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bio 220 > 10/4 quiz > Flashcards

10/4 quiz Flashcards

1
Q

physiological ecology

A

adaptations to the physical environment

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2
Q

organisms have mechanisms to…

A

perform well in a limited range of conditions

compensate for a certain range of variation in conditions

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3
Q

examples of abiotic factors

A

temperature, water availability, salinity

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4
Q

types of environmental changes

A

predictable (seasonal, daily, tidal, etc.) or unpredictable (hurricanes, fire, etc.)

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5
Q

environmental variation serve as a significant challenge to an organism’s ___

A

fitness

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6
Q

levels of tolerance

A

variation in environmental conditions had different consequences for different processes (reproduction, growth, survival)

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7
Q

successful reproduction/population maintenance occurs at ___ ranges than survival and growth

A

narrower

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8
Q

environmental tolerances determine the ___ ___ of organisms

A

geographic distribution

ex: most herps (reptiles and amphibians) avoid low temperatures

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9
Q

acclimatization

A

reversible (within the individual’s lifetime) shift in physiological tolerances of an individual

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10
Q

examples of acclimatization

A

thicker fur in winter, smaller leaves during dry season, humans in high altitudes

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11
Q

adaptations

A

genetically determined characteristic that enhances an individual’s fitness in its environment

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12
Q

secondary definition of adaptation

A

evolutionary process that allows organisms to become better suited to their environment

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13
Q

disclaimers about adaptations!

A

they may challenge other adaptations

they have evolutionary trade-offs

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14
Q

example of different populations adapting to the same conditions in different ways

A

humans in high altitudes

andes: high RBC concentration and larger lung volume

tibet: normal RBC conc. and elevated breathing rate

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15
Q

categories of responses

A

adaptive avoidance and adaptive tolerance

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16
Q

types of adaptive avoidance

A

behavioral (migration) and metabolic

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17
Q

examples of metabolic avoidance

A

metabolic rate depression, hibernation, and estivation

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18
Q

types of adaptive tolerance

A

behavioral, morphological, physiological, and biochemical

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19
Q

pros of migration

A

avoid harsh conditions and expand resource base

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20
Q

cons of migration

A

energetic cost and high risk of mortality

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21
Q

what determines migration?

A

seasons -> its seasonal movement to/from a region

external stimuli serve as cues

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22
Q

when is migration most advantageous?

A

when abiotic challenges are seasonal and predictable

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23
Q

example of organism that migrates

A

monarch butterflies - avoid low temperatures

wildebeest - avoid drought

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24
Q

avoidance

A

avoiding an environmental change

can occur seasonally or even daily between microhabitats/environments

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25
Q

example of organism using avoidance adaptation

A

desert iguana - regulates body temp by moving microhabitats

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26
Q

types of metabolic avoidance

A

dormancy, metabolic arrest, torpor, hibernation, or estivation

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27
Q

example of organism using dormancy

A

coconut seeds when surrounded by harsh, salty water

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28
Q

example of organism using metabolic arrest

A

brine shrimp - lose most of their bodily water content and rehydrate when water is available in their environment

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29
Q

torpor

A

short-term reduction in metabolic rate (overnight)

for low temps or food deficiency

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30
Q

hibernation

A

prolonged torpor (weeks/months)

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31
Q

estivation

A

reduction in metabolic rate due to heat or drought

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32
Q

why is temperature important to survival?

A

metabolism and other bodily systems are dependent on enzymes, which are temp sensitive

high temp -> denature
low temp -> inactive

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33
Q

what can happen to lipid membranes at low temps?

A

solidify

things can’t be transported in/out of cell

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34
Q

what happens if a cell freezes?

A

can be punctures by ice crystals

ex: frostbite

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35
Q

two ways of dealing with temperature variation

A

endotherm or ectotherm

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36
Q

what is an endotherm?

A

generate heat through metabolism

requires higher metabolic rate and energy demands

mammals and birds

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37
Q

ectotherms

A

regulate body temp through behavior, not metabolism

lower metabolic rate and energy demands

reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates

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38
Q

what are behavioral changes ectotherms can use?

A

basking, changes in posture, and changes in orientation

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39
Q

what are two standards of temperature for organisms?

A

homeotherms or poikilotherms

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40
Q

what is a homeotherm?

A

organisms that keep their body temp relatively constant

most endotherms, few ectotherms

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41
Q

example of homeotherm

A

many marine fish - live in water that stays at a constant temp

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42
Q

what is a poikilotherm?

A

organisms who have varying body temps

most, but not all, ectotherms

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43
Q

intracellular freezing is always ___

A

lethal

cell rupture

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44
Q

how can organisms deal with low temps?

A

metabolism (endo) or insulation (fur/blubber)

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45
Q

how do freeze tolerant species work?

A

have anti-freeze like compounds to lower body’s freezing point

body can cool to -20 C w/o freezing

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46
Q

examples of anti-freeze compounds

A

glycerol and glycoproteins

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47
Q

examples of freeze-tolerant species

A

Antarctic fish, some insects, painted turtles

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48
Q

extracellular freezing is…

A

challenging but possible

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49
Q

what controls the balance between and organism and it’s environment’s salt concentration?

A

osmosis

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50
Q

animal mechanism to control water/salt concentration

A

urine concentration or salt glands

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50
Q

what do salt glands allow animals to do?

A

drink sea water

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51
Q

species are limited by ___ ___ and ___

A

physical factors and resources

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52
Q

each species has __ and ___ ___ limits

A

upper and lower tolerance

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53
Q

what determines species distributions?

A

physical environment, biotic interactions, and evolutionary history

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54
Q

how can the physical environment determine a species’ distribution?

A

tolerance limits

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55
Q

examples of biotic interactions that can influence species distributions

A

food, predators, competition, parasites, and diseases

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56
Q

example of evolutionary history impact species distribution

A

polar bears being in north pole but not antarctica

can physically survive there, but won’t migrate and didn’t evolve there

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57
Q

what are climate patterns a result of?

A

shape (latitude) and tilt of earth, atmospheric circulation cells, oceanic currents, proximity to oceans and mountain ranges

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58
Q

when we discuss climate, we will consider…

A

temperature, precipitation, averages, and variation

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59
Q

why does the equator experience hot/wet climate?

A

gets focused sunlight

“angle of incidence of sunlight”

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60
Q

what causes seasonal variation?

A

spherical shape + tilt + orbit

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61
Q

what is the solar equator?

A

where the sun hits the earth’s surface perpendicularly, changes with earth’s rotation

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62
Q

what results from tropics getting more direct sunlight year-round?

A

higher average annual temperature

less seasonality in temperature

63
Q

what does the northern hemisphere experience when being tilted towards the sun?

A

more direct sunlight

longer days

64
Q

describe how hadley cells of air circulation work

A

at equator: low pressure, warm, wet air rises to create rainfall, then moves north/south and cools, colder, higher pressure, dry air sinks, warms back up and picks up moisture in regions it falls on

65
Q

what do hadley cells result in?

A

general tendency for tropical and subtropical rainforests at equator and deserts 30 degrees in latitude from there

66
Q

what are the names of all three air circulation cells in each hemisphere?

A

hadley, ferrell, and polar

67
Q

areas with the most energy incidence get the most ___

A

rainfall

68
Q

what determines wet and dry seasons in the tropics?

A

position of the solar equator

69
Q

at equator, there are ___ wet and dry seasons

A

2

rain belt passes twice a year moving north and south

70
Q

between tropics and temperate areas, which has the most temperature seasonality?

A

temperate

71
Q

between tropics and temperate areas, which has the most precipitation seasonality?

A

tropics

72
Q

global climate can be explained by:

A

spherical shape and tilt of the earth and its orbit around the sun

73
Q

temperate zones experience greater temperature in ___

A

temperature

due to tilting and orbit

74
Q

tropics experience greater seasonality in ___

A

precipitation

due to rain belt oscillation

75
Q

how does proximity to oceans impact the northern hemisphere?

A

less rainfall - less open water to get water from (than southern hem.)

higher temperature variation - less moderating effect of oceans

76
Q

what does it mean that water has a high heat capacity?

A

a large amount of heat is necessary to change its temperature

77
Q

as you get further from oceans, you observe…

A

less rainfall in interior than coast

less temperature variation along coasts

even regionally!

78
Q

how do mountain ranges impact climate?

A

rain shadow effect

79
Q

rain shadow effect

A

how one side of the mountain will have moisture and the other side will be significantly drier

80
Q

example of distribution of one species limiting the distribution of another

A

tsetse flies limiting cattle due to disease they spread

81
Q

what are examples of physical barriers that limit continental and global species distributions?

A

oceans, mountains, river

82
Q

what is a more recent way organisms have found to overcome physical barriers to distribution?

A

human movement

83
Q

how has evolutionary history impacted species distributions?

A

geological history, historical shifts in climate, and phylogenetic history

84
Q

what are examples of geological history?

A

continental drift and glaciation

85
Q

what is an example of historical shifts in climate?

A

range breaks due to historical local extinctions

86
Q

what are examples of phylogenetic history?

A

phylogenetic conservatism of species’ range limits

divergence of the range limits

87
Q

what is the great american interchange

A

north america was part of laurasia and south america was part of godwana

sa mammals colonized na and vice versa occurred

88
Q

biome

A

a biological community defined by its dominant plant forms/physical growth structure

89
Q

what’s the difference between an ecosystem and a biome?

A

can have the same basic growth forms (same biome) but consist of different species (different ecosystems)

90
Q

why are biomes centered around plants?

A

they provide overall character of an area

are primary producers (basis of food web)

have a lot of exposure to environments and no means of controlling their internal environment (compared to animals)

91
Q

what determines the distribution of plants?

A

climate, soil and disturbances

92
Q

what are examples of aspects of CLIMATE that can influence plant distribution?

A

temperature, precipitation, and seasonality

93
Q

what are aspects of SOIL that determine plant distribution?

A

permeability and nutrient composition

94
Q

what are examples of DISTURBANCES that influence plant distribution?

A

fire, herbivores, and anthropogenic effects

95
Q

why do temperate zones experience greater seasonality in ___?

A

temperature

earth’s tilt and orbit

96
Q

why do tropic zones experience greater seasonality in ___?

A

precipitation

rain belt oscillations

97
Q

what makes grasses different from most other plants?

A

grasses grow from their base, underground

most other plants grow from tips

grasses are better protected from disturbances

better adapted to warm, dry conditions due to their photosynthetic pathway

98
Q

what does a Whittaker climate diagram do?

A

define biomes by their average temperature and annual precipitation

99
Q

what is the primary problem with Whittaker climate diagrams?

A

they disregard seasonality, fires, and soil conditions because they are so big picture

good for a general understanding though

100
Q

despite being discrete entities on the Whittaker climate diagram, the different biomes have…

A

a lot of continuous variability within them

101
Q

what are on the axes of Whittaker climate diagrams?

A

x = average temp (backwards orientation!)

y = annual precipitation

102
Q

things to note about walter climate diagrams

A

absolute temperature and precipitation

10 degrees to 20 mm relationship btwn temperature and precipitation

number of months with average minimum above freezing are highlighted on x-axis

103
Q

what does a walter climate diagram recognize?

A

importance of variation in climate throughout the year

104
Q

when can plants grow in a walter climate diagram?

A

when precipitation line is above temperature line and temperature line is over 0C

105
Q

what can we identify from WCD?

A

general temperature and presence of seasonality

general precipitation and presence of seasonality

droughts

presence and length of growth season

hemispherical geography

106
Q

sclerophyllous scrub growth form

A

tough, leathery leaves

107
Q

sclerophyllous shrub environment

A

temperature and precipitation seasonality, warm/cool

108
Q

deciduous tree growth form

A

they drop their leaves in cold or dry periods

109
Q

deciduous tree environment

A

moist, seasonally warm/cool on fertile soils or warm, seasonally wet/dry

110
Q

grasses, sedges growth form

A

grow from the base of their leaves

111
Q

grasses, sedges environment

A

moist, temperature seasonality, with fire

112
Q

cacti and shrub growth form

A

succulent stems/leaves, water storage tissues

113
Q

cacti and shrub environment

A

dry, seasonally hot/cool

114
Q

evergreen broad-leaved trees growth form

A

photosynthesis year-round

115
Q

evergreen broad-leaved trees environment

A

wet, warm year-round

116
Q

needle-leaved evergreen trees growth form

A

photosynthesis year-round

117
Q

needle-leaved evergreen trees environment

A

moist, seasonally warm/cool or cool cold in infertile soils

118
Q

forbs growth form

A

broad-leaved herbaceous (non-woody) plants

119
Q

forbs environment

A

seasonally cool/cold

120
Q

what are the three main types of biomes?

A

tropical, temperate, and boreal

121
Q

what are characteristics of tropical biomes?

A

within about 20-30 degrees of equator

temperatures vary more within a single day than from month to month

seasonality of rainfall

plants are not freeze-tolerant

122
Q

what are the types of tropical biomes

A

tropical rainforests, savannas, and deserts

123
Q

what characterizes tropical rainforests?

A

broad-leaved evergreen trees

continuous canopies with multiple understory layers

low temperature seasonality, high rainfall (1 or 2 peaks)

124
Q

tropical rainforests have high ___ but poor ___

A

biodiversity - 7% of land surface, 75% of known species

soils - quick and continuous decomposition of plant litter due to temp and humidity, clay soils don’t hold nutrients well

125
Q

what are tropical rainforests vulnerable to?

A

disturbances like logging/burning (removes nutrients), rain leaching nutrients away, soil erosion

126
Q

stratification

A

when a habitat has vertical layering

1: emergent trees
2: canopy
3: understory
4: forest floor
plus lianas and epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants)

127
Q

what is the main difference between the climate of savannas and rainforests?

A

seasonality of precipitation is the same but now temp can drop lower

there are also droughts in savannas and not rainforests

128
Q

what do animals characteristically do in savannas?

A

migrate due to seasonality of precipitation

129
Q

what are savannas characterized by?

A

frequent fires (from lightning)

usually grasslands

few trees because of the fires and existing species are fire-adaptive and many are endemic (only in that place) - some plants even need fire to germinate

130
Q

types of deserts

A

hadley cell, rain shadow, continental interior

131
Q

what are deserts characterized by?

A

droughts and minimal plant growth

never a month in Walter climate diagrams that supports plant growth (drought or freezing)

sustained periods of high temps and low water availability

plants grow quickly when rainfall does occur

132
Q

what type of plants grow in deserts?

A

succulents, shrubs, and grasses

133
Q

what are examples of temperate biomes?

A

grasslands, shrublands, and deciduous forests

  • some part of their Walter climate diagram will always be below freesing
134
Q

what is the primary differentiation between temperate biomes?

A

totals amounts and seasonal patterns of precipitation

135
Q

why is frost important?

A

frost-free season is “growing” season

136
Q

temperate grasslands climate

A

too dry for trees, but wet enough for grasses (not desert dry)

most precipitation occurs during non-freezing, growing seasons

137
Q

temperate grasslands characteristics

A

maintained by drought, fires, and grazing

large populations of big roaming herbivores

dominated by grasses and herbaceous vegetation

high productivity and fertile soils

138
Q

example of temperate grassland

A

great plains in US

139
Q

mediterranean shrublands climate

A

mild, rainy winter and hot, drought summers

asynchrony between summer growing season with low rainfall and winter rains

won’t necessarily get below freezing

140
Q

mediterranean shrubland characteristics

A

regular fire disturbances

fire-adaptive plants, but no cacti

sun and warm temp year round

open canopy of short trees and thick, evergreen shrubs

sclerophyllous vegetation

high species diversity

141
Q

temperate deciduous forest climate

A

50-90 mm precipitation each month

mix of temps above and below freezing

enough rainfall to support tree growth

142
Q

temperate deciduous forests characteristics

A

soils are fertile enough to support trees after they lose their leaves

lose leaves in extended periods of freezing (bc why maintain leaves when they aren’t serving a purpose?)

species diversity lower than tropical forests

fire not a major factor

this is where we live!

143
Q

what plants usually grow in temperature deciduous forests?

A

oak, maple, beech trees plus shrubs and forbs

144
Q

examples of boreal biomes

A

boreal forests and tundra

145
Q

what is a characteristic trait of boreal biomes?

A

soils with permafrost (some portion is always frozen) -> slow decomposition (bc its so cold) leading to excess of organic matter and poor nutrients

plants can’t have deep roots

146
Q

boreal forests climate

A

long winters and short growing seasons

high temperature seasonality

cold and dry

subfreezing temps up to 6 months

147
Q

boreal forests characteristics

A

largest biome - 1/3 of earth’s forested land

mostly coniferous trees

cold, wet and permafrost soil

summer droughts promote fires (think canada)

148
Q

tundra climate

A

cold - very short growing season

permafrost

soil - poor; low rates of decomposition

149
Q

tundra characteristics

A

low shrubs, grasses, lichens, and mosses

continuous light for 1-2 months in summer

low precipitation, permafrost prevents soil drainage

very low temps most of the year

150
Q

importance of mountains when studying biomes

A

create elevation based climatic gradients that change rapidly

altitude changes serve like latitudinal changes, can keep geography relatively constant

151
Q

how much do temperatures increase for every 1000m increase in elevation?

A

6.4 C

152
Q

what are examples of population demography factors?

A

size, age structure, and distribution

153
Q

example of demography used in conversative biology

A

saving sea turtles from extinction due to fishing issues

able to use demography to better target high mortality rate time periods

154
Q

life span

A

maximum number of years an individual can potentially live

155
Q

life expectancy

A

expectation of life at a certain age

affected by the probability of dying at different ages

bio 220 (11 decks)

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