Chapter 1 Flashcards
(151 cards)
1
Q
Ecology
A
the scientific study of the abundance and distribution of organism in relation to other organisms and environmental conditions
2
Q
the scientific study of the abundance and distribution of organism in relation to other organisms and environmental conditions
A
Ecology
3
Q
What resembles business interactions among humans
A
the large number of interactions among species (hence “the economy of nature”)
4
Q
What did Darwin term ecology as?
A
the economy of nature
5
Q
Oikos
A
house-hold
6
Q
The study of the relationships among organisms of different species (biotic component), as well as their relationship with the abiotic (non-living) components of the environment
A
ecology
7
Q
What perspective does ecology have
A
holistic
8
Q
what do ecologists seek to understand
A
order in the natural world
9
Q
the science that seeks to understand the distribution and abundance of life on earth. this understanding is never complete or absolute, rather it is dynamic
A
ecology
10
Q
why are song birds disappearing rapidly
A
- loss of wintering habitat in central and south america
- habitat fragmentation and cowbird parasitism in north america
- climate change - reproductive phenology of flowering plants and insects
11
Q
The following are true
A
- the natural world is diverse, complex, and interconnected
- the natural world is dynamic but also stable and self-replenishing
- the natural world is organized by physical and biological processes
12
Q
How to ecological systems exist?
A
in a hierarchical organization
13
Q
What are ecological systems
A
biological entities that have their own internal processes and interact with their external surroundings
14
Q
Individual
A
the most fundamental unit of ecology
15
Q
the most fundamental unit of ecology
A
individual
16
Q
What do individuals acquire and produce
A
acquire: nutrients and energy
produce: waste
17
Q
What do individuals have
A
a membrane boundary that separates internal processes from the external environment
18
Q
Species
A
individuals that are capable of interbreeding or sharing genetic similarity
19
Q
individuals that are capable of interbreeding or sharing genetic similarity
A
species
20
Q
Population
A
individuals of the same species living in a particular area.
21
Q
individuals of the same species living in a particular area.
A
population
22
Q
boundaries
A
can be natural (e.g. forest edges) or political (e.g. state lines)
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Q
Geographic range (distribution)
A
the extent of land or water within which a population lives
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Q
the extent of land or water within which a population lives
A
geographic range (distribution)
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Abundance
total number of individuals
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total number of individuals
abundance
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Density
number of individuals per unit area and change in size
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number of individuals per unit area and change in size
density
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composition
the makeup in terms of age, gender, or genetics
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the makeup in terms of age, gender, or genetics
composition
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community
populations of species living together in a particular area
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populations of species living together in a particular area
Community
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Boundaries are not always _____, and may cover _____
rigid; small or large areas
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Interactions included in community
predation and competition
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ecosystem
one or more communities of living organisms interacting with their nonliving
physical and chemical environments
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one or more communities of living organisms interacting with their nonliving
physical and chemical environments
ecosystem
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what is research focused on
movement of energy and matter between physical and biological components
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What does research include
the “flow” of material from “pools” of elements, such as carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Also the flow of energy from producers to herbivores – to carnivores to --
detritivores. Some energy is passed along – much lost as heat.
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biosphere
all ecosystems on earth
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all ecosystems on earth
biosphere
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what are distant ecosystems linked together by
exchanges of wind and water and by the movement of organisms - the ultimate ecological system
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individual approach
understands how adaptations, or characteristics of an individual's morphology, physiology, and behavior enable it to survive in an environment
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understands how adaptations, or characteristics of an individual's morphology, physiology, and behavior enable it to survive in an environment
individual approach
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population approach
Examines variation in the number, density, and composition of individuals over time and space.
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Examines variation in the number, density, and composition of individuals over time and space.
population approach
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community approach
Understands the diversity and interactions of organisms living together in the same place.
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Understands the diversity and interactions of organisms living together in the same place.
community approach
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Ecosystem approach
describes the storage and transfer of energy and matter
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describes the storage and transfer of energy and matter
ecosystem approach
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biosphere approach
examines movements of energy and chemicals over the earth's surface
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examines movements of energy and chemicals over the earth's surface
biosphere approach
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what are ecosystems governed by
physical and biological principles
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first law of thermodynamics
matter and energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can change form
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ecological systems...
gain and lose matter and energy
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when does a dynamic steady state occur
when gains and losses are in balance
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Input: food
output: energy expended, waste
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input: births, immigration
output: deaths, emigration
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input: colonization by new species
output: extinction of species
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input: solar energy and matter entering ecosystem
output: energy and matter leaving ecosystem
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input: solar energy entering system
output: energy re-radiated to space
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Phenotype
an attribute of an organism (e.g. behavior, morphology)
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an attribute of an organism (e.g. behavior, morphology)
Phenotype
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Genotype
the set of genes an organism carries; determines an organism's phenotype
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the set of genes an organism carries; determines an organism's phenotype
genotype
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Evolution
a change in the genetic composition of a population over time. In the long run common ancestry links all organisms through time (descent with modification).
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a change in the genetic composition of a population over time. In the long run common ancestry links all organisms through time (descent with modification).
evolution
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natural selection
a change in the frequency of genes in a population through differential survival and reproduction of individuals that possess certain phenotypes
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a change in the frequency of genes in a population through differential survival and reproduction of individuals that possess certain phenotypes
natural selection
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Three requirements
1. individuals vary in their traits
2. traits are heritable
3. variation in traits causes some individuals to experience higher fitness (survival and reproduction)
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what do different organisms do
play diverse roles in ecological systems
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what were the first organisms
prokaryotes
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prokaryotes
single-celled bacteria and
| archaea without distinct organelles
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energy that prokaryotes can utilize that other organisms cannot
N2, H2S gas
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how did the mitochondria come about
one bacterium engulfed another bacterium
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what did the mitochondria give rise to
all eukaryotes
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eukaryotes
organisms with distinct cell organelles
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what did mitochondria evolve into
photosynthetic chloroplasts that increased the abundance of oxygen in the atmosphere, allowing other plants and animals to survive
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Protists
eukaryotes that include protozoa, some algae, and slime molds
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what do plants convert CO2 and water into
organic molecules
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What do plants use roots for
extracting water from soil or air
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What do most fungi have
hyphae
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what do hyphae do
extract nutrients from dead or living tissues
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What do fungi do
secrete acids and have enzymes that digest food externally
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May fungi are
decomposers and plant mutualists
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What play a wide range of roles in ecological systems
animals
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what do animals rely on
the consumption of other organisms for resources
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producers (autotrophs)
convert chemical energy into resources
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convert chemical energy into resources
producers (autotrophs)
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consumers (heterotrophs)
obtain energy from other organisms
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obtain energy from other organisms
consumers (heterotrophs)
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mixotrophs
can switch between being producers and consumers
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can switch between being producers and consumers
mixotrophs
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scavengers
consume dead animals
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consume dead animals
scavengers
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detritivores
break down dead organic matter (i.e., detritus) into smaller particles
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break down dead organic matter (i.e., detritus) into smaller particles
detritivores
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decomposers
break down detritus into simpler elements that can be recycled (fungi and bacteria)
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Predation
when an organism kills and consumes an individual
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when an organism kills and consumes an individual
predation
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Parasitism
when one organism lives in or on another organism
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when one organism lives in or on another organism
parasitism
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herbivory
when one organism consumes a producer
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when one organism consumes a producer
herbivory
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competiton
when two organisms that depend on the same resource have a negative effect on each other
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when two organisms that depend on the same resource have a negative effect on each other
competition
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mutualism
when two species benefit from each other
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when two species benefit from each other
mutualism
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commensalism
when two species live in close association and one receives a benefit, whereas the other is unaffected
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+ -
1. predation/parasitoidism
2. parasitism
3. herbivory
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- -
competition
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+ +
mutualism
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+ 0
commensalism
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habitat
the place, or physical setting, where an organism lives
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the place, or physical setting, where an organism lives
habitat
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distinguished by physical features, such as dominate plant type
habitat
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Examples of a habitat
freshwater, marine, coastal, streams, forests, deserts, grasslands
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Niche
the range of abiotic and biotic conditions an organism can tolerate
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the range of abiotic and biotic conditions an organism can tolerate
niche
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Why does no two species have the same niche
each has unique phenotypes that determine the conditions it can tolerate
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what is the ecological niche of a species
the combination of its role in a community, its habitat, and interactions with other organisms
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hypotheses
ideas that potentially explain a repeated observation
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ideas that potentially explain a repeated observation
hypotheses
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address the cause of immediate changes in individual phenotypes or interactions
proximate hypotheses
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proximate hypotheses
address the cause of immediate changes in individual phenotypes or interactions
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Address the fitness costs and benefits of a response
ultimate hypotheses
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ultimate hypotheses
address the fitness costs and benefits of a response
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predictions
statements that arise logically from hypotheses
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statements that arise logically from hypotheses
predictions
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where a hypothesis is tested by altering a factor hypothesized to be the cause of a phenomenon
manipulative experiments
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manipulative experiments
where a hypothesis is tested by altering a factor hypothesized to be the cause of a phenomenon
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treatment
the factor that we want to manipulate in a study
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the factor that we want to manipulate in a study
treatment
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a treatment that includes all aspects of an experiment except the factor of interest
control
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control
a treatment that includes all aspects of an experiment except the factor of interest
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Experimental unit (unit of observation)
the object to which we apply a manipulation
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the object to which we apply a manipulation
Experimental unit (unit of observation)
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being able to produce a similar outcome multiple times (i.e., the number of experimental units per treatment).
Replication
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Replication
being able to produce a similar outcome multiple times (i.e., the number of experimental units per treatment).
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a requirement for manipulation experiments; every experimental unit must have an equal chance of being assigned to a particular treatment.
Randomization
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Randomization
a requirement for manipulation experiments; every experimental unit must have an equal chance of being assigned to a particular treatment.
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Natural experiments
an approach to hypothesis testing that relies on natural variation in the environment to test a hypothesis
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an approach to hypothesis testing that relies on natural variation in the environment to test a hypothesis
Natural experiments
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representations of a system with a set of equations that correspond to hypothesized relationships among the system’s components
Mathematical models
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Mathematical models
representations of a system with a set of equations that correspond to hypothesized relationships among the system’s components
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when do ecologists often test mathematic models
using natural or manipulative experiments
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Y=
dependent variable
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x
independent variable
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environments dominated by humans (cities, farms) are also ecological systems
humans depend on the proper functioning of these systems
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humans consume and produce
consume: massive amounts of energy and resources
produce
produce: large amounts of waste
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Greenhouse gases
compounds in the atmosphere that absorb infrared heat energy emitted by Earth and then emit some of the energy back toward Earth. High amounts of these gases can increase average Earth temperatures
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compounds in the atmosphere that absorb infrared heat energy emitted by Earth and then emit some of the energy back toward Earth. High amounts of these gases can increase average Earth temperatures
greenhouse gases
