Question !!?

[prateeiik]

Heres the question

Q- Resource and food availability in a habitat determines the strength of competion between individuals. One such example of competition which is very severe and decides the speciation also is--
1) Between lion and lion
2) " lion and zebra
3) " lion and leopard
4) " lion and grass


Awaiting replies and please give a proper explanation , the answer is 1) but i didnt understand!

[AstusAleator]

Well, first of all you can narrow down your answers by asking yourself, "Does A compete with B?" For example, does a lion compete with grass?
After you've narrowed it down, then ask yourself, "Does severe competition between A and B lead to speciation?"


To explain the question a little better: When resources and food are scarce, competition becomes more severe. Just imagine all the animals jostling each other to get a drink at the only tiny waterhole for miles. Or better yet, imagine two predators squaring off over the corpse of one of the last prey in the area.
Now the question is asking you to pick an option that best illustrates an example of severe competition that drives speciation. Speciation is the process through which population subgroups become isolated, and through changes in their genes, eventually become new species or subspecies.
Think of the population and social structure of the two kinds of cats addressed. Which of the two types of competition listed would most likely cause a segment of a population to be isolated from another? (think Lion King)

[prateeiik]

Ok i got it! Thanks for the approach, that was really helpful!!

[prateeiik]

I have 2 questions to ask

1. Among red algae, brown algae and green algae which one will be found in the deepest part of the sea?? and why?

2. Why is it that herbivores are more affected by competition as compared to carnivores?

[AstusAleator]

1. This has to do with the wavelengths that the respective photosynthetic pigments operate on. Ask yourself which visible-light wavelength would penetrate the deepest into the ocean. You can probably immediately rule out one of them, because it is a more common color seen reflecting from the top few feet of water. Then figure out which of those algae would use that color (wavelength) in their photosynthesis.

2. Are they? It might have something to do with the tendencies of herbivores to become specialists rather than generalists, narrowing their niches and making themselves more susceptible. If you find a textbook answer to this question, I'd like to see it.