IB Biology Review

Chapter 53: Community Ecology

Definitions
Community
consists of all the organisms of all the species that inhabit a particular area it is an assemblage of populations of many different species

Community Ecology
deals with the whole array of interacting species in a community This area of research focuses on how interactions such as predation, competition, and disease, as well as abiotic factors such as disturbance, affect community structure and organization

Habitat Realized Niche Detritivore Autotroph Biodiversity Symbiosis Ecological Niche Saprotroph Interspecific Competition Heterotroph Competitive Exclusion Biomass Fundamental Niche
1.________________ is a particular environment, the typical location of a particular species. It is the Habitat organisms address 2.________________ Ecological niche is the totality of an organisms relationships with all the biotic and abiotic factors which make up the organisms habitat Interspecific comp. is when two species compete or interact for a resource 3._______________ 4.______________ Comp. Exclusion is the strong competition that can lead to the local elimination of one of the two competing species; the result is detrimental to both species (-/-) such as when two different species compete for a resource that is in short supply 5.______________ Symbiosis is a special type of interaction, where one organism lives on or in another and does not harm the host 6.______________ is the total mass of all individuals in a population Biomass 7. ______________ Biodiversity is the number of different species in a given geographical area Fundamental niche is the niche potentially occupied by that species 8.________________ 9.________________ Realized niche is the niche a species actually occupies in a particular environment Autotroph is an organism that synthesizes its organic molecules from simple inorganic 10._____________ molecules Heterotroph 11._____________ Detritivore is an organism that obtains organic molecules from other organisms 12._____________ Saprotroph is an organism that ingests non-living organic matter 13._____________ is an organism that lives on or in non-living organic matter, secreting digestive enzymes into it and absorbing the products of digestion

MC-1.

Define the term niche.

Within a specific habitat of an organism it is the species role/profession An organisms unique ability to survive in its habitat For example,
nutrition/what it eats feeding habits (like the Nuthatch hammering the seeds) interactions with other species (aggression/competition) the time of day or night that it feeds breeding site

Describe fundamental niches and realized niches.

Fundamental Niche
All the habitat the organism could live in if there were no competing species

Realized Niche
The habitat that the organism actually inhabits due to competition for similar space from other species

MC-2. Prairie dogs once covered the expanses of the Great Plains. Their grazing made the grass more nutritious for the huge herds of bison, and a variety of snakes, raptors, and mammals preyed on the rodents. In fact, the black-footed ferret (now endangered) specialized in prairie dog predation. Today, growing neighborhoods have covered many prairie dog towns. Which of the
following statements about prairie dogs is not true?

A. B. C. D. E.

Their realized niche has diminished. They are commensals with the bison. They are reasonably considered a keystone species. Their fundamental niche remains unaltered. Their fundamental niche has diminished.

Correct answer: E

Competitive Exclusion Principle

No two species can coexist in the same niche One is out-competed and displaced/eliminated through strong competition Reduces competing species space from the fundamental niche to the realized niche

Use in an answer barnacle competition from Figure 53.2 in text

CC 53.1 According to the competitive exclusion principle, what outcome is expected when two species compete for a resource? Why?
One of the competing species will become locally extinct because of the greater reproductive success of the more efficient competitor.

Definitions
Intra-specific competition
interactions between individuals of a population of just one species

Inter-specific competition
interactions between populations of two species

Types of Inter-specific Interactions

0 = No effect + = Positive effect - = Negative effect

MC-3. Evidence shows that some grasses benefit from being grazed. Which of the following terms would best describe this plantherbivore interaction? A. mutualism B. commensalism C. parasitism D. competition E. predation
Correct answer: A

MC-4. Which of the following is least likely to kill the organism it feeds on?
A. B. C. D. E. herbivore predator seed eater carnivore parasite

Correct answer: E

Definitions
Trophic structure
The feeding relationships between species of a community

Trophic levels
The different groups of organisms in a community Arranged as:
Producers 1st Order Consumers 2nd Order Consumers 3rd Order Consumers 4th Order Consumers

What are the trophic levels?

3rd Order Consumers

2nd Order Consumers

1st Order Consumers Producers
Plants

Energy transfer between trophic levels is never 100% efficient. Only 10-20% of energy is transferred How is the other ~90% of energy lost?
Heat loss through cellular respiration Not all organisms in lower trophic levels are consumed The whole mass of the prey is not assimilated into the predators body Energy lost through the metabolic processes of the prey before they are consumed

Why does the energy pyramid look like it does?

MC-5. Consider a field plot containing 300 kg of plant material. Approximately how many kg of second-order consumer can be supported? A. 300 B. 100 C. 30 D. 3 E. 0.3

Correct answer: D 300 x 0.10 = 30 x 0.10 = 3

Definitions
Food chain
a single pathway of feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem that results in energy transfer

Food web
complex feeding relationships among all the organisms in an ecosystem that results in energy transfer

Be able to construct/draw an Antarctic food web with the following species or groups: Fishes, Copepods, phytoplankton, leopard seals, elephant seals, baleen whales, sperm whales, birds, krill, carnivorous plankton, crab eater seals, smaller toothed whales, humans, squids. Make sure arrows are going in the right direction. Be able to identify one or more food chains within this food web of at least 4 species long.

What is the benefit of a more complex food web?

= biodiversity More stability because predators have a variety of choices for prey So if one prey species dies out, the predator can feed on other species

MC-6. In a food web with deer, clover, rabbits, and wolves, wolves would be the
A. B. C. D. producers primary consumers secondary consumers tertiary consumers

Correct answer: C

MC-7. Which of the following conditions would result from a more complex food web?
A. B. C. D. lower rates of mortality stability high reproductive rates lower natality rates

Correct answer: B

Ecological Succession
Primary succession
the creation of soil in a virtually lifeless area where there was no soil before Examples: after a volcanic eruption, or after a retreating glacier

Secondary succession
occurs when an existing community has been cleared by some disturbance that leaves the soil intact Examples: after a fire, flood, hurricane, or tornado

How does primary succession occur?

1. Often the only lifeforms initially present are autotrophic prokaryotes existing in shallow puddles. 2. Lichens and mosses come next, which grow from windblown spores Soil develops gradually, as rocks weather and organic matter accumulates. Lichens secrete acidic products that help to break down the rock. From the decomposed remains of these early colonizers soil is formed. 3. Once soil is present, the lichens and mosses are usually overgrown by grasses, 4. Then shrubs, 5. Then trees that sprout 5 4 from seeds blown in from nearby 3 2 1 areas or carried in by animals.

CC 53.3 How do primary and secondary succession differ?

The initial absence of soil in primary succession and its presence at the beginning of secondary succession.

IB Exam Question

1. Explain the niche concept using a named organism.

(5 marks) Within a specific habitat it is the species role/profession It allows different species to co-exist with each other by reducing competition For example, the white-breasted nuthatch shares temperate forest habitat with many species Nuthatches go down a tree in search of insects hiding under bark unlike most species which go up the tree looking for insects. In this way, it is able to get insects that others miss. Another aspect of its unique niche is that takes seeds, wedges them into a crevice of tree bark and then hammers the bark this opens the seeds for eating. Yet another aspect of this birds niche is that it flocks together with black-capped chickadees and titmice. In this way, it is protected from predators by being able to hear the warning calls of these species when predators approach

IB Exam Question

2. Explain the significance of the principle of competitive exclusion. (3 marks)

no two species can coexist in same niche; one is displaced / one survives; one species has an advantage over competitor / species compete with each other;

IB Exam Question

3. Explain how parasitism differs from mutualism with reference to named organisms. (5 marks)
Parasitism is a type of interspecific interaction where one organism benefits and one suffers; whereas Mutualism is when both benefit (neither suffer); An example of parasitism is a tapeworm in its human host The parasite gains food and energy whereas the human host loses food; Because of this, the host suffers weight loss and impaired nutrition; In a mutualistic interaction such as green algae and fungi in lichens; The algae gains protection; Whereas the fungi gains carbon compounds through the algaes photosynthesis

IB Exam Question

4. Explain reasons for the shape of the energy pyramid. (5 marks)

Energy transfer efficiency between each trophic levels is (approximately) 10% from one level to the next; (in other words, 90% is lost at each level); heat loss through cellular respiration not all organisms in lower trophic levels are consumed the whole mass of the prey is not assimilated into the predators body (waste is produced) energy lost through the metabolic processes of the prey before they are consumed

IB Exam Question

5. Explain why there are limits on food chain length by describing how energy enters, moves through, and exits a food chain in an ecosystem. (8 marks)
energy enters from (sun)light; autotrophs capture (sun)light; energy flows through the trophic levels / stages in food chain; (eg. Producer>>Primary Consumer>>Secondary consumer>> Tertiary Consumer>>Quarternary Consumer) energy transfer efficiency between each trophic levels is (approximately) 10% from one level to the next; (in other words, 90% is lost at each level) energy loss through cellular respiration Energy is lost through heat Energy is lost because not all material is consumed Energy is lost because food that is not all assimulated and is lost as waste
2

*Include a labeled energy pyramid (using kJ per square meter per year

IB Exam Question

6. Outline the changes in species diversity and production during primary succession
(5 marks)

Species diversity is very low in the early stages of primary succession This is because few species can tolerate the barren conditions However, as primary succession continues, species diversity increases Gross Production is also very low in the early stages of primary succession but increases during primary succession This is because small plants are replaced by larger plants with more leaf surface area to photosynthesize Gross production eventually stabilizes

IB Exam Question

7. In communities, groups of populations live together and interact with each other. Outline the importance of plants to populations of other organisms in a community.
(6 marks)

light is the initial source of energy for almost all communities; plants absorb light and use it in photosynthesis; plants produce food / organic matter; plants are the main producers in most communities; energy flows along food chains / webs from plants; first consumers eat plants / producers; second consumers eat first consumers that have eaten plants / producers; plants produce oxygen; oxygen needed for cell respiration by many organisms; dead plants / parts of plants available to saprotrophs / fungi and bacteria / detritivores;

IB Exam Question

8. Distinguish between primary and secondary succession using an example of each.

(6 marks)

Primary succession occurs after a disturbance that leaves no soil An example is a cooled lava flow Primary succession occurs slowly Secondary succession occurs after a disturbance that leaves the soil intact An example is a forest fire Secondary succession can occur very rapidly

IB Exam Question

9. Explain the effects of living organisms on the abiotic environment, with reference to the changes occuring during primary succession. An area with no vegetation such as volcanic rock Lichens and mosses are the first to colonize these areas Lichens break down the rock chemically Over time, dead lichens and mosses decompose, mixing with the decaying rock to form soil These pioneer species are gradually replaced by others Over time, the decaying plants improve soil structure Eventually a stable community develops