a) What do ecologists mean by the term scramble competition? b) Give one example of a factor, other than light, which may be a source of competition among plants. c) Give one example of a factor, other than food, which may be a source of competition among animals. d) Caterpillars have mouth parts that are suitable for chewing on leaves, whereas the adult form, the butterfly, has long sucking mouth parts. Suggest how having different types of mouth parts reduces competition between the adults and the young of such species. e) Answer the following questions in relation to a quantitative survey of a species of small herbaceous plant. (i) Name the method that you would employ. (ii) How would you ensure that your sampling was random? (iii) Name one edaphic factor that could affect the distribution of this plant in the ecosystem.

Leaving Cert Biology Ecology & Ecosystems: a) What do ecologists mean by th

a) What do ecologists mean by the term scramble competition? b) Give one example of a factor, other than light, which may be a source of competition among plants - Leaving Cert Biology - Question 2 - 2015

Question 2

a) What do ecologists mean by the term scramble competition? b) Give one example of a factor, other than light, which may be a source of competition among plants.... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:a) What do ecologists mean by the term scramble competition? b) Give one example of a factor, other than light, which may be a source of competition among plants - Leaving Cert Biology - Question 2 - 2015

Step 1

What do ecologists mean by the term scramble competition?

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Answer

Scramble competition occurs when all individuals in a population compete for a limited resource, where each competitor is trying to obtain as much of that resource as possible. In this type of competition, resources such as food, water, or space are distributed among the competing individuals, leading to a situation where the availability of the resource decreases as more individuals compete for it.

Step 2

Give one example of a factor, other than light, which may be a source of competition among plants.

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Answer

Water is an example of a factor that can lead to competition among plants. In environments where water is scarce, plants may struggle to access sufficient moisture, leading to competition for this vital resource.

Step 3

Give one example of a factor, other than food, which may be a source of competition among animals.

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Shelter or territory can be a significant source of competition among animals. For instance, animals may compete for nesting sites or den locations to protect themselves from predators and harsh weather conditions.

Step 4

Suggest how having different types of mouth parts reduces competition between the adults and the young of such species.

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Having different types of mouth parts allows caterpillars and butterflies to exploit different food resources. Caterpillars may feed on leaves, while adult butterflies primarily consume nectar from flowers. This niche differentiation minimizes competition by enabling adults and young to occupy different ecological roles and utilize varied food sources.

Step 5

Name the method that you would employ.

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Answer

I would employ a frequency or cover survey method to quantify the abundance and distribution of the species.

Step 6

How would you ensure that your sampling was random?

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To ensure random sampling, I would throw a sampling object over my shoulder to determine a starting point and use random numbers matched to a grid to select sample locations.

Step 7

Name one edaphic factor that could affect the distribution of this plant in the ecosystem.

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Answer

One edaphic factor that could affect the distribution of the plant is soil pH. Variations in soil pH can influence nutrient availability, which in turn affects plant growth and distribution.

a) What do ecologists mean by the term scramble competition? b) Give one example of a factor, other than light, which may be a source of competition among plants - Leaving Cert Biology - Question 2 - 2015

Worked Solution & Example Answer:a) What do ecologists mean by the term scramble competition? b) Give one example of a factor, other than light, which may be a source of competition among plants - Leaving Cert Biology - Question 2 - 2015

What do ecologists mean by the term scramble competition?

Give one example of a factor, other than light, which may be a source of competition among plants.

Give one example of a factor, other than food, which may be a source of competition among animals.

Suggest how having different types of mouth parts reduces competition between the adults and the young of such species.

Name the method that you would employ.

How would you ensure that your sampling was random?

Name one edaphic factor that could affect the distribution of this plant in the ecosystem.

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