Two species of sea urchins live practically side by side on sandy bottoms. The two species appear to have the same diet: drift seaweeds and other bits of organic matter. They are able to live in the same environment with minimal competition. How might they be able to share their habitat and food
To determine: The way in which two species of sea urchins might be able to share their habitat and food resources.
Introduction: Coexistence of ecologically similar species may be defined as the act of cohabitation between similar species due to the difference in their use of potentially limiting resources such as food and water.
Explanation of Solution
Sea urchins are the marine creatures that inhabit the oceans all over the world. They can live in a variety of environments such as on rock pools, muds, coral reefs, and sea grass beds. Along with these, they can also lodge themselves half way into the surface of the sand, holes, or muds.
Coexistence of ecologically similar sea urchins might be possible when the competition between them reduces due to the reasons as follows:
- Being active at different times of the day.
- Feeding at different times of the day.
- Feeding at different levels in the sand. From the two species, one species may pick up the organic material slightly deeper in the sand than the other. This may cause slight differences in their feeding manner or food resource, which may help in the coexistence of sea urchins in the same habitat.
- Feeding at different areas. From the two species, one species may migrate to the rocky bottoms at night to graze on a different type of food.
- Differential ability to digest the organic material and/or the drift algae.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 10 Solutions
Marine Biology (Botany, Zoology, Ecology and Evolution)
- Two species of sea urchins live practically side by side on sandy bottoms. The two species appear to have the same diet: drift seaweedsand other bits of organic matter. They are able to live in the sameenvironment with minimal competition. How might they be able toshare their habitat and food resources?arrow_forwardAccording to the diagram below, which of the following animals are detritivores?arrow_forwardA group of golden lion tamarins were released into their natural habitat but most did not survive. The researchers found most were very underweight, presumably due to a lack of food availability. Using the information provided above, What is a possible solution to this human impact problem before releasing more tamarins into this habitat?arrow_forward
- Crown-of-thorns starfish (often abbreviated as COTS; Acanthaster planci) is one of the largest sea stars in the world. It is also well known as a voracious predator of corals. Sudden outbreaks or swarms of this one species can rapidly consume an entire coral reef. Use internet resources to investigate recent research articles on the topic of crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks on coral reefs. Where do these outbreaks occur? What impacts do they have on near-shore ecosystems? What causes these outbreaks? What management practices, if any, could be employed in response to COTS outbreaks? Site your sourcesarrow_forwardMuro-ami is a fishing method where the fishes are driven out of a coral reef by pounding the corals with a heavy weight, or simply by breaking the corals. Then the fishes are guided into the nearby fishnets. - Is Muro-ami illegal? Why?- Cite at least two ways by which the different sectors of the society can help in the protection and conservation of fishes.arrow_forwardBased on the text on roaches eating: 1. Identify abiotic factors that support the survival and reproduction of roaches and explain why they need this factors 2. Identify biotic factors that support the survival and reproduction of the roaches and explain why they need this factors 3. Predict what factors in the environment can be altered to decrease the survival and reproduction of roaches and why? PLEASE ANSWER ALL QUESTION BASED ON THE TEXTarrow_forward
- Why is shark finning used in shark fin soup can lead to the destruction of the coral reef system?arrow_forward1)The video discusses some of the factors that allowed lionfish to expand throughout the Atlantic region. Which of the following reasons were given for why the lionfish population has been able to expand so rapidly? choose all that apply a)Lionfish out-compete native fish for food b)Atlantic predatory fish don't eat lionfish c)Lionfish are able to breed more frequently than native fish d)The Atlantic region has fewer parasites that attack lionfish e)None of thesearrow_forwarda) List two animals which feed primarily on fluids b) List one animal that relies on symbiotic algae for nutrition c) List one animal that is a piscivore for most of its dietarrow_forward
- When one species is better at obtaining and holding space than another, it is competitively dominant. Based on the diagram which non-mobile (sessile) species is the dominant competitor in the intertidal? Which is second? Rank the six non-mobile species from (1) most to (6) least competitively dominant. Below are the competitive arrows from the slides (recall that sessile consumers are superior competitors over the algal species). gooseneck barnacle mussel acorn barnacle coral weed black pine Primary Producers nori seaweed 1= strongest competitor and 6= weakest competitor common coral weed [ Choose ] nori seaweed [ Choose ] black pine algae [ Choose ] mussels [ Choose ] acorn barnacles [ Choose ] gooseneck barnacles [ Choose ] > > > >arrow_forwardA species of barnacle may be able to exploit a large volume of habitat but due to competition from other species this barnacle is confined to a smaller area within the larger volume. This area where the barnacle is acutally found is its __________. A) working space B) crevice C) fundamental niche D) realized niche E) potential nichearrow_forwardIn not more than 200 words or 5 sentences, explain why or why not shark finning used in shark fin soup can induce the destruction of the coral reef ecosystem.arrow_forward
- Biology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305389892Author:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage Learning