Question

1. Some plants produce chemicals that retard the germination and growth of other species surrounding it. This is an example of:

a. direct competition.

b. germ warfare

c. commensalism

d. interference competition.

2. In the tropical forests of New Guinea there are four different species of pigeon that rely on the same particular fruit tree as their sole food source. The type of species interaction among these pigeon species is most likely:

a. mutualism

b. predator-prey

c. intraspecific competition

d. direct competition

e. indirect competition

3. Two species of flour beetles were grown together in an experiment. Under hot wet conditions, each species can thrive if grown separately. However, beetle species B will die out under those conditions if it is grown in the same flour bin as species A. This example illustrates:

A .resource partitioning

b. character displacement

c. none of the above.

d. competitive exclusion

e. alpha interference

Answer 1

1. Interference competition.

In interference competition, plants compete directly by interfering with the foraging, survival and reproduction of surrounding plants. In here, one plant produces chemicals which interfere with germination and growth of other plants.So, it is interference competion.

Direct competition is the one in which plants compete directly for food and resources. It is divided into two: Interference competition and exploitive competition.

Germ warfare is the use of germs as weapons in wars.

Commensalism is an association in which one plant benefits but other plants does not benefit and is not harmed also.

2. Direct competition.

Four species are competing for the same resource, and  they may  need to directly attack or involve with each other if the fruits are low on that perticular tree. so it is direct competition.

Mutualism is in which all species are benefitted. But it is not here as one species gets the fruit, the other won't be getting it.

predator-prey relation is in which one species eats other species.

Intraspecific competition is in which members of same species compete with each other.

In indirect competition, the species consume same resources but they don't interact directly by fighting for the resource

3. Competitive exclusion

Competitive exclusion is the dying out of one species if it is placed in a habitat with another species with same need for same resources.

Resource partitioning divides resources to avoid competition and would have made both beetle survive.

Character displacement is the showing of differences among species when they co-occur. or their distribution is overlapped.

Alpha interference is a type of interference where one tries to dominate the other.