In the sierra nevada mountains, the yellow pine chipmunk is found at higher elev
ID: 41323 • Letter: I
Question
In the sierra nevada mountains, the yellow pine chipmunk is found at higher elevations than the least chipmunk. In removal experiments, if the yellow pine chipmunk is removed from its habitat, the least chipmunk expands its range to include high elevations. When the least chipmunk is removed, however, the yellow pine chipmunk does not expand its range downward.
What are the fundamental and realized niches of this species?
What might explain these differences between their fundamental and realized niches?
Which of these two species is the stronger competitor?
Explanation / Answer
Least chipmunk is a prey species to the yellow pine chipmunk. If both the species are placed at one species the yellow pine chip munk will be in higher elevation by consuming the least chip munk. Thus yellow pine chipmunks are naturally selected species. If they are removed and only the least chipmunks are placed they will be in higher number as they have no predators and extend their species.
Hence least chipmunks are the strongest competitors to yellow pine chipmunks.