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- summary questions and answers
1. What is an ‘ecological niche’?
The range of environmental parameters in which an organism lives
2. Describe the ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ in the following interactions: commensalism,
predation and mutualism.
Commensalism = One individual benefits, while the other experiences neither a
positive or negative effect.
Predation = One individual benefits (the predator) while the other individual (the
prey) does not!
Mutualism = Both individuals benefit from the relationship; e.g. the cleaner wrasse
picking off parasites from a reef fish.
3. The distribution and abundance of populations of species within a community are
determined by a number of factors. Name four.
Any four from: Dispersal of larvae & adults to appropriate habitats; Inter-specific
competition; Grazing and predation; Parasitism and disease; Disturbance (physical
and biological); Facilitation and succession
4. What are the depth classifications within the water column of an ocean?
Epipelagic (0-200m), mesopelagic (200-1000m), bathypelagic (1000-4000m),
hadalpelagic (4000-6000m).
5. What does it mean if a species’ geographic range is described as having an abundant
centre?
It means that it is most common in the centre of its geographic range.
6. What level of marine ecology are you studying if you are examining competition for
space between two or more species?
You are studying community ecology
7. What is the difference between an infaunal and epifaunal organism?
Both are considered to be benthic organisms (living on or within the seabed). Infaunal
organisms burrow within the substrate whereas epifaunal organisms live on top of the
sediment or substrate.
8. What is a cryptic species?
One that cannot be distinguished from its closest living relative (called a sister species)
based on morphological evidence alone (e.g. colour, size, other morphological features).
Genetics must be used to distinguish between cryptic species.
9. What is macroecology?
The relationship between organisms and their environment at large spatial scales (i.e.
what causes biogeographic patterns of distribution).
10. Describe the latitudinal gradient of biodiversity
Biodiversity is lowest at high latitudes (poles) and highest at low latitudes (equator).
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