Question

Analyzing interspecific competition

A hypothetical bat species (species 1) lives in a city. Another hypothetical bat species (species 2) established a population in the same city after a number of individuals escaped from a zoo. In isolation, each species prefers to roost in buildings that are three or more stories tall.

After species 2 became established in the city, species 1 began roosting only in buildings less than three stories tall, whereas species 2 roosted in buildings three or more stories tall. Observers determined that the bright streetlights at ground level had previously deterred most bats from roosting in shorter buildings. Over many generations of existing in the same city with species 2, species 1 showed changes in eye size and retina structure.

Complete the following statements about the two bat species.

Drag the terms on the left to the appropriate blanks on the right to complete the sentences. Not all terms will be used.

intraspecific competition

interspecific competition

resource partitioning

character displacement

realized niche

competitive exclusion

-/-

fundamental niche

1. Roosting areas in buildings of any height are the (????) of species 1.

2. (????) between the two bat species occurs because both species prefer the same roosting areas.

3. In parts of the city with only tall buildings (over two stories), (????) of species 1 may occur.

4. Roosting areas in buildings that are one to two stories tall are the (????) of species 1 when species 2 is present.

5. The change in the roosting habits of species 1 after species 2 became established in the city is an example of (????) .

6. The competition between the species for roosting areas is an example of a (????) interaction.

7. The changes in the eyes of species 1 are examples of (????) .