Weeks 5,6 & 7.

Study Notes
Community- a community is all population that exists in a given ecosystem at a
given time.
Ecological Niche- an organisms biological characteristics, including use of and
interactions with abiotic and biotic resources in its environment. For example, what
the organism eats, what eats it, the way it reproduces, the temperature range it
tolerates, its habitat, and many other factors that describe its pattern of living.
Fundamental Niche-The biological characteristics of the organism and the set of
resources individuals in the population are theoretically capable of using under
ideal conditions. If resources are available and there is no competition between
other species an organism would come close to becoming its fundamental niche.
Interspecific Competition- Interactions between individuals of different species
for an essential common resource that is in a limited supply. For example, vultures
and hyenas will compete for the same resources.
Interference competition- interspecific competition involves aggression between
individuals of different species who fight over the same resource.
Exploitative Competition- interspecific competition that involves consumption of
shared resources by individuals of different species, where consumption by one
species may limit resource availability.
Gauses Theory: If resources are limited no two species that share the same niche
can survive together. He predicted that one species would consume all the resource
and drive the other species out.
Resource partitioning: Is when individuals of species occupying the same niche
will avoid the competition for similar resources. These individuals will occupy
different nonoverlapping ecological niches. For example, some lizards use the
canopy while others use twigs.
Predation- Is an interspecific interaction when the population density of one
species increases and the density of the other decreases. When the prey population
increases it means they have lots of food so the prey population will decrease. Some
predator-prey relationships coexist at a steady rate and show a cyclical pattern.

In nature many factors can influence this sinusoidal model.

Defense Mechanisms: Mechanisms to help defend against predators.
Morphological defense: Plants will defend themselves using thorns, hooks, spines,
and needles- also they will use chemical defenses. Some insects will produce
chemicals to make themselves distasteful for predators.
Passive Defense mechanisms: Animals will hide, or flee from area to avoid the
predator.
Active Defense mechanisms: Use more energy from the prey. Some defenses
include: camouflage also called (cryptic colouration) this enables animals to blend
into their surroundings, or visual warning of poisons.
Mimicry; Bastesian & Mullerian:
In bastesian mimicry, a palatable or harmless species will mimic an unpalatable or
harmful organism. Mullerian mimicry several unrelated but protected animal
species resembled one another and is all-poisonous.
Symbiosis- Includes a variety of interactions in which two organisms live together
in close, usually physical association. Some examples include, parasitism,
mutualism, and commensalism.
Mutualism: Occurs when both species in the relationship benefit and neither of
them is harmed. Obligatory mutualism is when neither organism could grow or
reproduce without the other. For example, the bacteria living in a cows stomach
that helps the cow break down cellulose.

Parasitism: A symbiotic relationship in which one organism (the parasite), benefits

at the expense of the host. The host is often harmed but usually not killed. Parasites
can be micro parasites, which are very small and can reproduce rapidly. They can
also be macro parasites that are larger for example, tapeworms. Endoparasites
will live inside of the body, and ectoparasites will live on the outside of the body.
Social parasites: Parasites that complete their cycle by manipulating the social
behaviour of their hosts.
Commensalism: A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the
other organism are unaffected. For example, small fish will attach themselves to
sharks so they dont use as much of their energy.