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Organisms And Their Environment > Biomes to population > Flashcards

Biomes to population Flashcards

1
Q

What is ecology

A

the “study of the household [of nature]2

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2
Q

What is a biome

A

each region with its characteristic climate, day-length, topography, flora and fauna

Community of plants and animals that have common characteristics for the environment they exist in.

Distinct biological communities that have formed in response to shared physical climate.

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3
Q

What 2 abiotic factors are used to classify biomes

A

precipitation and temperature

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4
Q

Average precipitation of tropical rainforests

A

60mm - occur in areas where there is no dry season

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5
Q

Where are true rainforests found

A

between 10degrees N and 10 degrees south of the equator

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6
Q

Where do tropical rainforests usually occur

A

within the 28° latitudes (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn)

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7
Q

Mean monthly temperature of tropical rainforest

A

18 degrees C

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8
Q

Average annual rainfall of tropical rainforest

A

No less than 1680 mm, can exceed 10m. Average - 1750-3000 mm

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9
Q

Why do tropical rainforests have poor soils

A

due to high level of precipitation

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10
Q

Is biodiversity high or low in tropical rainforests

A

high - 40 - 75% of all biotic species indigenous to rainforests

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11
Q

Tropical rainforest biodiversity stats

A

Home to 50% all living animal and plant species on Earth: 66% all flowering plants. 1 ha may contain - 42,000 species of insect, 300 species of trees, 1,500 species of higher plants

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12
Q

Tropical rainforests are being threatened …

A

due to large scale fragmentation

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13
Q

habitat fragmentation causes

A

caused by geological processes (volcanism) and climate change in past, identified as drivers of speciation. Human driven fragmentation one of major causes of species extinction

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14
Q

Habitat fragmentation definition

A

Process by which habitat loss results in division of large, continuous habitats into a greater number of smaller patches of: lower total area, isolated from each other by matrix of dissimilar habitats.

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15
Q

Consequences of patch isolation

A

reduces population connectivity, probability of population persistence.

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16
Q

Apart from oceans what is the worlds largest biome

A

boreal forest (taiga)

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17
Q

What is the % cover of boreal forest

A

29% of world’s forest cover

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18
Q

Where is boreal forest found

A

throughout the high northern latitudes, between tundra and temperate forest, about 50° N to 70° N.

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19
Q

How is boreal forest charcterized

A

by coniferous forests: mostly pines, spruces and larches

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20
Q

After tundra/permanent ice caps which biome has lowest annual av temperature

A

boreal forest

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21
Q

Boreal forest climate

A

sub-Arctic climate with very large temperature range between seasons; long and cold winter is dominant feature.

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22
Q

Boreal forest summers

A

1-3 months (always less than 4)

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23
Q

How long do winters last in boreal forest

A

5-8 months

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24
Q

How much does temperature vary in boreal forests

A

-54 to 30 degrees C

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25
Q

Typical winter day temperature - boreal forest

A

-20 degrees C

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26
Q

Typical summer day temperature - boreal forest

A

18 degrees C

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27
Q

Boreal forests type 1 - southern: closed canopy forest

A

many closely spaced trees with mossy ground cover

clearings with shrubs and wildflowers common.

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28
Q

Boreal forest type 2 - Northern: lichen woodland or sparse taiga

A

trees more spaced and lichen ground cover

forest cover often stunted in growth form

in North America ice-pruned and asymmetric with diminished foliage on the windward side

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29
Q

Where are temperature deciduous forests found

A

areas with moist summers and mild winters.
Three major areas occur in Northern Hemisphere: North America (mainly Eastern), East Asia, Europe

Smaller areas in: Australasia, North America (Western), Southern South America

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30
Q

What are temperature deciduous forests dominated by

A

trees that lose their leaves each year

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31
Q

Typical trees found in temperature deciduous forests

A

oak, maple, beech and elm (Northern) and southern beech, Northofagus spp. (Southern).

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32
Q

Where is diversity higher in temperature deciduous forests

A

where winter milder and mountainous regions that provide array of soil types.

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33
Q

Where is the largest intact deciduous forest

A

6 million acre Adirondack Park, upstate New York

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34
Q

How did human colonization effect temperature deciduous forests

A

Harvested wood for timber and charcoal. Many forests small fragments dissected by fields and roads. Introduction of exotic diseases a threat to forest trees (e.g. chestnut and elm). Animals such as deer (clearing rather than forest animals), expanded range and proliferated

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35
Q

Describe a desert

A

Barren area of landscape where little precipitation occurs.

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36
Q

Annual precipitation in a desert

A

25-200 mm - some years none

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37
Q

Biodiversity in a desert

A

low - Living conditions hostile for plant and animal life. Lack of vegetation exposes ground to denudation.

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38
Q

what % of land surface is arid or semi-arid (little rain)

A

33%

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39
Q

What is a desert classified by

A

precipitation, temperature, causes of desertification, geographical location.

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40
Q

What are the 3 types of desert climate

A

Hot – between 30 ° S and 30 ° N (horse latitudes).
Mild - west coasts of continents; near-tropical locations.
Cold - typically located in temperate zones. (Arctic and Antarctic regions have polar climates).

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41
Q

Beetle in the desert

A

Stenocara gracilipes, beetle native to Namib Desert, Southern Africa.

Very arid area: 1.4 cm rain per year.

Beetle survives by collecting water on rough back surface from early morning fogs and humid air

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42
Q

What renewable energy source are deserts good for

A

renewable energy source - Mojave Desert (USA) Solar Park – large areas covered in mirrors; combined capacity 354 MW.

Sahara Desert – estimated all of the world’s electricity needs could be supplied from from 10% of Sahara. Major European interest – DESERTEC.

Negev Desert, Israel

43
Q

What do anthromes include

A

Urban, Village, Cropland, Rangeland, Seminatural anthrome

44
Q

What are anthromes

A

Globally significant ecological patterns created by sustained interactions between humans and biomes / ecosystems.

45
Q

Define ecosystem

A

Whole community of living organisms in conjunction with the non-living components of their environment (e.g. air, water and mineral soil).

46
Q

What do ecosystems usually include

A

Primary producers, Decomposers and detritivores, Pool of dead organic matter, Herbivores, carnivores and parasites, Physico-chemical environment (source and sink for energy and matter)

47
Q

How are biotic and abiotic factors linked together in an ecosystem

A

through nutrient cycles and energy flows

48
Q

What is respiration

A

plants (animals and micro-organisms) release carbon locked in photosynthetic products back to atmospheric and hydrospheric carbon compartments

49
Q

What is primary productivity

A

rate biomass produced per unit area by plants, the primary producers

50
Q

What is gross primary productivity

A

total fixation of energy by photosynthesis

51
Q

What is autotrophic respiration

A

proportion energy fixed by photosynthesis lost by respiration

52
Q

What is net primary productivity

A

difference between GPP and RA; represents actual rate of production of new biomass available for consumption by heterotrophic organisms (bacteria, fungi and animals).

53
Q

What is secondary productivity

A

rate production of biomass by heterotrophs

54
Q

Different types of patterns in primary productivity

A

1.Latitudinal trends in productivity
2.Seasonal / annual trends in primary productivity
3.Autochthonous and allochthonous
4.Variations in productivity to biomass relationship
5.Above-ground NPP and below-ground NPP for five categories of grassland ecosystems

55
Q

What is autochthonous

A

Organic matter produced by photosynthesis within an ecosystem’s boundaries

56
Q

What is allochtonous

A

Organic matter imported from elsewhere

57
Q

Consumption efficiency formula

A

energy consumed (C) / Energy availabke (T)

58
Q

Assimilation efficiency formula

A

energy assimilated (A) / energy consumed (C)

59
Q

Growth (production) efficiency formula

A

energy fixed in tissues (P) / energy assimilated (A)

60
Q

Who has higher assimilation efficiencies

A

organisms further along the food chain because of their diet quality

61
Q

Why is diet quality improved as you go further along the food chain

A

Herbivores have plentiful supply: 33% may be non-digestible cellulose (without bacteria) Assimilation efficiencies low – around 10%. Need to consume large volume of vegetation

Carnivores: energy as fats and proteins. Richer and more readily digestible. Assimilation efficiencies as high as 90%

62
Q

What are endotherms

A

warm blooded animals

63
Q

Endotherms metabolic costs

A

high metabolic costs; over 90% of energy income may be spent in maintaining body temperature

64
Q

What are ectotherms

A

cold blooded animals

65
Q

Ectotherms metabolic costs

A

rely on external heat sources; can devote more of their energy to production

66
Q

What is production efficiency

A

percentage of assimilated energy incorporated into new biomass

67
Q

Define communities

A

A naturally occurring group of plants, animals and other organisms interacting in a unique habitat.

68
Q

What do communities add to their habitat

A

The complex range of interactions between the component species provides an important level of biological diversity in addition to genetics and species

69
Q

How can we understand communities

A

by examining the two-way, and then the multi-way, interactions involving pairs of species or many species

70
Q

Define mutualism

A

the way two organisms of different species exist in a relationship in which each individual benefits from the activity of the other.

71
Q

What is co-operation

A

mutualism within a species

72
Q

Mutualistic protector example: striped cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus

A

Establishes “cleaning station“ (cave or overhang); swims in a bobbing, dance - like motion. Larger fish come to the cleaning station for ectoparasite removal. (client clean - less infection)
Swims around the fish picking off and eating the parasites. Often enters the mouth and gill chamber of large fish (food source)

73
Q

Farming mutualisms - leaf-cutting ants

A

Fungus only grows in the underground chambers of the ants’ nest
Ants actively cultivate their fungus (Lepiotaceae family) and maintain it free from pests and moulds
bacterium that grows on the ants secretes chemicals which protect the fungus from moulds - portable antimicrobials.
When ants bring back toxic leaves, fungus secretes a chemical that warns the ant not to collect any more of that type of leaf

74
Q

Pollination mutualisms

A

Nectar and pollen offered as reward
Reduces wastage of pollen
Costs: pollinator attraction, disease transfer
Pollinators par excellence – insect

75
Q

Which animals have a rumen

A

cows, sheep, goats and cammels

76
Q

Function of the rumen

A

Microbial populations collaborate to digest cellulose and other polysaccharides producing carbon dioxide, methane and organic acids.

77
Q

Microbial content in the rumen

A

Fungi (digest lignin and cellulose), Bacteria, Protozoa- mutualistic relationship to live in the rumen

78
Q

How big is the rumen in sheep and in cows

A

In sheep, ~ 6 L; in cows, ~ 50-150L

79
Q

What is interspecific competition

A

Individuals of one species suffer a reduction in fecundity, growth or survivorship as a result of resource exploitation or interference by individuals of another species

80
Q

Interspecific competition: Dolly Varden Charr

A

Either species alone, higher temperature led to increased aggression

Effect reversed when Dolly Varden charr in presence of white- spotted charr

At higher temperatures Dolly Varden charr suppressed from obtaining favorable foraging positions when white-spotted charr present

Dolly Varden charr also suffered lower growth rates

81
Q

Interspecific competition example: Galium hercynicum and G.pumilum

A

Galium hercynicum grows naturally in UK at acidic sites; G. pumilum confined to more calcareous soils.

Alone – both species thrive on both soils

Together – only G. hercynicum grew successfully on acidic soil and only G. pumilum on calcareous soil

Together species compete; one species competitively excluded. Outcome is habitat – dependent

82
Q

Interspecific competition example: paramecium aurelia, P.caudatum, P.bursaria.

A

Laboratory experiment. Paramecium consumed bacteria or yeast cells; these lived on regularly replenished oatmeal. All three species grew well alone, reaching stable carrying capacities in tubes of liquid medium

P.aurelia and P.caudatum together. P. caudatum always declined to the point of extinction, leaving P.aurelia as victor

P. caudatum and P.busaria together. Neither species suffered a decline to point of extinction. Stable densities much lower than when grown alone – indicating competition

83
Q

What is Gause’s principle: competitive exclusion principle

A

If two competing species coexist in a stable environment, then they do so as a result of niche differentiation, i.e. differentiation of their realized niches.

If, however, there is no such differentiation, or if it is precluded by the habitat, then one competing species will eliminate or exclude the other

84
Q

What is a population

A

A group of organisms of one species. Usually separated in some degree from other groups of the same species by geographical, topographical or by some boundary chosen by investigator

85
Q

When does random spatial distribution occur

A

variance = mean

86
Q

When does contagious spatial distribution occur

A

variance greater than mean

87
Q

When does regular spatial distribution occur

A

variance is less than mean

88
Q

Which spatial distribution is the most common and why

A

clumping - because there is safety in numbers and there is social interaction to care for young and help to access resources. Resources are clumped

89
Q

Why is uniform distribution

A

used because of scarce resources - not as cpmmon

90
Q

Why is random distribution hard to determine

A

hard to say if it is truly random or largely clumpy - quite rare

91
Q

How do population exhibit dynamic behaviour

A

through the action of changing rates of emigration, immigration, birth and death. It is the quantification and explanation of these numerical changes that concern the population ecologist

92
Q

What is exponential growth

A

when uncrowded populations grow by simple multiplication over successive intervals of time

93
Q

What happens to populations that have continuous exponential growth

A

they run out of resources - Competing individuals that fail to find resources they need may grow more slowly or even die; survivors may reproduce later and less; or, if they are mobile, they move further apart or migrate elsewhere

94
Q

What is carrying capacity

A

A species’ average population size in a particular habitat

95
Q

What shape is the population rate when it gets closer to K (carrying capacity)

A

there is a reduction in the rate of increase giving S-shaped curve. Logistic grow pattern

96
Q

Relationship between population density and rate of increase - what is this referred to as

A

inverse relationship - density dependent effect

97
Q

What are the 2 extreme forms of intraspecific competition

A

contest competition and scramble competition

98
Q

What is scramble competition

A

Resource is shared amongst all the competing animals

Sharing would be equal and the mortality would raise immediately from 0 to 100% when the resource per capita becomes just insufficient for survival

99
Q

What is contest competition

A

Each successful animal gets all it requires.

The unsuccessful animals get insufficient for survival and reproduction.

Mortality increases with density

100
Q

Example of contest competition

A

Competition between solitary wasps for limited number of nest holes

101
Q

r-selected species

A

Potential to multiply rapidly - producing large numbers of progeny early in the life cycle.

Strategy advantageous in environments that are short-lived.

Allows organisms to colonise new habitats quickly and exploit new resources.

Spend most of their life in the exponential, r-dominated part of population growth

102
Q

Example of r-selected species

A

Annual weeds (invade disturbed land), mosquito larvae (temporary puddle), blowfly laying their eggs on a dead chick

103
Q

K-selected species

A

Organisms with different life histories survive in habitats where there is intense competition for limited resources.

Successful individuals are those that capture, and often hold on to, the larger share of resources.

Those that win in struggle for existence do so because they have grown faster (rather than reproducing) or some other activity (e.g. aggression) has favored them.

104
Q

K-selected species example

A

whooping crane, redwood forests, mike whale

Organisms And Their Environment (9 decks)

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