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ECOL111 - Species Interaction Questions and
Answers (100% Correct Answers) Already
Graded A+
22. What are the two mechanisms by which interspecific competition
can occur? Ans: Exploitative competition - passive and indirect
competition through shared use of resources
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Interference competition - direct competition with one species actively
inhibiting success/ survival of another species
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22. What is the difference between functional and numerical responses?
Ans: Functional response - a change in resource utilisation and
physiology or behaviour of one species due to the presence of another
Numerical response - decrease in the number of individuals/ biomass of
a species in the presence of another (stronger evidence for competition)
22. When does competitive exclusion occur? Ans: When a superior
species eliminates another species from an environment over time/
generations
22. When does coexistence occur? Ans: When competition is weaker
i.e. through environmental heterogeneity, aggregated distributions and
resource partitioning with functional responses
22. How does competition cause evolution of species? Ans: Natural
select favours adaptations that minimise niche overlap and avoid
reductions in fitness due to competition i.e. Brooke sticklebacks evolved
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specialised planktonic diet in lakes with benthic Ninespine sticklebacks
to reduce competition with modified narrowed feeding niche
22. What is niche complementarity? Ans: The use of specific niche
ranges and gaps by species to allow coexistence and habitation of the
entire niche i.e. Buttercups with soil dryness and aeration preferences
22. What is interspecific competition? Ans: The process by which
individuals of one species suffer reductions in fecundity, survivorship or
growth as a result of the presence or activities of a second species
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22. What is plasticity? Ans: The ability of an organism to adapt and cope
in response to changes in it's environment usually physiologically or
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behaviourally
22. How does functional responses affect the realised niche of Voles?
(Case study) Ans: Realised niche is smaller than potential niche as Voles
change use of niche moving to grasslands from forested areas in order
to reduce competition and overlap in resource use with Shrews
22. How does numerical responses affect species? Ans: Lowers carry
capacity and equilibrium density of one or both species i.e. Balanus and
Chthamalus Barnacles
22. The Lotka-Volterra equation for two competing species Ans: dN1/dt
= r1N1 (K1[N1 + a12*N2]/K1)
22. Why is competitive exclusion rare in nature (i.e. Blue muscles
displacing seaweed)? Ans: - Competitive advantage may be
depending on conditions
1
ECOL111 - Species Interaction Questions and
Answers (100% Correct Answers) Already
Graded A+
22. What are the two mechanisms by which interspecific competition
can occur? Ans: Exploitative competition - passive and indirect
competition through shared use of resources
© 2026 Assignment Expert
Interference competition - direct competition with one species actively
inhibiting success/ survival of another species
Guru01 - Stuvia
22. What is the difference between functional and numerical responses?
Ans: Functional response - a change in resource utilisation and
physiology or behaviour of one species due to the presence of another
Numerical response - decrease in the number of individuals/ biomass of
a species in the presence of another (stronger evidence for competition)
22. When does competitive exclusion occur? Ans: When a superior
species eliminates another species from an environment over time/
generations
22. When does coexistence occur? Ans: When competition is weaker
i.e. through environmental heterogeneity, aggregated distributions and
resource partitioning with functional responses
22. How does competition cause evolution of species? Ans: Natural
select favours adaptations that minimise niche overlap and avoid
reductions in fitness due to competition i.e. Brooke sticklebacks evolved
, For Expert help and assignment handling,
2
specialised planktonic diet in lakes with benthic Ninespine sticklebacks
to reduce competition with modified narrowed feeding niche
22. What is niche complementarity? Ans: The use of specific niche
ranges and gaps by species to allow coexistence and habitation of the
entire niche i.e. Buttercups with soil dryness and aeration preferences
22. What is interspecific competition? Ans: The process by which
individuals of one species suffer reductions in fecundity, survivorship or
growth as a result of the presence or activities of a second species
© 2026 Assignment Expert
22. What is plasticity? Ans: The ability of an organism to adapt and cope
in response to changes in it's environment usually physiologically or
Guru01 - Stuvia
behaviourally
22. How does functional responses affect the realised niche of Voles?
(Case study) Ans: Realised niche is smaller than potential niche as Voles
change use of niche moving to grasslands from forested areas in order
to reduce competition and overlap in resource use with Shrews
22. How does numerical responses affect species? Ans: Lowers carry
capacity and equilibrium density of one or both species i.e. Balanus and
Chthamalus Barnacles
22. The Lotka-Volterra equation for two competing species Ans: dN1/dt
= r1N1 (K1[N1 + a12*N2]/K1)
22. Why is competitive exclusion rare in nature (i.e. Blue muscles
displacing seaweed)? Ans: - Competitive advantage may be
depending on conditions
