1 / 7

Adaptive Strategies in Changing Ecosystems: Niche Dynamics and Survival

This article explores how populations evolve and adapt in response to changing environmental conditions. It delves into ecological niches, fundamental versus realized niches, and the characteristics of generalist and specialist species. The discussion also encompasses the factors influencing extinction risk, such as geographical distribution, genetic variation, and reproductive rate. By comparing the traits of pandas and mice, it poses the question of which species are more likely to survive in rapidly changing environments.

lita
Download Presentation

Adaptive Strategies in Changing Ecosystems: Niche Dynamics and Survival

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Biodiversity & Evolution • Populations evolve by becoming genetically different • Differentiation due to mutations • Natural selection

  2. Ecological Niches • An ecological niche is a species’ way of life in an ecosystem – everything that affects its survival and reproduction. • Includes: • Population members adaptations • Its range of tolerance for abiotic conditions • Its interactions with other components of the ecosystem • Its role in energy flow and matter recycling

  3. Niche • Fundamental Niche – Full potential range of conditions and resources the species could potentially use. • Realized Niche – Is the part of the potential niche that is utilized by and allows the species to survive and avoid competition with other species for the same resources.

  4. Generalist Species • Broad ecological roles • Broad range • Eat a variety of foods • Tolerate wide range of abiotic factors • Survivability in a changing environment good

  5. Specialist Species • Live in very specific environments (endemic) • May have very specific foods • Specialists normally have few competitiors in constant, unchanging environment • More prone to extinction in changing environmental conditions

  6. Extinction • Endemic species are more susceptible to extinction. • 4 Key Variables • Geographical Distribution • Speciation to a given habitat or food • Genetic variation of gene pool • Reproductive Rate

  7. Panda Narrow distribution Small population Low genetic variation Large size Small # of offspring Limited migration Mouse Wide distribution Large population High genetic variation Small size Large # of offspring High migration Which Species Will Survive in a Rapidly Changing Environment?

More Related