Chapter 4: Biological Interactions and the Distribution of Life

Thursday, January 24

Allelopathy

Creosote

Black Walnut

Competitive Exclusion Principle

Limiting Factors in Distribution

• It states that growth is controlled not by the total of resources available, but by the scarcest resource.

• Only by increasing the amount of the limiting nutrient (the one most scarce in relation to "need") was the growth of a plant improved.

Limiting Factors

• 1) Solar Radiation– Quality, Intensity, and Duration

• 2) Temperature• 3) Moisture• 4) Wind• 5) Soil Chemistry• 6) Carbon Dioxide• 7) Biotic Factors

Patterns of Distribution

• Cosmopolitan Distribution

Plantago major

• Continuous, but limited distribution– Pantropical distribution – Palmae – Circumboreal distribution – Picea spp.– Circumpolar distribution – Tansy mustard

Patterns of Distribution

• Endemic Distribution

Patterns of Distribution

• Disjunct Distribution – Nyssa spp.

Patterns of Distribution

Symbiosis

• Symbiosis – the close association between 2 species that is obligatory for the survival of one or both species.

• Types of symbiosis:– Mutualism– Commensalism– Parasitism

Mimicry

• Mimicry – form of biological interaction in which one species evolves the appearance or behavior of another species

• Batesian mimicry – one species that is not poisonous or unpalatable has the same coloring or shape as a species that is

Batesian mimicry

Flower flyWasp