1. Community Ecology

2. 1. Niche The organism’s role in the environment
What it eats and is eaten by
How it finds shelter
How it raises its young
Reproductive strategy

3. Generalists Broad niche Tolerate a wide range of conditions
Can adapt to a changing environment
Example: Opossum

5. Specialists
Very narrow niche, environmental change may cause extinction.
EX: Koala – only eats one type of plant (eucalyptus)

6. 2. Competitive Exclusion Principle
No two species occupy the same niche at the same time. One would out compete the other: it would survive, the other would die

7. 3. Resource Partitioning
Species share the resource Ex: different bird species eat insects from different parts of the same tree.

8. 4. Predation Predator adaptations: Sharp teeth Claws Speed strength
Prey adaptations:
Camouflage
Speed
Plants may have toxins

9. 5. Symbiosis-Two organisms survive as one
Mutualism- both benefit
Commensalism-one benefits, one is not affected
Parasitism- one benefits, one is harmed