1. Community Ecology
Definition: an interacting group of populations in a defined space

2. Ecological Hierarchical Classification
Biosphere
Biome
Ecosystem
Community
Population
Individual
Gene

3. Underlying Assumptions
1. Communities frequently recur in different areas with similar abiotic and temporal conditions. Where one group of species is found, others are likely to occur in the same region.
However,
2. The community itself is hard to define. Differences among associations are inevitable and mixing at the edge certain.

4. Calystegia spithamaea (L.) Pursh; endangered in Massachusetts
Why Study Communities?
Calystegia spithamaea (L.) Pursh; endangered in Massachusetts
Rare species are hard to find: knowing the types of habitat in which they live is the best place to start. We will be using a Geographic Information System approach to the study: map the habitats in the field and overlay with range/observation data.
The study of communities is critical to the study of wildlife and conservation biology as these are frequently the management units
Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program
      “Last of the Least; Best of the Rest”

5. “Last of the Least; Best of the Rest”
MNHESP’s Approach
“Last of the Least; Best of the Rest”

6. Theories of Community: Is the concept of a community defensible?
Field verification of similar populations in areas characterized by similar abiotic and temporal factors
Theories of Community (IA vs. co-evolutionary)

7. Review of Critical Evolutionary Concepts
Specialist v. Generalist – introduce question
Adaptations and Evolutionary Trade-offs
Most important selective pressures in understanding community ecology
Moisture
Shade
Disturbance

8. Population Responses to Varying Conditions
Range of Tolerance
Changes in abundance

9. Vegetation Indices and Community Metrics
Presence Absence
Density/Relative Density
Dominance/Relative Dominance

10. Definition of a community is difficult
Patterns of Distribution
Biotic
Abiotic
Temporal
Critical importance of sampling

14. Communities of Groton

15. Classification Systems
Based on structure and composition of the vegetation
Soils, geology, disturbance and moisture serve to refine and validate the classification
Multiple systems
Hierarchical System of Classification

16. Frequency of Selective Pressures
Consistent or episodic

17. Succession and Adaptations to Disturbance

18. Aquatic Succession
US National Park Service

19. Adaptations to Moisture

20. Other Selective Pressures
Herbivory
Pollination and other Mutualisms
Competition

22. Vernal Pools - Critical