Match the correct term from the famous studies on barnacle competitive interactions between two species.
1: When the barnacle Chthamalus lives only in the upper intertidal zone. ____
2: When the barnacle Chthamalus lives in both the upper and middle intertidal zones. ____

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Question: Match the correct term from the famous studies on barnacle competitive interactions between two species.
1: When the barnacle Chthamalus lives only in the upper intertidal zone. ____
2: When the barnacle Chthamalus lives in both the upper and middle intertidal zones. ____

Option 1 analysis: 'When the barnacle Chthamalus lives only in the upper intertidal zone.' This situation reflects the actual distribution of Chthamalus in the presence of competition from Balanus, where its observed range is narrower than its potential range. That narrowed, observed distribution is what ecologists call the realized niche, not the full potential range. A frequent misconception is to equate observed range with potential capability, so it’s useful to emphasize that realized niche is the portion actually occupied due to biotic interactions.

Option 2 analysis: 'When the barnacle Chthamalus lives in both the upper and middle intertidal zones.' Here the barnacle is occupying a broader set of habitats, including the upper and middle zones, which corresponds to its potential or theoretical range in the absence of constraining interactions. This broader concept is what ecologists term the fundamental niche, representing the full range of environmental conditions under which the species could exist.

Why the distinctions matter: The contrast between realized and fundamental niches hinges on biotic factors like competition. In this case, the presence of a competitor in the middle intertidal reduces the actual distribution to the upper intertidal, illustrating a realized niche. Meanwhile, the fundamental niche would include both zones if there were no competitive constraints. Understanding this helps prevent conflating observed distribution with ecological potential.

BIO 181 (001&002) FALL 2025 FA25: Exam 2: Ecology - You got this! : )

Match the correct term from the famous studies on barnacle competitive interactions between two species. 1: When the barnacle Chthamalus lives only in the upper intertidal zone. 2: When the barnacle Chthamalus lives in both the upper and middle intertidal zones.

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