Community Ecology

Physical Structure:

Stratification terrestrial and aquatic fig. 20.3; 20.4

Horizontal Sturcture: microhabitats, gradients, ecotones

Biological Structure

Dominance

Keystone species/Keystone Predator

Species Diversity: Richness nad Eveness

Taxonomic Distinctness

Trophic Structure:

Food chains or food webs?

Trophic cascades and the Paradox of Enrichment

Temporal Changes

Succession: primary, secondary

Fig. 21.4; 21.8

Cyclic replacement

Shifting mosaic fig. 21.15

Degradative Succession:

Dung, Decomposition

Paleosuccession and Species diversity Fig. 21.27

Community assembly:

Integrated vs Invidualistic Fig. 22.1

Effect of disturbance

Fig. 22.18 within a patch and as a mosaic

Fragmentation and Edge effects Fig 23.5

Tropical rain forest fragments

Edge species Fig. 23.7

Islands: Species area curves- fig. 23.8

Island Biogeography Theory: immigration/dispersal Fig 23.9, 23.10

Assumes math; no difference in behavior, no evolution,

Introductions, Galapagos finches, Cichlids

Area sensitivity Fig. 23.14; Fig 23.15

Edge as a function of area: Fig. 23.16

Buffers: gradients into preserves/waterways

Migration, dispersal routes, corridor concept

birds in tropics, Costa Rica, US corridor program

How big: small preserves useful for many plants, as stop overs for migrants: Prairie plots in graveyards, hwy medians, railroads