chapter+5+questions

1. Sea otters are probably the most important species in there ecosytem. They keep the populations level with a variety of fish. Without the sea otter there would overpopulation and competition would be to much for most to handle. Species would die out quickly.

2. interspecific competition- occurs when members of two or more species interact to gain access to the sam limited resourcessuch as food, light, or space. predation- occurs when a member of one species feeds directly on all or part of a member od another species. paratism- occurs when one organnism feeds on the body of another organism. Usually by living on the host. Mutualism- is an interaction that bebefits both species by proving each with food, shelter, or in the host. Communslaism- is an interaction that benefits one species but has little effect on the other.

3. both sides become more competitiveor can help to aviod or reproducecompetition. When resources are slim and there is nothing to liveoff of, animals compete to survive.

4. species competing for the same resources evolve specialized traits that allow them to use shared resources at different times. The owls hunts at night, the fox hunts during the day.

5. population dynamics-study of how these characteristics of populations change in response to changes in the environment.

6.age stucture- the proportions of individuals at various ages. capacity growth, intinsice rate at which populations grow

7. r selected species- small offspring and little to no parenral care. k selected species reproduce later in life and have fairly long lifespans

8. We have moved into there habitat and we are competing with them for space. We pretty much feed them with all the crops that we grow and they are able to reproduce up to two offspring at a time. We can hunt them more often to keep the population under control.

9. the given change in speicies composition in a given area is called ecological succesion.Primary involves the gradual establishment of biotic communities in lifeless areas where there is no soil. Secondary is a series of ecosystems with different species develop in places containing soil.

10. The sea otter is what makes the biome work. Without this key important factor the ecosytem would not fuction properly and things would be different and creatures would have to adapt to the change or die out.