Lecture 1

Question 1

Define Ecology

Answer 1

the study of how organisms interact with each other and their enviornment

Question 2

Define genetics

Answer 2

the study of genes

Question 3

Define evolution

Answer 3

study of gene pools and allele frequencies over time

Question 4

Define behaviour

Answer 4

study of action of organisms originating from their traits

Question 5

Define descriptive ecology

Answer 5

the foundation of ecological science, identifies which species are present in a habitat

Question 6

Functional ecology

Answer 6

studies dynamic responses of populations and communities to immediate factors in the environment

Question 7

Evolutionary ecology

Answer 7

considers organisms and their interactions as historical products of evolution

Question 8

Population

Answer 8

a group of individuals of the same species occupying a particular space at a particular time

Question 9

Name 4 population properties

Answer 9

• density
• natality
• mortality
• emigration

Question 10

Morphological species

Answer 10

a group of individuals that is morphically, physiologically or biochemically distinct from other groups

Question 11

Biological species

Answer 11

: a group of individuals that can potentially reed among themselves but not with individuals of other groups

Question 12

Ecological community

Answer 12

a set of interacting natural species populations in a prescribed area or habitat

Question 13

define biodiversity

Answer 13

the sum of total of all biotic variation from the level of genes to ecosystems

Question 14

What does trophic structure determine?

Answer 14

the flow of energy/materials, predators/preys

Question 15

Distribution

Answer 15

the range within which a group of organisms occurs

Question 16

Abundance

Answer 16

the amount/number of organisms in an area

Question 17

Liebig’s law of minimum

Answer 17

‘The rate of any biological process is limited by that factor in least amount relative to requirements

Question 18

Why is Justus Von Liebig’s statement now considered too simplistic?

Answer 18

because it predicts that only one factor is limiting for any process, the current view is that many factors may be limiting simultaneously

Question 19

What is Shelford’s law of tolerance?

Answer 19

‘the distribution of a species will be controlled by that environmental factor for which the organism has the narrowest range of tolerance’

Question 20

Dispersal

Answer 20

the tendency of an organism to move away from birth or breeding sites

Question 21

Name the 3 forms of dispersal

Answer 21

• diffusion
• jump dispersal
• secular dispersal

Question 22

Define jump dispersal

Answer 22

operates quickly across great expanses of inhospitable terrain

Question 23

Define secular dispersal

Answer 23

spread in geological time associated with extensive evolutionary change and continental drift

Question 24

Define diffusion

Answer 24

slow spread across hospitable over generations

Question 25

habitat

Answer 25

any part of the biosphere where a particular species can live, temporarily or permanently

Question 26

habitat selection

Answer 26

limited to animals which 'choose' where to live by moving between habitats

Question 27

IFD

Answer 27

ideal free distribution- a theory of habitat selection

Question 28

How was the burrowing bettong/boodie distribution restricted?

Answer 28

when the red fox was introduced to Australia (true predation)

Question 29

Where were parasite found to be most abundant- Mauna Loa, Hawaii?

Answer 29

at mid elevations, where vector and host distributions overlap

Question 30

What did the experiment on competition between stream invertebrates conclude?

Answer 30

- space is a limiting resource - interspecific competition is intense and chronic - simulium is the competitive dominant

Question 31

how can the range limits of homeotherms be effected?

Answer 31

by climatic variables, especially temperature

Question 32

How can species extend their distribution?

Answer 32

by local adaption to limiting factors (e.g. ecotypes, genetic varieties)

Question 33

what is photoperiodism?

Answer 33

growth and developmental responses of plants to relative length of day and night e.g. time of flowering

Question 34

deme

Answer 34

a subdivision of a population consisting of closely related plants, animals, or people, typically breeding mainly within the group.

Question 35

density

Answer 35

number of organisms per unit area/volume

Question 36

natality

Answer 36

reproductive output of a population

Question 37

mortality

Answer 37

death of organisms in a population

Question 38

immigration

Answer 38

number of organisms moving INTO the area occupied by the population

Question 39

emigration

Answer 39

number of organisms moving OUT of the area occupied by the population

Question 40

which species definition is Linnaean classification based on?

Answer 40

morphological

Question 41

what does the 'tens-rule' state?

Answer 41

each transition has a probability of about 10%

Question 42

what are the 4 stages of the 'tens-rule'?

Answer 42

- imported - introduced - established - pest

Question 43

what does IFD actually mean?

Answer 43

animals are free to move into any habitat without contraints

Question 44

When was the abundance of red kangaroo in Australia declined?

Answer 44

as one reaches the edge of a species range

Question 45

Give an example of a transplant experiment showing jump dispersal on a continental scale

Answer 45

Aggressive subspecies of honey bee brought to Brazil in 1956 to develop a tropical strain with improved honey productivity.

Question 46

name some factors which restrict distribution locally?

Answer 46

climate, competitiors, habitat

Question 47

what are some good dispersal mechanisms?

Answer 47

seeds, spores

Question 48

how does decision making for animals choosing their habitat occur?

Answer 48

hierarchically, from large spatial scales to local microhabitat – explanations for habitat selection depend on scale of study

Question 49

name some contraints which limit habitat selection locally?

Answer 49

habitat cues presence of conspecifics presence of other organisms time lags

Question 50

habitat selection results from...

Answer 50

landscape / terrain stimuli

Question 51

how does habitiat selection affect the distribution of tree and meadow pipit populations?

Answer 51

tree pipits need 1/2 small trees to land following aerial song behaviour resitrcits tree pipits to heathlands with trees

Question 52

transplant experiment

Answer 52

Inadvertently conducted by man. “Introduced species” e.g. introduction of African honey bees to brazil