All Flashcards
What is the significance of species relationships in an ecosystem?
Species relationships (predation, symbiosis, competition) shape community structure and influence population dynamics.
Explain the concept of resource partitioning.
Species divide limited resources to coexist, reducing competition and allowing for greater biodiversity.
What happens when niches overlap too much?
Competition intensifies between species.
Why are keystone species important?
They maintain ecosystem structure and function; their removal can cause dramatic changes.
How do ecosystem engineers impact their environment?
They create or modify habitats, benefiting other species and influencing ecosystem dynamics.
Describe predator-prey relationships.
Predators control prey populations; prey develop defenses, driving evolutionary arms race.
How can the loss of a keystone species affect an ecosystem?
It can cause a domino effect, dramatically changing the ecosystem's structure and function.
What is the role of evolution in competition?
Natural selection favors species better at accessing resources, leading to adaptation and specialization.
Describe the difference between a keystone species and a dominant species.
Keystone species have a disproportionately large impact, regardless of population size, while dominant species are abundant.
Explain how ecosystems are dynamic.
Ecosystems are always changing due to interactions between biotic and abiotic factors.
What is the importance of biotic and abiotic interactions?
These interactions drive ecosystem processes and determine the distribution and abundance of species.
Explain predator-prey relationships.
Predators control prey populations; prey develop defenses. It's an evolutionary arms race.
Describe mutualism.
A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit (+/+).
Describe commensalism.
A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits, and the other is unaffected (+/0).
Describe parasitism.
A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits, and the other is harmed (+/-).
What happens when niches overlap too much?
Competition intensifies for limited resources.
What is the consequence of keystone species removal?
The loss of a keystone species can cause a domino effect, dramatically changing the ecosystem.
How do ecosystem engineers modify habitats?
They create or modify habitats, helping other species.
Why are ecosystem dynamics important?
Understanding these dynamics is crucial for predicting how ecosystems will respond to changes like climate change or human activities.
How does resource partitioning reduce competition?
It allows species to share limited resources by using different parts of the resource or accessing it at different times.
Define 'Ecosystem'.
A specific place where living (biotic) things interact with non-living (abiotic) things.
What are 'Biotic' factors?
Living components of an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, and bacteria.
What are 'Abiotic' factors?
Non-living components of an ecosystem, such as rocks, soil, air, and water.
Define 'Biosphere'.
All the ecosystems on Earth combined.
Define 'Niche'.
The role a species plays in its ecosystem.
Define 'Keystone Species'.
A species with a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem, relative to its abundance.
What are 'Ecosystem Engineers'?
Keystone species that create or modify habitats.
Define 'Mutualism'.
A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit (+/+).
Define 'Commensalism'.
A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other is unaffected (+/0).
Define 'Parasitism'.
A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other is harmed (+/-).