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GENETICS > Final Exam- Ecology > Flashcards

Final Exam- Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

What is Ecology?

A

The scientific study of how organisms interact with eachother and their environment

Distribution, abundance and the factors that affect these patterns

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2
Q

What are some barriers to dispersal?

A

Physical and climactic

Ex. Oceans and temperatures

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3
Q

Define Abundance

A

Measure of the number of individuals of each species in a defined area

Varies with time and location

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4
Q

Define range of tolerance

A

Range of abiotic conditions in which an organism can survive and reproduce

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5
Q

What determines a species distibution and abundance?

A
  1. Dispersal ability: physical structures and climate can act as barriers
  2. Abiotic factors: Range of tolerance for conditions
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6
Q

List some Abiotic factors

A

Temperature, light intensity and water availbility

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7
Q

List some biotic factors

A

Predation, competition, mutualism

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8
Q

Define the intertidal zone

A

Marine environment that is uncovered and covered each day as the tide rises and falls

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9
Q

What determines the upper limit of distibution for intertidal organisms?

A

Abiotic stressfull conditions: temperature, salinity, oxygen availbility

Rely upon water trapped in exoskelaton when low tide

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10
Q

What determines the lower limit of distibution in the intertidal zone?

A

Biotic factors: predation intensity from marine predators, competition for limited resources/space when conditions are optimal

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11
Q

What is the definition of a population?

A

A group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area at the same time

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12
Q

Lincoln-Pederson method of mark-recapture estimation

A

N = M x n
m

N = ESTIMATED POP, M = MARKED VISIT 1

n = caught visit 2, m = marked visit 2

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13
Q

What are the assumptions of the Lincoln-Pederson capture/recapture method?

A
  1. Population is closed, N doesnt change between sampling periods ex. no birth/deaths
  2. Individuals do not differ in their probability of being caught ex. marking doesnt affect
  3. Marks do not come off b/w sampling
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14
Q

Formula for estimating population size at a future time point

A

Nt+1 = Nt(1 + r)

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15
Q

Per capita birth and death rates

A

b = B/N
d = D/N

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16
Q

Calculation for growth rate

A

r = b - d

Per capita growth rate

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17
Q

Expontential population growth

A

J shape: population in an unlimited environment, r doesnt change no matter how big the pop gets

r is density- independant

Usually short lived, occurs when pop sizes r small

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18
Q

Logistic population growth

A

S shape: limiting environmental factors restrict pop growth once it reaches carrying capacity (K)

r is density dependant and gets smaller with less resources

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19
Q

Limiting factors

Density-dependant factors

A

Biotic Factors whos influence on population size or population growth depends upon the number of individuals in a population/density

ex. predation/disease

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20
Q

Limiting factors

Density-independant factors

A

Abiotic Factors that influence population size and growth regardless of population size/density

ex. volcano eruptions/hurricanes/cold snaps

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21
Q

Define life history traits

A

Quantification of life history (stages an organism goes through in its lifetime) ex. Age-specific survivorship, age at first reproduction, number of offspring, parental care, reproductive lifespan, growth rate ect.

birth –> growth –> reproduction –> death

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22
Q

Type I surviorship curve

A

Most of the individuals in a cohort survive until old age

ex. humans and elephants

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23
Q

Type II survivorship curve

A

Constant proportion of individuals from a cohort dying each year

ex. lizards and birds

24
Q

Type III survivorship curve

A

Most individuals in cohort die at a young age, then survivorship is constant

ex. fish and plants

25
Q

Life history traits and fitness tradeoffs

A

Species with longer lives start reproducing later, shorter lives reproduce earlier
Species with smaller clutch sizes have larger offspring
Larger tree growths have smaller number of pine cones

26
Q

r selected life history strategies

(r = reproduction)

A

Maximizes reproduction, limited investment in offspring/parenting, high mortality rates in young

More common in less competitive, low quality environments

shorter lifespans

27
Q

K-selected life history strategy

A

Heavy investment in parental care, longer to mature, offspring have high survivorship

More common in competitive, higher quality environments

28
Q

Define community

A

All the species that interact with one another in a defined area

29
Q

Amensalism

A

Fitness of one organism is negatively affected, other is unaffected

(-/0)

ex. If an elephant steps on an ant

30
Q

Commensalism

A

Fitness of one organism is positively affected; the other is unaffected

(+/0)

ex. Pearlfish hiding in seacucumbers

31
Q

Mutualism

A

Fitness of both organisms is positively affected

(+/+)

Lichens: photosynthetic and fungal partners

32
Q

Competition

A

Fitness of both organism is potentially negatively affected

(-/-)

ex. bears catching salmon

33
Q

What is a niche

A

space, environmental conditions and resources that an organism uses to survive and reproduce as well as an organisms role in the community (predator/producer)

34
Q

Fundamental niche

A

The set of resources that an organism is capable of using in the absence of competitors

35
Q

Realized niche

A

The actual set of resources that an organism uses in the presence of competitors

36
Q

Interspecific competition outcomes:

Stable coexistence

By Niche partitioning

A

Species can coexist, both species give up part of their fundamental niche

Use resources in different ways

37
Q

Interspecific competition outcomes:

Competitive exclusion

A

One species is eliminated from part or all of the fundamental niche (site/habitat) by superior competitior

38
Q

What happens if one species is removed and the fundamental niche has undegone an evolutionary change?

A

Could not immediately capitalize on the full range of resources, would require a mutation then natural selection/genetic drift

- Mutation in the germline & transportation

39
Q

Consumption

A

One organism eats or absorbs nutrients from another
3 types: Predation/parasitism/Herbivory

(+/-)

40
Q

Primary succession

A

Follows a disturbance that removes all the soil and all living organisms, nothing but bare rock/gravel remains

ex. Volcanic eruption, glacier retreat, landslide

41
Q

Pioneering species

A

Organisms start from scratch: lichens, mosses and small plants appear and contribute to formation of soil when they die

42
Q

Secondary succession

A

Follows a disturbance that has removed some or all living organisms but the soil remains

ex. forest fire, farming, construction, windstorms

43
Q

Early vs later succession

A

Early: Abiotic conditions can be harsh, extremes of temperatures, little to no nutrients but competition is low
Late: Abiotic conditions are less harsh (plants protect) but competition can be intense

44
Q

What life history traits are expecteed in a pioneering species?

A

r-selected: Early reproductive age, numerous small seeds, tolerate severe abiotic conditions

45
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

a biotic community and its abiotic environment

can be small or large

46
Q

What is the ultimate source of energy for life?

A

The sun

47
Q

Producers

(Autotrophs)

A

Use the energy of sunlight to make chemical energy using carbon dioxide as a carbon source + water

Photosynthesis

48
Q

Consumers

A

Obtain energy by eating other organisms

49
Q

Detritovores

A

Ingest dead organic material, break it down internally

50
Q

Decomposers

A

Break down dead organic material and then absorb nutrients

51
Q

Food chain

A

Diagram that shows the linear flow of food energy from one trophic level to the next

Producers –> Primary consumers –> secondary –> tertiary

52
Q

Food webs

A

Series of interlocked food chains that allow for possibility of consumers at multiple trophic levels

More realistic than chains

53
Q

What is primary productivity?

A

The rate of conversion of solar energy to chemical energy by producers during some period of time

Gross = absolute, net = actual

54
Q

Roughly how much energy is lost between trophic levels and why?

A

about 10% transferred to the next level
- Not all organisms will be consumed at the next trophic level
- Not all food is completely digested (waste)
- Energy is lost as heat
- Energy is used for hunting

55
Q

How does carbon get into the cycle? and out?

A

Stored in ocean/atmosphere, captured by plants, eaten by animals, eaten by other animals
Cellular respiration releases it back into the atmosphere

56
Q

How does nitrogen get into the cycle? and out?

A

Stored in atmosphere as N2 gas, Nitrogen fixing/nitrifying bacteria converts into biologically available form, symbiotic/free living bacteria passes onto plants uptaken by roots, then consumers
Returned by denitrifying bacteria

57
Q

Why is the Great Bear Rainforest so productive?

A

Marine nitrogen from salmons dying and being eaten by bears that travel

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