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ECOL111: Species Interactions Questions with Answers
(100% Correct Answers)
Interspecific competition Answer: process by which individuals of one
species suffer reductions in fecundity, survivorship or growth as a
result of the presence of actives of a second species
Exploitation competition Answer: indirect competition through shared
resources, e.g. one species over exploring a resource effecting the
resources availability for other species relying on it.
Interference competition Answer: direct competition involving one
species actively preventing access to resources, or inhibiting
growth/survival of another species.
Functional responses to interspecific competition Answer: when
competition is introduced its expected that there will be a change in
one or both species behavior, in efforts to lessen the effects of
competition.
Numerical responses to interspecific competition Answer: competitors
are expected to have a population increase over time (until carrying
capacity is reached), further evidence of competition from the
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introduction of both species is there should be a lower equilibrium
density with multiple species.
Lotka-Volterra equation Answer: calculates the rates of growth for two
competing species
Competitive exclusion Answer: Occurs when a superior competitor
causes the extinction of a weaker competitor, although this is rare
because competitive advantage depends on conditions, environment
stability, and niche adjustments.
Competitive non-exclusion Answer: Often occurs when the
environment is regularly disturbed resulting in area not being
colonized by superior competitors, therefore there is a gap for weaker
competitor to temporarily occupy.
Mechanisms that favor Coexistence Answer: environmental
heterogeneity, aggregated distributions, resource partitioning.
Competition effect on Evolution Answer: As competition reduces an
competitors fitness evolution will favor organisms that largely avoid
these effects, therefore organisms with niche that avoid competition
become dominant in a species.
© 2025 All rights reserved
ECOL111: Species Interactions Questions with Answers
(100% Correct Answers)
Interspecific competition Answer: process by which individuals of one
species suffer reductions in fecundity, survivorship or growth as a
result of the presence of actives of a second species
Exploitation competition Answer: indirect competition through shared
resources, e.g. one species over exploring a resource effecting the
resources availability for other species relying on it.
Interference competition Answer: direct competition involving one
species actively preventing access to resources, or inhibiting
growth/survival of another species.
Functional responses to interspecific competition Answer: when
competition is introduced its expected that there will be a change in
one or both species behavior, in efforts to lessen the effects of
competition.
Numerical responses to interspecific competition Answer: competitors
are expected to have a population increase over time (until carrying
capacity is reached), further evidence of competition from the
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2
introduction of both species is there should be a lower equilibrium
density with multiple species.
Lotka-Volterra equation Answer: calculates the rates of growth for two
competing species
Competitive exclusion Answer: Occurs when a superior competitor
causes the extinction of a weaker competitor, although this is rare
because competitive advantage depends on conditions, environment
stability, and niche adjustments.
Competitive non-exclusion Answer: Often occurs when the
environment is regularly disturbed resulting in area not being
colonized by superior competitors, therefore there is a gap for weaker
competitor to temporarily occupy.
Mechanisms that favor Coexistence Answer: environmental
heterogeneity, aggregated distributions, resource partitioning.
Competition effect on Evolution Answer: As competition reduces an
competitors fitness evolution will favor organisms that largely avoid
these effects, therefore organisms with niche that avoid competition
become dominant in a species.
© 2025 All rights reserved
