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DAT Bio FINAL > 14 Ecology > Flashcards

14 Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

Dispersion:

A

describes how individuals in a population are distributed; may be clumped, uniform, or
random.

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2
Q

Age structure:

A

description of the abundance of individuals of each age. Shape changes based on reproductive rate.

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3
Q
  1. Survivorship curves:
A

how mortality of individuals in a species varies during their lifetimes.

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4
Q

type I survivorship

A

most individuals survive to middle age and dies quicker after this age (human).

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5
Q

type II survivorship

A

length of survivorship is random (invertebrates-hydra).

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6
Q

Type III: survivorship

A

most individuals die young, with few surviving to reproductive age and beyond
(oysters). Typical of species that produce free-swimming larvae – the few that survive being eaten
become adults.

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7
Q

Biotic potential:

A

maximum growth rate under ideal conditions (unlimited resources and no
restrictions). The following factors contribute to biotic potential of a species: age at reproductive maturity, clutch size (# offspring produced at each reproduction), frequency of reproduction, reproductive lifetime,
survivorship of offspring to reproductive maturity.

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8
Q

Carrying capacity (K):

A

maximum number of individuals of a population that can be sustained by
habitat.

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9
Q

Limiting factors:

A

elements that prevent a population from reaching its biotic potential.

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10
Q

density dependent limiting factors

A

(limiting effect becomes more intense as population density increases-
competition for resources, spread of disease, parasites, predation, toxic effect of waste products, in some cases reproductive behavior abandoned when population attains high density) and

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11
Q

density independent limiting factors

A

(occur independently of density of population such as natural disasters or big temp changes).

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12
Q

growth rate of population

A

births-deaths/ N

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13
Q

Intrinsic rate:

A

when the reproductive rate (r) is maximum (biotic potential).

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14
Q

Exponential growth: occurs when

A 
reproductive rate (r) is greater than zero. the population accumulates more new individuals
per unit time when it’s larger, thus it curves to be more steep over time.
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15
Q

Logistic growth:

A

occurs when limiting factors restrict size of population to the carrying capacity
of habitat.

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16
Q

K is carrying capacity

A

– maximum population size that a particular environment can sustain.

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17
Q

K-selected population

A

– members have low reproductive rates and are roughly constant (at K) in size (humans). Competition among individuals tends to be stronger and there is a
limitation imposed by resources.

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18
Q

R – selected population

A

rapid exponential population growth, numerous offspring that are small, fast
maturation, little postnatal care needed. Generally found in rapidly changing environments affected by density independent factors. growth curves that are exponential. Population densities
are well below carrying capacity, little competition faced.

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19
Q

opportunistic species

A

species that quickly invade habitat and then die

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20
Q

Bacterial Growth: 4 phases

A
  • lag phase: bacteria adapt and mature to eco
  • log phase (exponential) doubling here in size
  • stationary phase: growth rate= death rate from limiting factor
  • death phase: DIE
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21
Q

Shannon diversity index

A

higher means more diverse population

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22
Q

Competitive exclusion principle (Gause’s principle):

A

two species compete for exactly the same
resources (or occupy the same niche), one is likely to be more successful (no two species can sustain
coexistence if they occupy the same niche).

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23
Q

Resource partitioning:

A

two species occupy same niche but pursue slightly different resources or
securing their resources in different ways, individuals minimize competition and maximize success
(multiple species-slightly different niches).

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24
Q

Character displacement (niche shift):

A

a result of resource partitioning, certain traits allow for more
success in obtaining resources in their partitions reduces competition divergence of features (character displacement).

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25
Q

Realized niche:

A

niche that an organism occupies in absence of competing species is its fundamental
niche. When competitors are present, one/both species may be able to coexist by occupying their realized
niches

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26
Q

Parasitoid

A

an insect that lays its eggs on host (insect or spider). After eggs hatch, larvae obtain
nourishment by consuming host’s tissues. Host eventually dies, but not until larvae complete
development and begin pupation.

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27
Q

Granivores

A

seed eaters

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28
Q

browser

A

eat leaves

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29
Q

Commensalism

A

one benefits, the other is unaffected

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30
Q

Mutualism

A

both orgs benefit

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31
Q

Parasitism

A

benefits at the expense of the host; bacteria and fungi; live with
minimum expenditure of energy

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32
Q

Facilitation

A

species have positive effects (+/+ or 0/+) on the survival and reproduction of another
species w/out necessarily living in the direct and intimate contact of symbiosis.

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33
Q

Saprophytism

A

decompose dead organic matter externally and absorb nutrients
*scavengers directly feed

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34
Q

Zoonotic pathogens

A

transferred from other

animals to humans.

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35
Q

Vectors

A

intermediate species of infxns.

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36
Q

Interference competition

A

directly between individuals via aggression. individuals can’t establish on habitat. can happen through allelopathy

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37
Q

allelopathy

A

the production of biochemical by an organism that influences the
growth/survival/reproduction of other organisms).

38
Q

Exploitation competition

A

occurs indirectly through

depletion of a common resource.

39
Q

Apparent competition

A

occurs between 2 species preyed upon by the same predator

40
Q

Arthropods regulate water by

A

secreting solid uric crystals

41
Q

Cold-blooded (poikilothermic) temp regulation

A

–vast majority of plants and animals; body temp. is close

to that of surroundings, so metabolism is radically affected by environmental temp.

42
Q

Warm-blooded (homeothermic)

A

make use of heat produced by respiration; physical

adaptations like fat, hair, and feathers retard heat loss (Ex: mammals and birds)

43
Q

Coevolution:

A

evolution of one species in response to new adaptation that appear in another species.

44
Q
  1. Secondary compounds:
A

toxic chemicals produced in plants that discourage would-be herbivores

45
Q
  1. Aposematic coloration (warning coloration):
A

conspicuous pattern or coloration of animals that warns

predators that they sting, bite, taste bad, poisonous, or are otherwise to be avoided.

46
Q

Mimicry:

A

occurs when two or more species resemble one another in appearance.

47
Q

Mullerian mimicry:

A

occurs when several animals, all with some special defense mechanism,
share the same coloration

48
Q

Batesian mimicry:

A

occurs when animal without any special defense mechanism mimics the
coloration of an animal that does possess a defense.

49
Q

(blowout).

A

catastrophic event wiping pop

50
Q

Substrate texture:

A

changes from solid to rock or something

51
Q
  1. Primary succession:
A

substrates that never previously supported living things like lava and then lichens come, then water, then soil et

  • then r selected species
  • then k selected
52
Q

secondary succession

A

had life, had a disaster, then life came back

53
Q

dominant species

A

species in a community that is the most abundant or collectively has the
highest biomass.

54
Q

keystone species

A

usually abundant but exert a strong control on community

structure not by high quantity but through their pivotal ecological role.

55
Q

Ecosystem engineers

A

foundation species dramatically alter their physical environment.

56
Q

water cycle

A

reservoir to assimilation into plants and animals. then release from transpiration and decomposition

57
Q

carbon cycle

A

reservoir then plant uses co2 (assimilation) then release when stuff dies

58
Q

nitrogen cycle

A

nitrogen reservoir from atm. then assimilation by plants (nitrification) then

59
Q

phosphorus cycle

A

reservoir is sediment. then assimilation by plants, then release when they die

60
Q

Tropical rain forest:

A

high (but stable) temperature and humidity, heavy rainfall, (tall trees with branch
at tops
little light to enter). Most diverse biome.

61
Q

Epiphytes

A

plants that grow on other plants (like vines)

62
Q

Savannas:

A

tropical grasslands with scattered trees. similar to tropics in that they have high temperature, but they get very little rainfall (25 inch). this be Australia and africa. very fiery

63
Q

ungulates,

A

large hooved plant-eating mammals like giraffes.

64
Q

Temperate grasslands:

A

receive less water (+ uneven seasonal occurrence of rainfaill) and are subject
to lower temperatures than savannas (e.g. north American prairie). Grassland soils are among the most
fertile in the world.

65
Q

Temperate deciduous forests:

A

warm summers, cold winters, and moderate precipitation. Large
deciduous trees shed leaves during winter. Soil is rich due to leaf shed.
*have vertical stratification

66
Q

Vertical stratification:

A

plants+animals live on ground, low branches, and treetops. Principal mammals hibernate through cold
winter.

67
Q

Temperate coniferous:

A

cold (sometimes dry) forests; vegetation has evolved adaptations to conserve
water (needle leaves). Some temperate coniferous forests aren’t dry and receive precipitation via rainfall.
Cold, but warmer than taigas.

68
Q

Deserts:

A

hot and dry; most extreme temp fluctuations (hot day, cold night); growth of annual plants
is limited to short period following rare rain, plants and animals adapt to conserve as much water as
possible (urinate infrequently, cacti spines, etc)

69
Q

Taigas:

A

south of the tundra. Coniferous forests (and trees with needles for leaves: spruce, fir, pine).
Very long cold winters and low precipitation in form of heavy snow. Largest terrestrial biome.

70
Q

Tundras:

A

cold winters (ground freezes), top layer thaws during summer support minimal vegetation
(moss, lichen, low growing shrubs, grasses - treeless). but deeper soil (permafrost) remains permanently
frozen. Very little rainfall that can’t penetrate frozen ground. Short growing season.

71
Q

Chaparral:

A 
terrestrial biome along California coastline characterized by wet winters, dry summers,
scattered vegetation (dense, spiny shrubs) – California fires happen here
72
Q

polar region

A

frozen

73
Q

Fresh water biomes:

A

ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers. Hypotonic to organisms, affected by
climate/weather variations.

74
Q

estuaries

A

(where oceans and river meet),

75
Q

intertidal zones

A

(where ocean meet land),

76
Q

continental shelves/littoral zone

A

(shallow oceans bordering continents),

77
Q

benthic zone

A

lowest layer of a body of water, including
sediment surface and sub-surface layers. In ocean water (deep) light doesn’t penetrate; most organisms
are scavengers and detritivores.

78
Q

pelagic,

A

middle layer of water

Epiplagic, mesopelagic, bathypelagic, abyssopelagic, hadopelagic

79
Q

Epiplagic

A

(surface layer of water, only photic zone since

enough light for penetration, nearly all primary production of ocean occurs here)

80
Q

mesopelagic

A

(not enough light for photosynthesis, minimal oxygen)

81
Q

bathypelagic

A

(pitch black, no plant life, most organisms here consume detritus that comes down from above)

82
Q

abyssopelagic

A

(cold, high pressure, most species have no eyes due to lack of light)

83
Q

hadopelagic

A

(most life here exists in hydrothermal vents).

84
Q

turnover

A

In autumn and spring, oxygenated water from surface goes to the
bottom and nutrients from the bottom go to the top.

85
Q

Eutrophication

A

process of nutrient enrichment in lakes and subsequent

increase in biomass

86
Q

Critical load

A

amount of added nutrient (usually N or P) that can be absorbed by plants w/out
damaging ecosystem integrity.

87
Q

Biological augmentation:

A

using

organisms to add essential materials to degraded ecosystem

88
Q

bioremediation

A

using organisms to detoxify a polluted ecosystem

89
Q

Extinction vortex:

A

small population size

inbreeding, genetic drift have significant effect loss of genetic variability
reduced fitness ↓ survival. To avoid this a population must sustain itself at the minimum viable population (even lower!)

90
Q

rain shadows

A

areas of dry land that form on the leeward side (downwind) of a high mountain. Rain approaches mountain,
surrounding air becomes cooler due point eventually reached precipitation occurs as cloud gains precipitation, continues to rain towards peak cloud begins to descend leeway side of mountain decrease in elevation air temperature increases precipitation decreases rain shadow is dry (desert biome). Can occur in the high mountains of Europe and even the Andes of South America.

DAT Bio FINAL (22 decks)

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