1: Intro to Ecology

Question 1

ecology

Answer 1

study of abundance/distribution of organisms, organism interactions, and envr. conditions
- mvmt of energy in/out of ecosystems
- distribution and abundance of organisms; conservation

Question 2

3 major biological principles govern ecological systems

Answer 2

1. Conservation of matter and energy
2. Dynamic steady state- inputs/outputs of ecological systems are in balance
3. Evolution- change in genes over time

Question 3

Phenotype

Answer 3

gene for attributes show

Question 4

Genotype

Answer 4

gene for attribute carried (not shown)

Question 5

5 groups of organisms:

Answer 5

1. Bacteria: energy source for chemosynthesis; producers
2. Protists: 1 cell; algae, slime molds, protozoans; consumers
3. Plants: photosynthesize CO2/H2O w/ sun or carnivores
4. Fungi: hyphae structure; 1-2+ cells; decompose dead organisms
5. Animals: consumers (major)

Question 6

autotrophs =

Answer 6

producers
- make their own food (photo/chemosynthesis)
- ex: bacteria, chemosynthetic archaea, cyanobacteria, algae, most plants

Question 7

mixotrophs =

Answer 7

mixed nutrients
- ex: algae, protists, some plants/animals

Question 8

heterotrophs =

Answer 8

consumers
- ex: fungi, bacteria, herbivore, carnivore

Question 9

3 domains

Answer 9

archaea (1 cell), bacteria (1 cell), eukaryotes (2+ cells)

Question 10

prokaryotes

Answer 10

1 cell (no nucleus or organelles)

Question 11

Mutualism

Answer 11

2 species interact both benefit

Question 12

Commensalism

Answer 12

2 species close; 1 benefits, 1 has no loss/benefit

Question 13

Habitat

Answer 13

physical setting of organisms (where they live)

Question 14

niche

Answer 14

a species job
- range of abiotic and biotic conditions it can tolerate

Question 15

Scientific method steps:

Answer 15

observation/questions, research, hypothesis, experiment, analyze/conclude, results

Question 16

abiotic factors

Answer 16

• physical factors
• ex: water, air, soil, sunlight, minerals

Question 17

biotic factors

Answer 17

• organsims / living things
• ex: birds, fish, animals, plants

Question 18

interspecific interactions

Answer 18

interactions b/w 2 species

Question 19

study approaches: individual:

Answer 19

how one’s morphology, physiology, and behavior enable it to survive envr.
- acquire nutrients / produce waste
- separation of internal and external processes

Question 20

study approaches: population:

Answer 20

• 1 place, 1 species w/ boundaries and range
• studies variation over time
  
  • ex: abundance, density, composition

Question 21

study approaches: community:

Answer 21

emphasizes diversity and relative abundance (comparisons)
- has boundaries; looks at prey/predator relationships

Question 22

study approaches: biosphere:

Answer 22

largest hierarchy; movements of: air, water, energy, chemical elements

Question 23

Scavenger

Answer 23

consumes dead animals

Question 24

detritivore

Answer 24

break down dead matter (detritus)

Question 25

Parasitoid

Answer 25

lives w/in and consumes live host (killing it)

Question 26

parasite / pathogen

Answer 26

feed off host (rarely kill)
- If cause disease = pathogen

Question 27

Proximate hypothesis

Answer 27

addresses immediate changes in an organism’s hormones, physiology, nervous system, or muscular system

Question 28

Ultimate hypothesis

Answer 28

why organism has evolved to respond to envr. (cost/benefit)

Question 29

what impacts decomposition?

Answer 29

temperature and rainfall
- faster = hotter, high moisture

Question 30

Manipulative experiment

Answer 30

hypothesis tested by altering factor that is an underlying cause of the phenomenon

Question 31

Manipulation factor

Answer 31

factor that we want to vary (aka treatment)

Question 32

control

Answer 32

manipulation w/o factor of interest

Question 33

Experimental unit

Answer 33

object we manipulate

Question 34

Variance of the mean

Answer 34

spread of data around the mean of population

Question 35

Sample variance

Answer 35

spread of data round mean when only sample population is measured

Question 36

Greenhouse gases

Answer 36

compounds in atmosphere that absorb infrared heat energy (emitted by earth) and reemit energy

Question 37

species

Answer 37

individuals that are capable of interbreeding or share genetic similarity
- end point of branch on phylogenetic tree

Question 38

eukaryotes

Answer 38

2+ cells w/ nucleus and organelles

Question 39

animal cells have…(plants do not):

Answer 39

centrioles, centrosomes, and lysosomes

Question 40

plant cells have…(animals do not):

Answer 40

cell wall, chloroplasts, plasmodesmata, plastids, and large central vacuole

Question 41

somatic cells

Answer 41

body cells

Question 42

taxonomy

Answer 42

naming: genus and species
- kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species

Question 43

convergent evolution

Answer 43

habitat dictates morphology, physiology, and behavior (adapting to environment)
- organisms look similar but aren’t related

Question 44

biomes

Answer 44

large community
- basic ecosystems

Question 45

law of tolerance

Answer 45

the existence, abundance, and distribution of a species in a n ecosystem are determined by whether the levels of one or more physical or chemical factors fall within the range tolerated by that species.