Lecture 8

• What are the three defining points of species?

  1. genetically distinct groups
  2. members are able to interbreed freely under natural conditions
  3. reproductively isolated from all members of other such groups
• What are the three other ways to classify aquatic organisms?

  1. function
  2. habitat
  3. interactions
• an organisms trophic classification is based off of what it eats
• benthic -> on bottom of the lake
• lotic -> in flowing water
• emergent -> emerging from water
• Epiphytic ->on plants
• pelagic -> in open water
• lentic -> in still water
• submergent -> under the water
• classification based off of species interactions can be direct or indirect
• direct -> interactions occur between individuals of two species and involve no others
• indirect -> interaction between two species is mediated by a third