Papers & Case Studies
Name the interaction: An ant species that sterilizes the host plant species but defends the host from predators.
Parasitism
Define:
Interactions between members of the same species
Interactions between members of different species
Intraspecific interactions
Interspecific interactions
Mutualism, competition, and predation are terms used to define __________ that happen between individuals belonging to two different species.
Interspecific interactions
Define and give an example of an ectoparasite.
An organism that infects the superficial layers of the skin.
Flea; tick
Explain the intermediate disturbance hypothesis.
If the host sees long-term positive impacts from a parasite, should that parasite still be considered a "freeloader"? (Palmer et al. 2010)
No, the long-term positive impacts outweighs the short-term negative impacts.
Mechanical/physical defenses that reduce the predator's ability to capture, attack, or handle the prey
What example was given in class?
Structural defenses
Crypsis (camouflage)
Name the following interactions: 1) An interaction between two species resulting in a positive/positive fitness effect of two individuals. 2) An interaction between two species resulting in a positive/negative fitness effect of two individuals. 3) An interaction between two species resulting in a negative/negative fitness effect of two individuals.
Mutualism, predation, competition
Define emerging infectious diseases. How might an EID reemerge?
A new disease or a formerly common disease that declined becomes common again.
A mutation allows the pathogen to jump to a new host species
What is the difference between trophic levels and guilds?
Trophic levels = based on how energy is acquired
Guilds = functional groups based on resource use
What did Rulli et al. conclude about the interaction between forest fragmentation, population density, and Ebola virus prevalence?
Higher population densities and closer proximities to forest fragments led to higher rates of human infection to Ebola virus.
What is aposematism?
A strategy in which distastefulness evolves in association with very conspicuous colors and patterns.
Niche partitioning
**DAILY DOUBLE**
Ebola virus can be spread by bats to humans and animals without becoming infected itself. In this instance, the bat can be considered both a ______ species and a _____ of disease transmission.
reservoir; vector
Why did Clements and Gleason have different views on community structure? What were these two different views?
Clements thought communities were interdependent in that species depend on each other to exist.
Gleason thought communities were independent in that species do not depend on each other to exist.
Mutualists and parasites are found interacting on the same host species. The mutualist has a short-term positive benefit while the parasite has a long-term negative impact. What do you predict the long-term fitness impact is on the host? Without the mutualist? Does it matter that mutualists and parasites are cohabitating?
The long-term fitness impact is negative due to the parasite species, regardless of the mutualist species being present. Thus, it does not matter than the mutualists are cohabitating with the parasite.
What is the differences between Batesian and Mullerian mimicry?
Give an example of each.
Batesian = Deceptive signal; harmless
Mullerian = Honest signal; dangerous
Batesian = King snake (harmless) mimicking coral snake (dangerous)
Mullerian = Yellow jacket and Cuckoo bee both mimic each other (both dangerous)
What is the difference between interference, exploitative, and apparent competition?
Interference = an individual directly alters the resource-attaining behavior of the other individuals (harm the other in the process)
Exploitative = individuals interact indirectly as they compete for common resources (territory, prey, food)
Apparent = Two individuals that do not directly compete for the same resources affect each other indirectly by being prey for the same predator
What is the purpose of parasitism and how is parasitism and disease different?
The goal of parasitism is to 1) complete their lifecycle and 2) increase their population (increased fitness).
Parasitism is an organism that lives on or within the host while disease is a result of infection by a pathogen which may have been spread by the parasite.
Name two roles of a keystone species.
Name two consequences of removing a keystone species.
Roles:
1) Create/modify habitat
2) Influence interactions among other species
Consequences:
1) Changes in community structure
2) Loss of biodiversity
**DAILY DOUBLE**
With your group, draw a concept map on the board connecting 1) Ebola virus, 2) Humans, 3) Wildlife, and 4) Forests
INCLUDE the mechanisms describing these connections WITHIN 90 seconds.
Mechanisms: Spill over event, Edge effect, Resource provisioning, Forest fragmentation
Humans connected to Ebola via spillover event
Ebola connected to wildlife via edge effect
Wildlife connect to forests via resource provisioning
Humans connected to forests via forest fragmentation.
You are an ecologist surveying aquatic snake species and have noticed a reduction in snake swimming speed. Around this same time, a species of toad was introduced into the system. However, after decades of monitoring the reduction in snake swimming speed has decreased. Why might this be? Defend your answer.
The toad species has a toxin lethal to most snake predators indicating the initial reduction of snake swimming speed. However, due to coevolution, surviving snake species were selected for after counter-adapting to this prey defense.
Microbes utilize carbon and nitrogen in the soil to persist at various soil depths. However, carbon concentrations decrease as soil depth decreases, becoming a limiting factor. This is an example of ____________.
Liebig's law of the minimum
What is the evolutionary advantage of brood parasitism?
1) Describe brood parasitism
2) Give an example of a species which is a brood parasite.
3) Name one advantage of brood parasitism for the parasite species.
4) Name one disadvantage for the host species.
1) Animals that rely on others to raise their young
2) Brown-headed cowbird; Cuckoos (common; Himalayan; African; Indian)
3) Less energy investment in offspring and more investment in producing eggs
4) Nest failure; decrease in fecundity
Draw the trophic cascade between fish and plant reproduction including both positive and negative direct and indirect effects.
Fish direct negative impact on nymph, causing an indirect negative impact on adult dragonflies. Dragonflies have a direct negative effect on bees which have a direct positive effect on plant reproduction. Thus, dragonflies have an indirect negative effect on plant reproduction.
Because fish indirectly negatively impact dragonflies, fish indirectly positively impact both bees and thus plant reproduction.