10. Resource-Ratio Competition Models
What will you learn in this lecture:
- Understand the mathematics and general processes underlying competition models based upon the supply ratios for limiting resources.
- Understand the conditions which lead to species exclusion and coexistence.
Enrolled students of fall 2025 should watch this lecture before October 14.
What questions should you be able to answer now?
What principle of enzyme kinetics underlies Tilman's model?
- What are the different potential outcomes of the model based on different properties of the competing organisms and different starting conditions?
- Why is it difficult to use this model to generate accurate predictions in the real world?
This is the last lecture to be included in the first examination. The second examination will cover lectures 11-22.
The first examination will be held in the week of October 21. If you are Masaryk University student enrolled in this course we highly recommend you to go through the example tests provided below. If you are not, you can use them to test your knowledge.
Be aware, that some of the example tests provided below were given in courses with more lectures so some of the questions were not covered by this course. The questions marked in yellow were not covered during the lectures. Feel free to ask for clarifications.
Please note, that the exam is structured a bit more differently than is common for exams at Czech universities. The goal of most of the questions is not to test whether you remember the facts, but whether you truly understand the topic. Therefore you will be asked for your opinions or explanations. Sometimes even "wrong" answer can be "right", if you are able to justify it. So please, if you are unable to answer some of the questions, do not hesitate to ask about them at the Q&A session during the weekly meeting.
Useful links and materials:
Chapter 10 in: Krebs, Charles J. Ecology: The Experimental Analysis of Distribution and Abundance.
Featured image: Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, where meso scale resource ratio competition experiments were initiated almost 40 years ago.