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biol 450 > 3d > Flashcards

3d Flashcards

(57 cards)

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1
Q

What does ecological hierarchy refer to?

A

Levels of organization in ecology including individual, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere.

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2
Q

Define population in ecological terms.

A

Group of individuals of the same species affected by the same environment and relatively unconnected with other populations.

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3
Q

What is an example of a geographical barrier affecting populations?

A

Cape Cod, which affects physicochemical conditions and isolates populations.

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4
Q

What is genetic isolation in populations?

A

Lack of dispersal and exchange of a species leading to genetic differentiation.

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5
Q

What is population size?

A

Number of organisms in a defined area.

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6
Q

How is population density measured?

A

Number of individuals per unit area or per unit volume.

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7
Q

List factors that can cause changes in population size.

A
  • Generation time
  • Survival of adults
  • Immigration
  • Emigration
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8
Q

What is a survivorship curve?

A

Graph showing changes in mortality rate as a function of age.

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9
Q

Fill in the blank: Higher mortality rates are typically seen in the _______ stage of species with a planktonic larva.

A

larval

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10
Q

What are the three models of population growth?

A
  • Exponential Growth (unlimited resources model)
  • Logistic Growth (resource limitation model)
  • Random Growth
  • random change/disturbance happening
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11
Q

Define carrying capacity.

A

The maximum population size that an environment can sustain.

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12
Q

What is the Allee effect?

A

Low density of adult individuals can lead to population extinction due to reduced reproductive success.

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13
Q

What does spatial distribution (SD) refer to?

A

The arrangement of species in space.

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14
Q

List the three types of spatial distribution.

A
  • Random SD
  • Uniform SD
  • Aggregated SD
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15
Q

Define random spatial distribution.

A

Individuals are randomly distributed in space with equal probability of being located at any point.

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16
Q

What characterizes uniform spatial distribution?

A

Individuals are evenly spread in space more than would be expected by chance.

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17
Q

Define aggregated spatial distribution.

A

Individuals occur in clusters too frequent to be explained by chance.

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18
Q

True or False: Marine populations are static and do not change over time.

A

False

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19
Q

What is larval recruitment?

A

The process by which larvae settle and become part of the adult population.

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20
Q

What is meant by intraspecific competition?

A

Competition among individuals of the same species for resources.

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21
Q

What is interspecific competition?

A

Competition between individuals of different species for resources.

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22
Q

What are the main factors influencing population dynamics?

A
  • Resource availability
  • Changing environmental conditions
  • Interplay with other populations
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23
Q

True or False: High density of individuals always leads to higher reproduction rates.

24
Q

What is the primary influence of population density on marine species reproduction?

Study These Flashcards
A

Low density reduces the likelihood of successful fertilization.

25
What is the relationship between population size and extinction risk?
Low population size increases the risk of extinction.
26
What is spatial distribution (SD)?
The arrangement of species in space.
27
Define random spatial distribution.
Randomly distributed individuals in a space where the probability of an individual being located at any given point is the same irrespective of location.
28
Define uniform spatial distribution.
Individuals are evenly spread in space than would be expected on the basis of chance alone.
29
Define aggregated spatial distribution.
Individuals in a space occur in clusters too frequent to be explained by chance.
30
What influences the small-scale spatial distribution of individuals within a population?
Environmental patchiness, social attraction, and predator protection.
31
What is a structural habitat?
Physical features within the marine environment that provide shelter, breeding grounds, and support for marine life.
32
Give examples of structural habitats.
* Coral reefs * Kelp forests * Seagrass meadows * Hydrothermal vents * Rocky shore
33
What are foundational species?
Species that are structurally important for the organization of communities.
34
How do foundational species affect structural habitats?
They may determine physical and chemical properties, affecting temperature, salinity, light, water energy, depth, and nutrient regimes.
35
What is larval access in marine organisms?
The need for planktonic larvae to access suitable habitats for settlement and growth.
36
What factors influence larval access?
* Larval dispersal * Larval transport * Habitat availability
37
What types of competition exist in marine communities?
* Intraspecific (between same species) * Interspecific (between different species)
38
What resources are often limiting in competition?
* Space * Food
39
What is competitive exclusion?
One species outcompetes another for resources, leading to displacement or possible extinction.
40
What is coexistence in competition?
Equalizing mechanisms reduce fitness differences between species, while stabilizing mechanisms promote coexistence by increasing intraspecific competition.
41
What is an example of an equalizing mechanism in competition?
Environmental variation, such as disturbances like storms.
42
What is an example of a stabilizing mechanism in competition?
Increased intraspecific competition relative to interspecific competition.
43
What are equalizing mechanisms in coexistence?
Reduce fitness differences between species, making them more similar in their competitive abilities. ## Footnote Examples include environmental variation and ecological drift.
44
What are stabilizing mechanisms in coexistence?
Promote coexistence by increasing intraspecific competition relative to interspecific competition. ## Footnote Examples include niche differentiation, resource partitioning, and spatial heterogeneity.
45
What is competitive exclusion?
One species outcompetes another for resources, leading to displacement or extinction. ## Footnote Extinction is possible if a species cannot adapt to a new niche.
46
Define habitat.
The physical place where an organism lives, providing necessary resources for survival. ## Footnote Examples include forests, deserts, oceans, and specific microhabitats.
47
Define niche.
The specific role or function an organism performs in its habitat, including interactions with biotic and abiotic factors. ## Footnote Niche is species-specific; no two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat.
48
What is niche partitioning?
A process by which competing species use environmental resources differently to reduce direct competition and allow for coexistence. ## Footnote This process is related to habitat heterogeneity.
49
How do predation and herbivory affect competitive success?
They can suppress the competitive success of superior competitor species over inferior ones, especially if predators prefer the competitively superior prey. ## Footnote Examples include seastars and mussels.
50
What is the Intermediate Disturbance-Predation Effect?
Combines aspects of disturbance with the role of predation in shaping ecological communities. ## Footnote It suggests that species diversity may be maximized at intermediate levels of disturbance or predation.
51
What happens at low levels of disturbance or predation?
Competitive dominant species takes over. ## Footnote This leads to reduced species diversity.
52
What happens at intermediate levels of disturbance or predation?
Promotes coexistence and more species are present. ## Footnote This balance contributes to higher biodiversity.
53
What happens at high levels of disturbance or predation?
Most individuals are removed, reducing the total number of species. ## Footnote This can lead to population crashes.
54
Fill in the blank: The physical change in the environment that causes mortality or affects reproduction is known as _______.
[disturbance]
55
True or False: Niche differentiation allows species to utilize different resources and reduce direct competition.
True
56
What role does ecological drift play in coexistence?
Changes in population sizes temporarily equalize species abundances. ## Footnote This can happen due to random events affecting species populations.
57
What is spatial heterogeneity?
Environmental variability across space creates microhabitats allowing species to coexist. ## Footnote This can enhance biodiversity by providing diverse living conditions.

biol 450 (6 decks)

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