AP Biology Community Ecology population ecosystem community biosphere organism

AP Biology What is Community Ecology?  Community is all the organisms that live together in a specific place  Community Ecology  study of interactions among all populations in a common environment In what way do the populations interact?

AP Biology 4 Interspecific Interactions 1. competition 2. predation 3. herbivory 4. symbiosis

AP Biology 1. Competition  Occurs for both biotic & abiotic factors  each organism has a niche (ecological role) Competitive Exclusion When a species out competes another species for resources and the excluding species does not reach its potential niche. Competitive Exclusion When a species out competes another species for resources and the excluding species does not reach its potential niche.

AP Biology 2. Predation drives evolution  Predators adaptations  locate & subdue prey  Prey adaptations  elude & defend spines, thorns, toxins horns, speed, coloration Predation provides a strong selection pressure on both prey & predator

AP Biology Mechanical Defenses  Camouflage (cryptic coloration) whipporwill lizard toad lizard frog

AP Biology Aposematic Coloration  warning coloration black, red, orange & yellow means: DON’T EAT ME!

AP Biology Mimicry A palatable or harmless species mimics a harmful model Hawkmoth larva puffs up to look like a venomous snake Batesian mimicry hawkmoth larvae green parrot snake

AP Biology Batesian Mimicry Monarch male poisonous Viceroy male edible

AP Biology Mullerian Mimicry yellow jacket cuckoo bee Mimicry in which 2 unpalatable species inhabit same community and mimic each other

AP Biology Which Mimicry? Coral snake is venomous King snake is not Red on yellow, poison fellow; red on black, safe from attack

AP Biology Venomous vs. Poisonous

AP Biology Chemical Defenses

AP Biology 3. Herbivory

AP Biology commensalism 4. Symbiosis mutualism …not very funny for a clown fish +/0 +/+ parasitism +/-

AP Biology Why is Species diversity important? greater diversity = greater stability  Greater biodiversity offers:  more food resources  more habitats  more resilience in face of environmental change

AP Biology  Organism with influential ecological role  exert important regulating effect on other species in community  Keystone species increases diversity in habitat What is a Keystone species?

AP Biology Keystone species

AP Biology What kind of defense? Any questions? Well that just stinks then