Biology Forums - Study Force

Connell’s results led him to conclude that Chthamalus’ realized niche is smaller than its fundamental niche because of interspecific competition with Balanus. But what if competitive exclusion were not the explanation? What if Chthamalus’ and Balanus’ respective niches were a result of niche differentiation instead? Niche differentiation occurs when two species with overlapping niches change over time in a way that reduces their niche overlap, and thus reduces their competition for resources.
The rock below represents step 3 of Connell’s experimental procedure (see Part A) after he removed Balanus from one half of each transplanted rock.

Predict how the outcome of Connell’s experiment would be different in this hypothetical scenario in which niche differentiation -- not competitive exclusion -- is the reason for Chthamalus’ limited niche.

Drag the images of the left half of the rock (white) and right half of the rock (blue) to indicate which barnacle species (if any) would be present at the end of the summer if niche differentiation had occurred between Chthamalus and Balanus.

Two points to mention without giving it away:

Ecologically similar species can coexist in a community if there are one or more significant difference in their niche. As a result of competition a species’ fundamental niche may be different from its realized niche.

See the diagram.

Sweet!

Thanks!

Glucose is generally phagostimulatory (stimulates eating) for animals. The observation that cockroach populations exposed to poison + glucose bait began to refuse to eat glucose brings up the question of whether this aversion behavior is learned or whether it originated as a genetic mutation that became more common in the population over generations.
To answer this question, you can make use of some simple genetic crosses to look for predicted inheritance patterns. Only genetic traits, rather than learned behaviors, would be expected to show the predicted patterns. First, you need to find two populations of pure-breeding cockroaches:
one population that has been exposed to poison + glucose bait and exhibits the glucose-aversion behavior
one population that has not been exposed to poison + glucose bait and does not refuse to eat glucose (wild-type)
Next you perform a hybrid cross in which you mate together members from each of the two populations to create F1 offspring.
Drag the labels to complete each prediction so that it supports its hypothesis. Labels may be used once, more than once, or not at all.

Thank you so much!

Thank You very much :idea:

GRACIAS señor :nerd:

A)  Balanus Only
B)  no barnacles

Thank you

thanks :)

noice!!