14 Ecology

Question 1

Dispersion:

Answer 1

describes how individuals in a population are distributed; may be clumped, uniform, or
random.

Question 2

Age structure:

Answer 2

description of the abundance of individuals of each age. Shape changes based on reproductive rate.

Question 3

5. Survivorship curves:

Answer 3

how mortality of individuals in a species varies during their lifetimes.

Question 4

type I survivorship

Answer 4

most individuals survive to middle age and dies quicker after this age (human).

Question 5

type II survivorship

Answer 5

length of survivorship is random (invertebrates-hydra).

Question 6

Type III: survivorship

Answer 6

most individuals die young, with few surviving to reproductive age and beyond
(oysters). Typical of species that produce free-swimming larvae – the few that survive being eaten
become adults.

Question 7

Biotic potential:

Answer 7

maximum growth rate under ideal conditions (unlimited resources and no
restrictions). The following factors contribute to biotic potential of a species: age at reproductive maturity, clutch size (# offspring produced at each reproduction), frequency of reproduction, reproductive lifetime,
survivorship of offspring to reproductive maturity.

Question 8

Carrying capacity (K):

Answer 8

maximum number of individuals of a population that can be sustained by
habitat.

Question 9

Limiting factors:

Answer 9

elements that prevent a population from reaching its biotic potential.

Question 10

density dependent limiting factors

Answer 10

(limiting effect becomes more intense as population density increases-
competition for resources, spread of disease, parasites, predation, toxic effect of waste products, in some cases reproductive behavior abandoned when population attains high density) and

Question 11

density independent limiting factors

Answer 11

(occur independently of density of population such as natural disasters or big temp changes).

Question 12

growth rate of population

Answer 12

births-deaths/ N

Question 13

Intrinsic rate:

Answer 13

when the reproductive rate (r) is maximum (biotic potential).

Question 14

Exponential growth: occurs when

Answer 14

reproductive rate (r) is greater than zero. the population accumulates more new individuals
per unit time when it’s larger, thus it curves to be more steep over time.

Question 15

Logistic growth:

Answer 15

occurs when limiting factors restrict size of population to the carrying capacity
of habitat.

Question 16

K is carrying capacity

Answer 16

– maximum population size that a particular environment can sustain.

Question 17

K-selected population

Answer 17

– members have low reproductive rates and are roughly constant (at K) in size (humans). Competition among individuals tends to be stronger and there is a
limitation imposed by resources.

Question 18

R – selected population

Answer 18

rapid exponential population growth, numerous offspring that are small, fast
maturation, little postnatal care needed. Generally found in rapidly changing environments affected by density independent factors. growth curves that are exponential. Population densities
are well below carrying capacity, little competition faced.

Question 19

opportunistic species

Answer 19

species that quickly invade habitat and then die

Question 20

Bacterial Growth: 4 phases

Answer 20

• lag phase: bacteria adapt and mature to eco
• log phase (exponential) doubling here in size
• stationary phase: growth rate= death rate from limiting factor
• death phase: DIE

Question 21

Shannon diversity index

Answer 21

higher means more diverse population

Question 22

Competitive exclusion principle (Gause’s principle):

Answer 22

two species compete for exactly the same
resources (or occupy the same niche), one is likely to be more successful (no two species can sustain
coexistence if they occupy the same niche).

Question 23

Resource partitioning:

Answer 23

two species occupy same niche but pursue slightly different resources or
securing their resources in different ways, individuals minimize competition and maximize success
(multiple species-slightly different niches).

Question 24

Character displacement (niche shift):

Answer 24

a result of resource partitioning, certain traits allow for more
success in obtaining resources in their partitions reduces competition divergence of features (character displacement).

Question 25

Realized niche:

Answer 25

niche that an organism occupies in absence of competing species is its fundamental niche. When competitors are present, one/both species may be able to coexist by occupying their realized niches

Question 26

Parasitoid

Answer 26

an insect that lays its eggs on host (insect or spider). After eggs hatch, larvae obtain nourishment by consuming host's tissues. Host eventually dies, but not until larvae complete development and begin pupation.

Question 27

Granivores

Answer 27

seed eaters

Question 28

browser

Answer 28

eat leaves

Question 29

Commensalism

Answer 29

one benefits, the other is unaffected

Question 30

Mutualism

Answer 30

both orgs benefit

Question 31

Parasitism

Answer 31

benefits at the expense of the host; bacteria and fungi; live with minimum expenditure of energy

Question 32

Facilitation

Answer 32

species have positive effects (+/+ or 0/+) on the survival and reproduction of another species w/out necessarily living in the direct and intimate contact of symbiosis.

Question 33

Saprophytism

Answer 33

decompose dead organic matter externally and absorb nutrients *scavengers directly feed

Question 34

Zoonotic pathogens

Answer 34

transferred from other | animals to humans.

Question 35

Vectors

Answer 35

intermediate species of infxns.

Question 36

Interference competition

Answer 36

directly between individuals via aggression. individuals can't establish on habitat. can happen through allelopathy

Question 37

allelopathy

Answer 37

the production of biochemical by an organism that influences the growth/survival/reproduction of other organisms).

Question 38

Exploitation competition

Answer 38

occurs indirectly through | depletion of a common resource.

Question 39

Apparent competition

Answer 39

occurs between 2 species preyed upon by the same predator

Question 40

Arthropods regulate water by

Answer 40

secreting solid uric crystals

Question 41

Cold-blooded (poikilothermic) temp regulation

Answer 41

–vast majority of plants and animals; body temp. is close | to that of surroundings, so metabolism is radically affected by environmental temp.

Question 42

Warm-blooded (homeothermic)

Answer 42

make use of heat produced by respiration; physical | adaptations like fat, hair, and feathers retard heat loss (Ex: mammals and birds)

Question 43

Coevolution:

Answer 43

evolution of one species in response to new adaptation that appear in another species.

Question 44

1. Secondary compounds:

Answer 44

toxic chemicals produced in plants that discourage would-be herbivores

Question 45

3. Aposematic coloration (warning coloration):

Answer 45

conspicuous pattern or coloration of animals that warns | predators that they sting, bite, taste bad, poisonous, or are otherwise to be avoided.

Question 46

Mimicry:

Answer 46

occurs when two or more species resemble one another in appearance.

Question 47

Mullerian mimicry:

Answer 47

occurs when several animals, all with some special defense mechanism, share the same coloration

Question 48

Batesian mimicry:

Answer 48

occurs when animal without any special defense mechanism mimics the coloration of an animal that does possess a defense.

Question 49

(blowout).

Answer 49

catastrophic event wiping pop

Question 50

Substrate texture:

Answer 50

changes from solid to rock or something

Question 51

1. Primary succession:

Answer 51

substrates that never previously supported living things like lava and then lichens come, then water, then soil et - then r selected species - then k selected

Question 52

secondary succession

Answer 52

had life, had a disaster, then life came back

Question 53

dominant species

Answer 53

species in a community that is the most abundant or collectively has the highest biomass.

Question 54

keystone species

Answer 54

usually abundant but exert a strong control on community | structure not by high quantity but through their pivotal ecological role.

Question 55

Ecosystem engineers

Answer 55

foundation species dramatically alter their physical environment.

Question 56

water cycle

Answer 56

reservoir to assimilation into plants and animals. then release from transpiration and decomposition

Question 57

carbon cycle

Answer 57

reservoir then plant uses co2 (assimilation) then release when stuff dies

Question 58

nitrogen cycle

Answer 58

nitrogen reservoir from atm. then assimilation by plants (nitrification) then

Question 59

phosphorus cycle

Answer 59

reservoir is sediment. then assimilation by plants, then release when they die

Question 60

Tropical rain forest:

Answer 60

high (but stable) temperature and humidity, heavy rainfall, (tall trees with branch at tops little light to enter). Most diverse biome.

Question 61

Epiphytes

Answer 61

plants that grow on other plants (like vines)

Question 62

Savannas:

Answer 62

tropical grasslands with scattered trees. similar to tropics in that they have high temperature, but they get very little rainfall (25 inch). this be Australia and africa. very fiery

Question 63

ungulates,

Answer 63

large hooved plant-eating mammals like giraffes.

Question 64

Temperate grasslands:

Answer 64

receive less water (+ uneven seasonal occurrence of rainfaill) and are subject to lower temperatures than savannas (e.g. north American prairie). Grassland soils are among the most fertile in the world.

Question 65

Temperate deciduous forests:

Answer 65

warm summers, cold winters, and moderate precipitation. Large deciduous trees shed leaves during winter. Soil is rich due to leaf shed. *have vertical stratification

Question 66

Vertical stratification:

Answer 66

plants+animals live on ground, low branches, and treetops. Principal mammals hibernate through cold winter.

Question 67

Temperate coniferous:

Answer 67

cold (sometimes dry) forests; vegetation has evolved adaptations to conserve water (needle leaves). Some temperate coniferous forests aren’t dry and receive precipitation via rainfall. Cold, but warmer than taigas.

Question 68

Deserts:

Answer 68

hot and dry; most extreme temp fluctuations (hot day, cold night); growth of annual plants is limited to short period following rare rain, plants and animals adapt to conserve as much water as possible (urinate infrequently, cacti spines, etc)

Question 69

Taigas:

Answer 69

south of the tundra. Coniferous forests (and trees with needles for leaves: spruce, fir, pine). Very long cold winters and low precipitation in form of heavy snow. Largest terrestrial biome.

Question 70

Tundras:

Answer 70

cold winters (ground freezes), top layer thaws during summer support minimal vegetation (moss, lichen, low growing shrubs, grasses - treeless). but deeper soil (permafrost) remains permanently frozen. Very little rainfall that can’t penetrate frozen ground. Short growing season.

Question 71

Chaparral:

Answer 71

``` terrestrial biome along California coastline characterized by wet winters, dry summers, scattered vegetation (dense, spiny shrubs) – California fires happen here ```

Question 72

polar region

Answer 72

frozen

Question 73

Fresh water biomes:

Answer 73

ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers. Hypotonic to organisms, affected by climate/weather variations.

Question 74

estuaries

Answer 74

(where oceans and river meet),

Question 75

intertidal zones

Answer 75

(where ocean meet land),

Question 76

continental shelves/littoral zone

Answer 76

(shallow oceans bordering continents),

Question 77

benthic zone

Answer 77

lowest layer of a body of water, including sediment surface and sub-surface layers. In ocean water (deep) light doesn’t penetrate; most organisms are scavengers and detritivores.

Question 78

pelagic,

Answer 78

middle layer of water | Epiplagic, mesopelagic, bathypelagic, abyssopelagic, hadopelagic

Question 79

Epiplagic

Answer 79

(surface layer of water, only photic zone since | enough light for penetration, nearly all primary production of ocean occurs here)

Question 80

mesopelagic

Answer 80

(not enough light for photosynthesis, minimal oxygen)

Question 81

bathypelagic

Answer 81

(pitch black, no plant life, most organisms here consume detritus that comes down from above)

Question 82

abyssopelagic

Answer 82

(cold, high pressure, most species have no eyes due to lack of light)

Question 83

hadopelagic

Answer 83

(most life here exists in hydrothermal vents).

Question 84

turnover

Answer 84

In autumn and spring, oxygenated water from surface goes to the bottom and nutrients from the bottom go to the top.

Question 85

Eutrophication

Answer 85

process of nutrient enrichment in lakes and subsequent | increase in biomass

Question 86

Critical load

Answer 86

amount of added nutrient (usually N or P) that can be absorbed by plants w/out damaging ecosystem integrity.

Question 87

Biological augmentation:

Answer 87

using | organisms to add essential materials to degraded ecosystem

Question 88

bioremediation

Answer 88

using organisms to detoxify a polluted ecosystem

Question 89

Extinction vortex:

Answer 89

small population size inbreeding, genetic drift have significant effect loss of genetic variability reduced fitness ↓ survival. To avoid this a population must sustain itself at the minimum viable population (even lower!)

Question 90

rain shadows

Answer 90

areas of dry land that form on the leeward side (downwind) of a high mountain. Rain approaches mountain, surrounding air becomes cooler due point eventually reached precipitation occurs as cloud gains precipitation, continues to rain towards peak cloud begins to descend leeway side of mountain decrease in elevation air temperature increases precipitation decreases rain shadow is dry (desert biome). Can occur in the high mountains of Europe and even the Andes of South America.