Lecture 1 - Ecology

Question 1

organismal ecology

Answer 1

behavioural, physiological, morphological traits

- mediate interactions among indvs/species/environment

Question 2

define population

Answer 2

group of indvs same species living and interacting in particular area
- factors that limit/regulate pop size

Question 3

unitary organisms

Answer 3

easy to recognise genetically separate indvs

- determinate = form programmed at birth

Question 4

modular organisms (colony)

Answer 4

• starts life single celled zygote
• indeterminate growth = repeated production of modules (leaves, polyps)
• structure/program of development not predictable
• indvs genet not dead until all modules are
• body size hard to define

Question 5

life histories

Answer 5

schedule of birth/ death = when/what age reproduce, highest probability of death
- rates of somatic growth and senescence (loss cell division)

Question 6

semelparity

Answer 6

reproduce once

Question 7

big bang reproduction

Answer 7

large no. offspring produced in event, dies after

Question 8

iteroparity

Answer 8

produce several eggs/offspring during repeated reproductive episodes

Question 9

unitary life history

Answer 9

1. juvenile - growing
2. reproductive
3. post reproductive - old age then die

Question 10

annual plant life cycles

Answer 10

• most semelparous like lambsquarter = long pre-reproductive phase, flower, set seed, die
• some groundsel are seasonally iteroparous = grow, flower, set seed through year, killed by frost
• longer life cycles = continuously breeding iteroparous
• dormancy = up to 86,000 seeds viable up to 1600 yrs

Question 11

ephemeral

Answer 11

desert plants and animals lie dormant
reproduce occasional years with suitable conditions
complete life cycle <8 wks