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1.Define and distinguish between a functional response and a numerical response.

ID: 96464 • Letter: 1

Question

1.Define and distinguish between a functional response and a numerical response.

2.What is an ‘isocline’? Draw and identify prey and predator isoclines on a phase diagram of prey and predator population size for the basic Lotka-Volterra predation model (i.e., NOT competition). Identify the joint equilibrium. Any nudge of the populations will produce stable limit cycles. For each such a situation, show using thin arrows for the change in each species numbers on each side of their isoclines. Use fat arrows to show the joint movement of predator and prey numbers.

3.Please draw out, label, and explain Type I, II, and III functional responses of predators.

Explanation / Answer

1.

a) Definition

The numerical response in ecology is the change in predator density as a function of change in prey density.Functional response in ecology is the change in predator's rate of prey consumption with change in prey density.

b) Difference

Functional response Numerical response change in predators rate of consumption as a function of prey density change in predator density as a function of change in prey density As density of prey increases, predators take more of the prey As density of prey increases, predators become more numerous