COMMUNITY ECOLOGY What is a community? Many species living closely together, so that they interact with each other. What is a species? Interspecific Interactions Interaction between 2 or more species that use the same resource Competition must occur: interference competition - actual fighting occurs interspecific competition - consumption or use of similar resource Competitive Exclusion Principle What is meant by an ecological niche? Fundamental / Realized Niches Resource Partitioning of Lizards Character Displacement Among the Galapagos Finches Symbiosis Close association between two species Mutualism Between Ants and Acacia Tree Clownfish Among Sea Anemones Tentacles Cleaning Symbiosis A cleaner wrasse, in the mouth of a spotted sweetlip fish Commensalism With Epiphytes Commensalism: Cape Buffalo and Cattle Egrets Staghorn Fern. an Epiphyte Parasitism Camouflage in the Anglerfish Anti-predator Defenses SouthAmericanLanternFly Swallowtail Butterfly Larva Batesian Mimicry Hawk Moth Larva Larva Green Parrot Snake Snake Mllerian mimicry: Cuckoo bee (left), yellow jacket (right) Mimicry Among Insects Batesian (a, b, c); Mullerian (d, e) Flower Fly Longhorn Beetle Moth Yellowjacket Bumblebee Aposematic Coloration Nudibranch Chemical Defense and Aposematic coloration are seen here: Cryptic coloration is seen here Deceptive Coloration: Moth with Eyeballs" Parasites are also +/- Symbiotic Interaction Endoparasites Ectoparasites Parasitoids - insects (usually wasps) that lay eggs on other insects and larvae feed on the host. Plant Defenses Against Predators: What defense is seen here? Other Defenses : Chemicals that cause plant to taste bad Interspecific Interactions: What is coevolution? What factors will be the most significant in determining the structure of a community? What factors will be the most significant in determining the structure of a community? Species Diversity Combination of two factors: 1) Richness - number of different species 2) Relative Abundance - number of individuals in each species Trophic Structure The different feeding relationships between organisms According to the rules of ten, approximately 10% of the potential energy stored in the bonds of organic molecules at one trophic level fuels the growth and development of organisms at the next trophic level. Trophic Structure Five examples: 1.Primary Producers 2.Primary Consumers 3.Secondary Consumers 4.Tertiary Consumers 5.Decomposers and Detrivores Trophic Structure Primary Producers: grass (10,000 KCAL) Primary Consumer: grasshopper (1,000 KCAL ) Secondary Consumer: mouse (100 KCAL) Tertiary Consumer: snake (10 KCAL) Species with a Large Impact Dominant SpeciesDominant Species Keystone SpeciesKeystone Species All of the organisms above depend on the sea otter directly or indirectly for their survival. It is an example of a keystone species. Sea Otters as Keystone Predators Predators Disturbances Influence Species Diversity and Composition Ex: Succession predictable changes that occur in a community over time primary succession no soil exists initially secondary succession - existing community was disturbed and returned to original state. Moss, a Characteristic Pioneer Species Gametophytes Sporophytes Lichens Moss These are classic pioneer species. Lichens Large-scale Disturbance: Eruption of Mount St. Helens Patchiness and Recovery Following a Large-Scale Disturbance Secondary Succession Eventually a climax community usually results. Climax Community Community that remains essentially the same over long periods of time. It is the final stage of ecological succession. Name the three types of symbiotic relationships.