Of Species Interactions Flashcards

The concept of an 'ecological trap' occurs when:

Answer: A habitat cue attracts organisms to poor-quality environments

An ecological trap arises when environmental cues mislead organisms into preferring low-quality or dangerous habitats.

Batesian mimicry is best defined as:

Answer: A harmless species mimicking a dangerous or unpalatable species

In Batesian mimicry, a palatable mimic gains protection by resembling an unpalatable or dangerous model species.

Which outcome is predicted by the competitive exclusion principle?

Answer: Two species competing for identical resources cannot coexist indefinitely

Gause's competitive exclusion principle states that two species occupying identical niches cannot coexist; one will be excluded.

A parasitoid differs from a true parasite primarily because the parasitoid:

Answer: Eventually kills the host as part of its life cycle

Parasitoids ultimately kill their hosts (typically insects) as they complete development, unlike true parasites that usually keep hosts alive.

The 'enemy release hypothesis' proposes that invasive species succeed because they:

Answer: Leave behind their natural predators, parasites, and pathogens

Enemy release hypothesis argues that invasive species thrive partly because their coevolved natural enemies are absent in the new range.

Which interaction type is most likely to increase both species' population sizes simultaneously?

Answer: Mutualism

Mutualism benefits both partners (+/+), so populations of both species can grow or stabilize as a result of the interaction.

In the Lotka-Volterra predator–prey model, what happens to prey population size when the predator population reaches its maximum?

Answer: Prey population is declining most rapidly

When predator numbers peak, prey are being consumed at the highest rate, so the prey population is declining most steeply.