Date | May 2018 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 18M.3.SL.TZ1.13 |
Level | Standard level | Paper | Paper 3 | Time zone | Time zone 1 |
Command term | Distinguish | Question number | 13 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Distinguish between fundamental niche and realized niche.
Outline the impact of competition on the niche of an organism.
Outline the characteristics of keystone species in an ecosystem.
Markscheme
fundamental is the potential (niche) and realized is the actual (niche)
OWTTE.
a. competition can limit the niche
b. competition can limit resources
c. when competition is removed the niche can expand
d. can result in exclusion or removal of a species from a niche / only one species can occupy a niche
a. keystone species has a strong/disproportionate effect on a community/food web/ecosystem
b. absence of keystone species would completely alter the ecosystem