidence
Resource partitioning sympatric species
consume slightly
different foods or use
other resources in
slightly different ways
Character
displacement Allopatric species are
similar
Sympatric species show
morphological
differences
Relative
Abundance
Proportion each
species represents
of the total
individuals
Trophic Structure
Transfer of food
energy through a
community
About 10% of the
energy can be
transferred from one
level to the next
Special Species
Dominant Species
Most abundant
Keystone Species
Strong control on
community structure
Not necessarily most
abundant
Foundation Species
Cause physiological
changes to
community
Succession
Ecological successiontransition in species
composition over ecological
time
Primary
begun in lifeless area; no soil,
perhaps volcanic activity or
retreating glacier
Secondary
an existing community has been
cleared by some disturbance that
leaves the soil intact