The document discusses how species distributions and community structures are affected by various ecological factors. It explains that each species plays a unique role in a community due to its habitat requirements and interactions. Species interactions within communities can be classified and include things like competition and symbiotic relationships. The distribution of species is limited by various abiotic and biotic factors, and keystone species in particular can strongly influence community structure. Data analysis can illustrate the differences between fundamental and realized niches.

1. C.1 Species and Communities
Option C: Ecology and
conservation

2. Understandings Applications/Skills
 The distribution of species is
affected by limiting factors.
 Community structure can be
strongly affected by
keystone species.
 Each species plays a
unique roll within a
community because of the
unique combinations of its
special habitat and
interactions with other
species.
 Interactions between
species in a community can
be classified according to
their effect.
 Two species cannot survive
indefinitely in the same
habitat if their niches are
 A: Distribution of one animal
and one plant species to
illuminate limits of tolerance
and zones of stress.
 A: Local examples to
illustrate the range of ways
in which species can interact
within a community.
 A: The symbiotic relationship
between zooxanthellae and
reef building coral reef
species.
 S: Analysis of data that
illustrates the distinction
between fundamental and
realized niche.
 S: Use of a transect to
correlate the distribution of

3. Outline the factors that affect the
distribution of plant species

4. Outline the factors that affect the
distribution of animal species

5. Keystone Species
 May or may
not be
abundant
 Exhibits
control over
structure of
the
community
 Removal has
severe
impacts on
biodiversity in
the area

6. Explain the niche concept

7. Species interactions

8. Species interactions

9. Species interactions

10. Species interactions

11. Species interactions

12. Species interactions

13. Fundamental and Realised Niches

14. Gause’s experiments

15. Principle of Competitive Exclusion

16. Line transects

17. Line transects

18. Homework
Vocab Other
 Abiotic, biotic,
Shelford’s law of
tolerance, Keystone
species, niche, spatial
habitat, competition,
principle of
competitive exclusion,
fundamental niche,
realized niche,
transect
 Challenge Yourself 5-
8, pgs 650-651
 Exercises 1-3, pg 652
 Describe the
distribution of one
animal and one plant
species. Explains how
this would relate to
their limits of
tolerance and zones
of stress.