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Roles of Species in Ecosystems

Roles of Species in Ecosystems. There are 4 types of species: (1) Native (endemic) (2) Invasive (immigrant, exotic) (3) Indicator (4) Keystone. Native : . Species that normally live and thrive in a particular ecosystem (e.g. white tailed deer). Invasive :.

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Roles of Species in Ecosystems

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  1. Roles of Species in Ecosystems

  2. There are 4 types of species: (1) Native (endemic) (2) Invasive (immigrant, exotic) (3) Indicator (4) Keystone

  3. Native: • Species that normally live and thrive in a particular ecosystem (e.g. white tailed deer)

  4. Invasive: • Species that migrate or are introduced to an ecosystem either naturally or by humans (eg. Opossum, zebra mussels)

  5. Zebra Mussel Video: http://archives.cbc.ca/science_technology/natural_science/clips/3525/

  6. The Round Goby Purpleloose strife Emerald Ash Borer

  7. Indicator: • Provide signs of environmental problems in ecosystems (eg. Amphibians, Rainbow Trout) ie. Low population of species means ecosystem problems

  8. Keystone: • A species so important that balance of the entire ecosystem depends on it (eg. Wolves) - basically any top predator

  9. Ecological Niche • The role a species plays in the ecosystem • What it consumes or produces • What consumes it • When it feeds • When it reproduces • Where it lives (eg. tree, burrow)

  10. Specialist • Species that have a narrow niche • May only feed in one type of habitat or eat only one type of food

  11. Generalist • Broad niche and can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions eg. Raccoon, coyote

  12. Interactions Between Species There are 5 major types of species interactions: • Interspecific competition – when species compete for the same resources • no 2 species can occupy the same niche Competitive exclusion principle – one of the competing species must migrate, shift feeding habits or behaviour or suffer a sharp decrease in population or go extinct

  13. (2) Predation • One organism eating another organism

  14. (3) Parasitism • A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits (parasite) and one organism is harmed Symbiosis  relationship between 2 organisms of different species

  15. (4) Mutualism • Both species benefit from the relationship

  16. (5) Commensalism • One species benefits and the other species is not harmed or benefited

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