Chapter 28

Chapter 28 - Community Interactions

Coevolution - This site offers a detailed definition and discussion of coevolution.

Theoretical Ecology Information Outlet: Simulation Server - The Populus software, which is available for free on the Web, is an excellent tool for illustrating quantitative concepts in a non-threatening way.

Biological Control - Photographs and descriptions of major biological control (or biocontrol) agents of major insect, disease, and weed pests in North America are provided in this Cornell University Web site. This site serves as a tutorial on the concept and practice of biological control and integrated pest management (IPM).

Symbiosis - This site breaks symbiosis into four types, with examples of each.

How Keystone Species Work, and What Happens When They're Missing - This site provides an explanation of the keystone species concept and its effect on community composition and diversity. It uses John Terborgh’s studies on the effect of large cats on the species diversity of bird populations in tropical forests in Panama and Peru. For instance, in the absence of the larger carnivores on Barro Colorado Island (Panama), the increase in mid-sized predators reduced the diversity of ground-nesting birds on the island.

Ecological Succession, Mount St. Helens - Using photographs, this Web site describes the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. By following the "Plants and Animals" link, you can see the ecological community before and after the blast and the rebuilding of the community through succession.

Fire Ecology and Management - The program of fire ecology management on the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) lands is presented here. With excellent photographs, the site describes this ecosystem and the important role that fire plays in maintaining it.

Forest Patterns and Processes - This Web site offers a detailed description of forest succession, including the necessary roles played by soil, water, nutrients, and microorganisms in forest development.

Tour of the Flynn Bogs System - Produced by the Herbarium in the Department of Biology at Texas A&M University, this Web site gives a tour of the various bog, alder thicket, pond, and upland communities near Flynn, Texas. This site is well illustrated with photographs of the many plants that make up these communities. It has been recognized as an Education Index Top Site.

University of Central Florida Arboretum On-Line Tour - This Web site gives a tour of the University of Central Florida Arboretum. Included are detailed descriptions of both plants and animals found in the pine flatwoods ecosystem characteristic of central Florida. The "Fire Ecology" link describes the important role of fire in maintaining the diversity of this ecosystem.

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This page was last updated on: February 12, 2006