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Community Interactions: Competition (-/-) quiz #3

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  • Explain the competitive exclusion principle and its ecological consequences.
    The competitive exclusion principle states that two species with completely overlapping niches cannot coexist indefinitely; eventually, the stronger competitor will drive the weaker one to local extinction in that area.
  • Define the terms 'fundamental niche' and 'realized niche' in the context of competition.
    A fundamental niche is the full range of resources a species could use without competition, while a realized niche is the portion of the fundamental niche that a species actually occupies due to competition.
  • How does partial niche overlap differ from complete niche overlap in terms of species coexistence?
    With complete niche overlap, one species will outcompete and exclude the other, but with partial niche overlap, resource partitioning can occur, allowing both species to coexist by using different resources.
  • What is the main effect of competition on the fitness of the organisms involved?
    Competition always lowers the fitness of all competing organisms because both winners and losers expend energy or lose access to resources.
  • What does the competitive exclusion principle state about species with completely overlapping niches?
    It states that two species with completely overlapping niches cannot coexist indefinitely; the stronger competitor will eventually drive the weaker one to local extinction in that area.
  • How does local extinction differ from global extinction in the context of competitive exclusion?
    Local extinction means the losing species is eliminated only from the specific area where competition occurs, not from the entire planet.
  • What is resource partitioning and how does it help species coexist?
    Resource partitioning is when species differentiate their niches to use different resources, allowing them to coexist by reducing direct competition.
  • Define 'fundamental niche' and 'realized niche' in the context of competition.
    A fundamental niche is the full range of resources a species could use without competition, while a realized niche is the portion actually occupied due to competition.
  • How does partial niche overlap affect the outcome of competition between two species?
    With partial niche overlap, resource partitioning can occur, allowing both species to coexist by using different resources instead of one excluding the other.
  • What is character displacement and what is its ecological significance?
    Character displacement is the evolution of new traits in competing species to reduce competition, which helps both species by minimizing negative interactions.
  • What is an example of competition in an ecosystem, and how does it affect the organisms involved?
    An example of competition in an ecosystem is two squirrels competing for the same acorn. Both squirrels experience reduced fitness: the loser loses access to the resource, while the winner expends extra energy and time to obtain it. Competition is a minus-minus interaction, negatively impacting all organisms involved.