1. Unit 2 - Ecology Shaping Communities

2. Niche : an organism’s way of life and everything they interact with. With what organisms do you share a niche? With what organisms do you not share a niche? How far away is your niche?

3. Shaping Communities Fundamental niche: everywhere an organism has the ability to live. Realized niche : where the organism actually lives. What happens when competing animals have overlapping niches?

4. Shaping Communities NO TWO SPECIES THAT ARE SIMILAR CAN COEXIST!! If their needs are too similar, they compete. Competitive exclusion says that the one that compete better will win.

5. Shaping Communities Ecosystem Resiliency : An ecosystem will last longer if there are interactions amongst the organisms. Example, mussels outcompete clams, but starfish eat clams, and make room for mussels.

6. Shaping Communities Predation IS interaction, SO THIS IS GOOD!! Keystone species: one species that is absolutely critical to the survival of an ecosystem One community has 50 species, and another has 100 species…which community will be more likely to survive a flood? The one with 100 species

7. Shaping Communities Explain how predation can make an ecosystem resilient. Predation increases interaction between organisms, which will serve to increase adaptations of predator and prey. All adaptations are favorable to an ecosystem Two predators feed on a small antelope. One has a mass of 100kg, and the other a mass of 35kg. What would happen if these two share the same niche? The larger would force the smaller out of the niche, unless the smaller one adapts