Competition and Exotics
Zoo 511 2007
In ecology, the interaction between two or more organisms, or groups of organisms, that use a common
resource in short supply. There can be competition between members of the same species and
competition between members of different species. Competition invariably results in a reduction in the
numbers of one or both competitors, and in evolution contributes both to the decline of certain species
and to the evolution of adaptations.
What are the 5 types of species interactions? What must happen in order for competition to occur?
What’s the difference between a fundamental and realized niche?
What are the two broad types of competition, and the three specific competitive interactions?
Represent exploitative competition with a figure and describe what’s happening.
In the coral reef video, what behavior represented interference competition, which behavior
represented exploitative competition?
In the classic Werner and Hall experiments, which centrachid species do you think was the best
competitor?
What body part(s) might you look at on coregonids (whitefish/cisco) to determine if they eat different
foods?
Competition and Exotics
Zoo 511 2007
Exotic species
What are the four most common ways exotic species invade?
What are three factors that help exotics invade?
What group of fish is Matt most worried about for the future of native Wisconsin fish?
Why?
What do they eat?
How will they get into Wisconsin waters?
What might stop them?
What native Wisconsin species do they compete with and is it interference, exploitative, or apparent
competition?
What is a less obvious native Wisconsin species they compete with and is it interference, exploitative, or
apparent competition?