v

What is the main predator of sea urchins that we discussed and how does that species eat them?

6 ­ Biotic Interactions

Biotic Factors (cont.) 

III) Biotic Interaction limit Distributions (Other species) 

1. Predation 

         2. Parasitism/Disease 

         3. Competition 

1. Predation 

         a. Example ­ Mussels Lough Ine, Ireland 

b. To explain distributions ­ transplant experiments 

c. Herbivory form predation (urchins on algae marine systems)           Sea urchins are at the bottom. And mussels  

What would happen if the red fox became extinct?

d. Herbivory also important tropical reefs 

e. Predation from exotics can reduce range native spp. ­ result extinction            Mnaipulation exeperiment ( remove preadtor) 

Australia small kangroos affected when red foxes are removed. 4­Criteria consider before conclude predation mechanism 

                     i. prey survive when transplanted when exclude predators                      ii. inverse correlation prey & predator (Algae vs Urchins)                      iii. predator able to kill prey in field and lab                      iv. prey shown to kill prey in transplant exp. to predator habitatWe also discuss several other topics like What will happen to the reaction rate if the concentration of a is halved?

Prey abundance can also influence distribution of predator 

Can prey influence distribution of a predator?

Can prey influence distribution of a predator? 

                     ­Predator has to very specialized (seen in insects,) We also discuss several other topics like What did weeks v united states establish?

                     ­Specialist predator = monophagous 

                     ­Many insect predators specialists – vertebrate not 

                     ­Although specific plant­insect interaction 

                     ­No clear evidence of positive correlation distribution plant­animal 

2. Disease and Parasitism. 

         a. Pathogens may eliminate species 

         b. Example: 

                     i. Chestnut blight ­ Fungus introduced Asia w/ nursery stock 

                     ii. Labyrinthula­ Seagrass wasting disease (slime mold; fungal                                                          pathogen) 

                     iii. Hawaiian bird extinctions & retreat to highlands If you want to learn more check out What are the four major components of the central nervous system?
If you want to learn more check out What are autonomies and when were they established?
If you want to learn more check out What is the meaning of a single sample t-test
If you want to learn more check out What is the meaning of compartmentalization?

3. Competition 

         a. Exploitation (Resource) 

                     i. Plants ­ Light, water, nutrients, pollinators 

         b. Interference 

                     i. Allelopathy  ­ chemical defenses­toxic secretions plants & animals 

ii. Direct competition ­  physical battles space, food, nest sites, mates etc. 

         c. Difficult to determine if distribution is a result of competition (>factors) 

                     Checkerboard patterns tend to arrive from competition (fruit pigeons)

         d. Competition minimized for niche­overlap by diversification through natural selection Green 1 Chemical