Final Flashcards
(191 cards)
Prey can thwart the efforts of predators in 3 ways
maximizing search time, maximizing handling time, diluting nutrient effectiveness / toxic and noxious compounds
Prey maximizes search time by
hiding, crypsis, mimicry
Prey maximizes handling time by
defensive weaponry, armour, shapes
Prey signal that they are of low nutrient value / have toxic noxious compounds via
aposematic signalling
Grazers and Browsers (searchers)
mobile, feed on nutrient-poor foods, often possess specializations of the mouth to most efficiently feed on low quality foods, ecologically important
Coevolution between plants and insects: advantages and disadvantages
biological arms race
advantages: little competition for food source, incorporate defence mechanisms of prey into own defence system
disadvantages: threatened if food source compromised
3 ways to gain nutrient material from indigestible polymers like cellulose and lignin
symbiosis adaptations, mechanism disruption through morphological adaptation, use of specific enzyme activities
Pogonophoran worms display symbiosis adaptations
specialized symbiosis with chemosynthetic bacteria that thrive near thermal vents (high sulfur, no light) – do not possess gut or feeding structures, bacteria only source of nutrients
symbionts undergo photosynthetic activity
production of sugars (maltose and glycerol) that are energetically rich, production of oxygen (very reactive, and additional production of hydrogen peroxides which are also very reactive – both lead to the formation of free radicals)
stress and symbionts
symbionts under stress release these reactive compounds at a higher frequency and may be of detriment to the host (eg. result in coral bleaching)
specialized adaptation in the grazer/browser
overcome challenges of the prey item, and may allow the grazer/browser to use the challenge of the prey item to its own benefit
grazer browser incorporation in nudibranchs
nudibranchs incorporate prey (cnidarian) nematocysts into epidermal structure (cerata – part of digestive system)
grazer browser specialization in sea urchin
Aristotle’s lantern highly efficient jaw-like structure to bite through kelp
grazer browser symbiosis in termites
endosymbiosis between protist (Trichonympha) and bacteria (in protist) to break down cellulose in gut
terpenoids
hormone-like compounds produced by plant species like cedar and pine tress
insects and terpenoids
insects have evolved to detect terpenoids using receptors, incorporate into metamorphosis and moulting processes as powerful signalling molecules
sawfly larvae
release gas when heads lifts which contains a volatile compound incorporated from plant food source
monarch butterfly
overcome mechanical defence (latex glycosides – difficult to digest, tase aversion), overcome chemical defence (toxic alkaloids) of milkweed plants to make themselves unpalatable
predator insects like the monarch, tardigrade, cicada, and aphid possess
specialized feeding structure (stylets) to pierce the phloem (transport sugar) of plant food source directly
cicada and phloem
used for cooling, stylet specialized structure not just for nutrient material
High CO2 compromises
compromises calcification by reducing availability of carbonate ions and by dissolving existing calcium carbonate structures – energy is required to combat this problem
High CO2 disturbs
disturbs acid-base balance by increasing CO2 in body fluids and tissues – energy is required to combat this problem
minimize capture by hunters
by increasing predator foraging and/or capturing time
groups and minimizing capture by hunters
better capacity to ward off predators with the release of toxins, faster detection and response to predators, confuse predators