1. Community Ecology
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2.  Adaptation= genetic trait that improves an
organism’s chance at survival and
reproduction
 Nota real
adaptation 
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3.  Twobutterfly species – one tastes bad and the
other doesn’t (but looks like it does)
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4.  Darwin’s Galapagos Island Finches
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5.  Iffemales prefer large elaborate tails, then
those are the males that pass their genes on
 get bigger and more elaborate with each
generation
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7.  Species that are best adapted to their
environment have a better chance at survival
and reproduction
 “environment” includes habitat, climate,
presence of predators or competitors,
availability of resources, natural disasters
 These factors can change
 Species that do not adapt do not survive
 DIVERSITY is required for adaptation!
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8.  Peppered moth
example
 It’simportant
to remember
that no moth
changed its
colour
 The number of moths of each colour changed
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9.  Niche = an organisms role in an ecosystem
 Examples: top predator, pollinator, decomposer,
mussel consumer, cave dweller, etc.
 Iftwo species occupy the same niche AND
resources are limited  COMPETITION
 Limits the size and health of an individual
and/or population
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10.  Luongo’s niche? Goalie
 His competition? Schneider (same niche)
 If Luongo’s playing well, Luongo plays more.
If Schneider doesn’t perform well, Luongo
plays more.
 How well the
Sedins play has
no effect on how
much ice time
Luongo gets
(DIFFERENT NICHE)
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11.  What effect would each of the following have
on the competition level for Luongo?
 If the canucks were allowed 5 backup goalies
 competition would increase (more individuals
occupying same niche)
 Ifthe canucks were allowed to play two goalies
at once
 competition would decrease (more resources = less
competition)
 Ifthe canucks were only allowed to dress one
goalie instead of two
 competition would increase (fewer resources = more
competition)
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12.  Foreign species (Introduced species) =
species that are not native to an ecosystem
 Invasive species = species which harms its
new ecosystem
 How? It out-competes native species
 Have an advantage because they have no
predators/consumers
 Humans cause introduction of species to new
ecosystems worldwide
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13.  Process
by which plants in an ecosystem
change gradually over time
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14.  PRIMARY – ecosystem begins as bare
rock (no soil)
 First settlers (pioneer species)
create soil
 Eventually climax community
including all types/sizes of plants
and consumers
Pioneer species
growing in lava rock
 SECONDARY – same as primary but
soil is already present
 Occurs after events such as forest
fires
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