L32 Ecological Modelling

Question 1

how does ecology address how organisms function in their environment?

Answer 1

by monitoring their complex and overlapping interactions

Question 2

what is a climograph?

Answer 2

an ecological model that relates climates to biomes

Question 3

what is the order of succession after a period of disturbance?

Answer 3

annual plants, perennial plants and grasses, shrubs, softwood trees (pines), hardwood trees

Question 4

in 1910 conifer pines were cut down and deciduous trees grew in their place, what does this mean?

Answer 4

succession is unpredictable

Question 5

what is primary succession?

Answer 5

the initial regrowth in the absence of soil, example after volcanic eruption

Question 6

what does the ‘Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis’ portray?

Answer 6

at mid values of disturbance species richness is high, at extreme values it is low

Question 7

what does Simpson’s Diversity Index calculate?

Answer 7

species evenness + species richness

Question 8

Calculate the Simpson's Diversity Index of the following:
Species A: 1
Species B: 1
Species C: 1
Species D: 9

Answer 8

S Diversity = 1/ [0.083^2 + 0.083^2 + 0.083^2 + 0.75^2)

note: 0.083 = 1/12

Question 9

what is the lowest possible diversity?

Answer 9

1