Ecology Final

9 important questions on Ecology Final

Two views of species Relationships

  1. Holistic
  2. Individualistic

Holistic Species Relationships

  • Closed system (discrete and sharply defined)
  • Tight species associations (if one species is missing, there will be a noticeable effect removing one)
  • Narrow transition zone between communities (Ecotone)

Individualistic Species Relationships

  • Open systems (no boundaries like ecotones)
  • Each species distributed independently (common environment/habitat requirement) (Interactions not responsible for the pattern we see)
  • Transition zones gradual & diffuse
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13th Rivet Model

Sp. like rivets in airplane's wing
Sp. in tight associations
Similar to holistic view

Conserve large land tracts (habitat)

(Can remove one or two and keep the same environment; But if remove too many everything collapses)

Reduce Community Complexity 'Lumping'

  1. Measure diversity: all species equal
  2. Define feeding roles: follow E transfers
  3. Study 'Important' species (Keystone; Dominant sp)

Dominant sp. (foundation sp.)

Numerically the most abundant or has the most biomass

Food Web Trophic Levels

  • Producers
  • Primary Consumers
  • Secondary Consumers (eat primary consumers)
  • Tertiary Consumers (normally top carnivore w/n the system)

Simplifying Food Webs

  1. Lump taxonomic groups together
  2. Isolate & study part of web


(strong interactions based on influence, no energy flow)

Why are food webs/chains so short?

Energetic Hypothesis: Chain length is limited by inefficient energy transfer along the chain

Food chains are short because they just run out of energy

Btwn 85-95% of energy is lost with each transfer

More energy at basal level, the longer the chain should be

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