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Define and describe community ecology. Give an example.

a) Community ecology is the study of individuals in a population. Example: analyzing a herd of elephants.
b) Community ecology focuses on the interactions among different species in a particular habitat. Example: a coral reef ecosystem.
c) Community ecology studies the behavior of animals in groups. Example: observing a wolf pack.
d) Community ecology examines the genetics of a population. Example: studying the DNA of a bird species.

User JB Nizet
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Final answer:

Community ecology focuses on the interactions among different species in a particular habitat. Example: a coral reef ecosystem.

It differs from population ecology, which focuses solely on the dynamics of single-species populations within an ecosystem.

Hence, option B is correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

Community ecology is a field of biology that deals with the study of the processes and consequences of interactions within and among different species in a given area. This branch of ecology explores how species interact with each other, including behaviors such as cooperation, competition, predation, parasitism, and mutualism.

One example of community ecology is the study of a coral reef ecosystem, where researchers might examine the relationships between fishes, corals, algae, and other organisms that coexist and rely on each other for survival. This could include looking at how these species compete for resources, the predator-prey dynamics, and the overall impact these interactions have on the reef's health and biodiversity.

In contrast, population ecology focuses on the dynamics of species populations within an ecosystem, including the size, density, and structure of populations over time. It involves investigating issues like the causes behind the increase or decrease in a population, such as the study of the drop in antelope population due to human activities or environmental changes.

Thus option b. is correct answer.

User Brette
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