Given the information provided in the previous question (copied below), which of the following accurately described the niche occupied by Ewok trees?

Ewok trees and Jubjub trees live in close proximity along the side of a mountain with strong temperature gradients. Both species can live only in mountainous terrain and have nearly identical nutrient and water requirements. Ewok trees live slightly lower on the mountain where temperatures are higher on average than the higher elevations occupied by Jubjub trees where it is slightly cooler. Scientists removed all Jubjub trees from an area where the two species co-existed and after several years, Ewok trees colonized almost the entire area previously occupied by the Jubjub trees.

Question

Given the information provided in the previous question (copied below), which of the following accurately described the niche occupied by Ewok trees?

Ewok trees and Jubjub trees live in close proximity along the side of a mountain with strong temperature gradients. Both species can live only in mountainous terrain and have nearly identical nutrient and water requirements. Ewok trees live slightly lower on the mountain where temperatures are higher on average than the higher elevations occupied by Jubjub trees where it is slightly cooler. Scientists removed all Jubjub trees from an area where the two species co-existed and after several years, Ewok trees colonized almost the entire area previously occupied by the Jubjub trees.

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question restatement: Given the prior scenario about Ewok trees and Jubjub trees, identify which description accurately reflects the niche occupancy of Ewok trees when both species coexist along a mountain with temperature gradients.

Option 1: The realized niche of Ewok trees is smaller than its fundamental niche in the presence of Jubjub trees.
- This matches the classic ecological concept where a species’ fundamental niche represents the full range of abiotic conditions under which it can survive and reproduce, while the realized niche is the subset actually occupied due to biotic interactions like competition. In the provided scenario, Ewok trees could potentially occupy more of the mountain (their fundamental niche) but Jubjub trees compete for similar resources and habitat, limiting Ewok trees to a smaller portion (their realized niche). The observation that Ewok trees colonized almost the entire area previously occupied by Jubjub trees after Jubjub removal supports the idea that competition constrained Ewok trees’ realized niche.

Option 2: The fundamental niche of Ewok trees is smaller than its realized niche in the presence of Jubjub trees.
- This is inconsistent with the definitions. The fundamental niche is the full potential range of conditions and resources a species could use in the absence of competitors. The presence of Jubjub trees would more likely reduce, not expand, the realized niche. Therefore this statement mischaracterizes the relationship between fundamental and realized niches in a competitive context.

Option 3: The realized and fundamental niches of Ewok trees are the same in the presence of Jubjub trees.
- If the realized and fundamental niches were the same, that would imply no limiting biotic factors like competition affecting the species’ range. The given evidence shows that, when Jubjub trees are removed, Ewok trees colonize more area, indicating competition was constraining their realized niche. Hence, this option ignores the competitive interaction demonstrated in the scenario.

Option 4: We don’t have adequate information to determine the effects of Jubjub trees on the niche occupied by Ewok trees.
- The prior description provides a direct observation: Ewok trees colonized the area previously occupied by Jubjub trees after their removal, implying a competitive effect on the Ewok trees’ realized niche. This information is sufficient to assess the impact of Jubjub trees on Ewok trees’ niche, making this option inaccurate.

In summary, the reasoning hinges on distinguishing fundamental versus realized niches and recognizing competition as a limiting factor. The scenario demonstrates that the presence of Jubjub trees restricts the area Ewok trees can occupy, while removing Jubjub trees allows Ewok trees to expand, which is consistent with Option 1 and inconsistent with Options 2, 3, and 4.

BIOLOGY 1114.01 SP2025 (17927) 1114 Lecture Final exam- Requires Respondus LockDown Browser

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