What Is Resource Partitioning Definition and Examples

Resource partitioning is the division of limited resources by species to help avoid competition in an ecological niche. In any environment, organisms compete for limited resources, so organisms and different species have to find ways to coexist with one another. By examining how and why resources are allocated in a particular niche, scientists can better understand the complex ecological interactions between and in species. Common examples of resource partitioning include the Anole lizards and a number of bird species. Key Takeaways The division of resources by species to help avoid competition in an ecological niche is called resource partitioning.Intraspecific competition denotes competition for resources by individuals of the same species.Interspecific competition is the competition for resources by individuals of different species.By studying resource partitioning, scientists can understand how the addition or removal of a species may impact the overall usage of resources in a given habitat or niche. Resource Partitioning Definition The original concept of resource partitioning refers to the evolutionary adaptations in species as a response to the evolutionary pressure from interspecific competition. The more common basic biological usage is based on the different uses of resources by species in a particular niche and not on the specific evolutionary origin of such differences. This article explores the latter convention. When organisms compete for limited resources, there are two primary types of competition: intraspecific and interspecific. As the prefixes denote, intraspecific competition refers to competition for limited resources by individual organisms of the same species, while interspecific competition refers to the competition for limited resources by individuals of different species. When species compete for the exact same resources, one species typically has the advantage over another, even if only slightly so. The complete competition maxim states that complete competitors cannot coexist. The species with the advantage will persist in the long term. The weaker species will either become extinct or will transition to occupying a different ecological niche. Habitat Partitioning Examples One way that species can partition resources is by living in different areas of a habitat versus their competitors. One common example is the distribution of lizards in the Caribbean islands. The lizards mostly eat the same types of food—insects. However, they can live in different microhabitats within the context of their larger habitat. For example, some lizards can live on the forest floor while others may live higher up in the habitat in trees. This differentiation and partitioning of resources based on their physical location allows the different species to coexist more effectively with one another. Food Partitioning Examples Additionally, species can more effectively coexist based on food partitioning. For example, among species of lemur monkeys, food may be discriminated by the chemical characteristics of the food. Food partitioning based on plant chemistry can play an important role. This allows different species to coexist while eating similar yet chemically different foods. Similarly, species may have an affinity for different parts of the same food. For example, one species may prefer a different part of the plant than another species, allowing them to effectively coexist. Some species may prefer the leaves of the plant while others prefer the plant stems. Species can also partition food based on other characteristics such as different activity patterns. One species may consume most of their food during a certain time of day while another may be more active at night. Long-Term Effects of Resource Partitioning By partitioning out resources, species can have long-term coexistence with one another in the same habitat. This allows both species to survive and thrive rather than one species causing the other to go extinct, as in the case of complete competition. The combination of intraspecific and interspecific competition is important in relation to species. When different species occupy slightly different niches in relation to resources, the limiting factor for population size becomes more about intraspecific competition than interspecific competition. Similarly, humans can have profound effects on ecosystems, particularly in causing species to go extinct. The study of resource partitioning by scientists can help us understand how the removal of a species may impact the overall allocation and usage of resources both in a particular niche and in the broader environment. Sources Walter, G H. â€Å"What Is Resource Partitioning?† Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 21 May 1991, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1890851.Ganzhorn, Jà ¶rg U. â€Å"Food Partitioning among Malagasy Primates.† SpringerLink, Springer, link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00376949.

Teaching And Mentoring Experience For Undergraduate Students

Teaching and Mentoring Experience Teaching has been a fundamental component of my academic training. I have been actively involved in teaching, tutoring, and mentoring high school and undergraduate research students throughout my doctoral and postdoctoral work at the City University of New York (CUNY). I taught General Chemistry (I II) laboratory courses and recitation sections at CUNY for four years. I volunteered as a physical chemistry tutor for undergraduate students from CUNY. At St. John s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, my teaching assignment included a General Chemistry Laboratory course that also involved a synergistic approach to conducting several laboratory sessions guided simultaneously by two instructors. Along with Dr. Ruth Stark and her graduate students at City College, I designed a curriculum for a biophysics foundation course (â€Å"Touring the tomato: A suite of chemistry laboratory experiments†) geared for undergraduate and high school students seeking research experience through CUNY’s College Now program. The eight-module course introduces a panel of analytical techniques for studying the structural properties of biopolymers obtained from an inexpensive source such as the tomato fruit at increasingly detailed molecular levels. In its final phase, students design independent research projects related to structural investigations of various biomaterials obtained from fruits and vegetables. We tested our new curriculum by giving a summerShow MoreRelatedBucknell University Personal Statement996 Words   |  4 Pagesno: 493839). Currently, I am an Assistant Clinical Professor and Research Educator in the Designing Innovations (DI) Research Stream in the First-Ye ar Innovation and Research Experience (FIRE) at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD). I have had various teaching and mentoring experiences with undergraduate students since 2013. I am currently leading the DI Research Stream which provides a unique opportunity to mentor and teach engineering design and design research to freshmen and sophomoresRead MoreResearch1168 Words   |  5 PagesMy research themes and scholarly interests focus on interdisciplinary science education for both undergraduate science majors and non-science majors. I plan to look into the design and development of new functional materials1,2 that could go beyond the conventional molecular dimensions2 and include bioinspired assemblies, supramolecular architectures, and nanoscale materials. Molecular assembly,2 a key feature of natural â€Å"active† materials, appears to be important for the chemical origins of lifeRead MoreScholarly Interest Essay1084 Words   |  5 Pageson the building blocks of life: Nanoscale materials for investigating biologically inspired and environmentally importa nt systems. Objectives: My research themes and scholarly interests center on interdisciplinary science education for both undergraduate science majors and non-science majors. I plan to look into the design and development of new functional materials1,2 that could go beyond the conventional molecular dimensions2 and include bioinspired assemblies, supramolecular architectures,Read MoreThe Entering Mentoring Program828 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Formal mentoring programs are ubiquitous on college campuses and yet there is a lack of high quality training for mentoring participants online. The Entering Mentoring training is a notable exception (more here). However, this training is in person. More here about lack of inclusive mentoring / cultural intelligence. This paper reviews the development efforts for two online training modules that reflect cultural intelligence and an online delivery format. Both training programs drewRead MoreNannomaterials1034 Words   |  5 PagesMy scholarly research interests center on interdisciplinary science education for both undergraduate science majors and non-science majors. Molecular assembly is a key feature of natural and engineered supramolecular materials. Highly selective biomolecular recognition can guide the formation of â€Å"smart† bioinspired materials,1 playing fundamental roles in the development of novel supramolecular designs, bio-conjugated hybrid nanostructures, and self-assembled soft matter with potential use in mechanicalRead MoreStatement of Teaching Philosophy, and My Experience Teaching Chemistry in India1063 Words   |  5 PagesStatement of Teaching Philosophy â€Å"A teacher can never truly teach unless he is still learning himself. A lamp can never light another lamp unless it continues to burn its own flame. The teacher who has come to the end of his subject, who has no living traffic with his knowledge but merely repeats his lesson to his students, can only load their minds, he cannot quicken them.† †¦ Rabindranath Tagore (Nobel prize in literature in 1913) This is my favorite quotation because it express what, I thinkRead MoreStudent Application Essay1742 Words   |  7 Pagespostdoctoral work, I came to appreciate three things about science education: (1) better educational experience occurs in a small group; (2) it is easiest to learn science by doing science; (3) skills gained through science education are important for success in all kinds of careers. These experiences and realizations led me to a career at a small liberal arts school where teaching, research, and mentoring are all highly valued. Throughout my careers, I have initiated and led teams of as many as threeRead MoreWhat Is The Importance Of Teaching Courses At The Rice University?1290 Words   |  6 Pagescourses at undergraduate and graduate levels. The large variety of audiences, ranging from undergraduate juniors, professional masters, first-year graduate students, and advanced graduate students majored in nuclear and particle physics, required me to develop different teaching objectives and approaches. I have received strong positive feedback from the students. I am mentoring a highly productive research group consisting of postdoc fellows, graduate students, and undergraduate students. PostdocRead MoreEssay Application Letter For Application890 Words   |  4 Pagesinterdisciplinary and team-oriented applied biophysical chemist, I have pursued a cross-functional career in scientific research, teaching, mentoring. My interdisciplinary academic training has prepared me to teach and mentor students at various levels and conduct my own original research with education specialties. I directly mentored several high school and undergraduate research students from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds, helped them design their research projects, and found ways to integrateRead MoreThe Student Center For Science Engagement1535 Words   |  7 PagesThe Student Center for Science Engagement (SCSE) at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU), a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), was established in 2008 with the mission to support students majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics STEM disciplines with the challenges they face in their academic and ca reer development. Mentoring relationships, critical components of the SCSE’s influence, are fostered by the SCSE’s advisors, mostly Ph.D.-level minority scientists. Accessibility

A Discussion About Animals Free Essays

There are lots of zoos all over the world. A zoo can be described as the collection of various animal species found in nature. People can know about animals by visiting zoos. We will write a custom essay sample on A Discussion About Animals or any similar topic only for you Order Now Whether animals should be kept in zoos or not,different people have different ideas. Some people are in favor of keeping animals in zoos. However,others argue that keeping animals in zoos ignores animal rights. This essay will discuss the pros and cons of keeping animals in zoos. The main advantage of keeping animals in zoos is that they get saved from dangers of predators. By keeping animals in zoos ensures their safety. At the same time,animals would be kept away from disease if they were in zoos. Moreover,animals in zoos are provided with proper diet. In jungle life,sometimes many animals have difficulty finding foods. In zoos,zoo keepers supply animals with food at a certain time. The animals would have an increased life span because there are no predators and they will never starve for food. In addition,there are many interesting facilities in the zoo. Animals can use them for fun. Furthermore,keeping animals in zoos is convenient for entertainment of human beings. Zoos provide a way for people to take a closer look at animals and see how they behave. People visit zoos not only for entertainment but also for educational purposes. Many schools visit zoos to know more about endangered species and the way to conserve them. However,there are also some disadvantages of keeping animals in the zoo. Firstly,it can’t be denied that some zoos misuse and violate the animal rights. The workers in some zoos treat animals in a cruel manner. Secondly,animals are kept in zoos for a long time ,they may lose their instinct ability to survive in the natural environment. Animals are equal to human beings. Nobody can suffer from depriving of liberty. In conclusion,we have no right to keep animals in zoos. In my opinion,it is wrong to keep animals in zoos. We should respect animal rights. Animals can survive in the natural environment by themselves. If human beings want to know more about animals,they can read books and search information on the Internet or watch TV instead of visiting zoos. Keeping animals in zoos is not the only way to conserve endangered species. We humans can do much more things to protect animals. How to cite A Discussion About Animals, Papers