Question

For the following A-C choose the best answer:

A) A new species of fruit-eating bat enters a community. In order for the new bat species to coexist the other species of fruit-eating bat, both species specialize on eating different types of fruit even though other fruits can be eaten by them. In this example of niche differentiation, the niche breadth of both species _______, and the type of niche that changed was their _____.

Group of answer choices

increased; fundamental niche

decreased; realized niche

decreased; fundamental niche

increased; realized niche

B) Select ALL the species interactions where at least one of the species is harmed (negative effect).

Group of answer choices

competition

parasitism

commensalism

predation

mutualism

c) Select ALL the species interactions where at least one of the species benefits (positive effect).

Group of answer choices

amensalism

neutral

parasitism

competition

mutualism

Answer 1

A) As we know niche can be simply defined as the place of one where it dwells. Mainly there are two types of niche. The Fundamental niche represents the total area where an organism could dwell and realized niche is the actual area where it could dwell without competition from others.

Here according to the query, in this example of niche differentiation, the niche breadth of both species decreased, and the type of niche that changed was their realized niche.

This option can be selected because here a new species of fruit-eating bat enters a community of other fruit-eating bats. So here it is given that for the new bat species to coexist with the other species of fruit-eating bat, both species specialize on eating different types of fruit even though other fruits can be eaten by them. This indicates that the already fundamental niche of the earlier bat that dwelled there is now reduced to a realized niche by the arrival of a new bat. Thus the niche breadth of both species decreased. That is both species of bat have their realized niche in the earlier fundamental niche area.

B and C) Species interactions in nature are diverse. It can beneficiary or harmful to either species.

• Parasitism- It is the species interaction where the parasite has an advantage over the host. While parasite gets free food and protection from the host, the host gets depleted of its nourishment by the haustoria of the parasite. Here one of the species is harmed (negative effect).
• Competiton- Here both species compete out for vital resources for growth and survival. But they could not sustain without enough food for both of them. Here both of the species are harmed (negative effect).
• Predation- Here the predator preys upon the prey species. It is beneficial for predators and harmful to prey.
• Commensalism- The species interaction where one species get benefited and the other has no benefit or harm.
• Amensalism- The species interaction where one species get harmed and the other has no benefit or harm.
• Neutral- Here both partners have no benefit or harm.
• Mutualism - Here both have the benefit of each other.

Thus the species interactions where at least one of the species is harmed (negative effect)​​ includes parasitism, competition, predation, amensalism.

Thus the species interactions where at least one of the species benefits (positive effect) includes parasitism, predation, commensalism, mutualism.