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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A paper which looks in detail at the bimodal distribution of species resulting from competitive displacement, and also explains the importance of keynote species in ecological/ environmental management. Bibliography lists 15 sources.
Page Count:
9 pages (~225 words per page)
File: JL5_JLbimod.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
in relation to regulator and resource gradients, it is perhaps useful to consider briefly the importance of competitive displacement with regard to the stability of ecosystems and the maintenance of
species richness. Even if hybridisation is possible, in a bimodal distribution two species can be distinguished by factors such as morphology, genetics, and ecology and this distribution is maintained so
long as intermediate hybrids are less fit that the primary species. Extrinsic selection for bimodal distribution, which is related to environment, comes about as a result of competition for available
shared resources. As Gross (2003) points out, competition theory
states that perfect competitors cannot co-exist: one or the other will take precedence and if this does not occur, then the two are not competing for exactly the same resources.
Competitive displacement comes about when different utilisations of resources develop, or the competitive abilities of the respective species changes. Legner (2003) notes that the assumption that for competitive displacement to
take place, resources must be in short supply, is not necessarily borne out according to studies by DeBach (1963) and Dobzhansky, both of whom noted that natural selection would still
occur even if resources were not limited. However, other regulatory factors such as temperature, humidity, food quality and so on may be significant in the displacement process even in a
habitat where resources are plentiful. Bothwell (2003) cites
Beckermans (2000) study of the distribution of two grasshopper species with respect to a gradient of shared and unshared food resources. One species was a generalist feeding on two types
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