2.1 Species and Populations

Question 1

Hierarchy

Answer 1

a system of organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority. In such a system, entities are arranged in a pyramid-like structure with the highest level of authority at the top.

Question 2

King Phillip Came Over From Greater Spain

Answer 2

An mnemonic to remember the levels of the taxonomic hierarchy: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.

Question 3

Rules for species notation

Answer 3

Itallics (or underlined if hand written).
Genus with a capital. Species in lower case.

Question 4

Species

Answer 4

a group of living organisms that share common characteristics and can breed with one another to produce fertile offspring.

Question 5

Binomial System of Classification

Answer 5

A unique genus/species combination to denote an individual “species”

Question 6

Problems with using common names for species (instead of scientific names)

Answer 6

• Some species have multiple common names.
• Not standardized across the world.
• The same common name can be used to identify different species.

Question 7

Nomenclature

Answer 7

The methodical, systematic way of naming organisms.
The way in which something is named.

Question 8

Undescribed (species)

Answer 8

A species that has not undergone formal classification/naming and standardization.

Question 9

Why there are more insects than any other taxa

Answer 9

• Short life span (fast evolution)
• High levels of resilience
• Ability to occupy small and varied niches.

Question 10

Dichotomous Key

Answer 10

a tool that allows the identification of organisms. It is called “dichotomous” because at each step, the key presents two choices (either/or) about the characteristics of the organism or object.

Question 11

No-nos when using/designing a dichotomous key

Answer 11

• Aways start at “number 1”
• No behavioral or habitat traits

Question 12

Organism (Ecological Hierarchy)

Answer 12

the basic, individual units of biological structure and function, interacting with each other in populations

Question 13

Population (Ecological Hierarchy)

Answer 13

individuals of the same species living in a specific area, sharing genetic material and interacting within their environment, contributing to the structure and dynamics of ecological communities.
Between “organism” and “community” in the ecological hierarchy.

Question 14

Community (Ecological Hierarchy)

Answer 14

a group of interacting populations of different species living together in a particular area, forming a network of relationships that influence each other’s distribution, abundance, and evolutionary adaptation.
Between “population” and “ecosystem” in the ecological hierarchy.

Question 15

Ecosystem (Ecological Hierarchy)

Answer 15

Between “community” and “biome” in the ecological hierarchy, and in which the biotic factors interact with the abiotic factors of an environment.

Question 16

Biotic factors

Answer 16

The living components of an ecosystem.
Plants and animals (and dead or decomposing organic matter)

Question 17

Abiotic factors

Answer 17

The non-living parts of an ecosystem. Rocks, soil, water, air.

Question 18

Predation

Answer 18

One animal (the predator) kills and consumes another (the prey) for sustenance.

Question 19

Herbivory

Answer 19

When a herbivore consumes a plant for sustenance.

Question 20

Intraspecies competition

Answer 20

Two members of the same species competing for a shared resource, such as food or reproductive partners.
Different from interspecies competition, which involves competition between two different species.

Question 21

Interspecies competition

Answer 21

Members of two different species competing for a shared resource such as food or space.
Different from intraspecies competition which involves competition within the same species.

Question 22

Niche vs habitat

Answer 22

A habitat is the place an organism occupies in an ecosystem, whereas a niche is its role or function.

Question 23

Habitat

Answer 23

The physical space occupied by an organism from which it sources resources such as shelter and food.

Question 24

Fundamental niche

Answer 24

the full range of environmental conditions and resources an organism can potentially use and occupy without the influence of competition or other species interactions.
Separate from a realized niche, which accounts for competition.

Question 25

Realized niche

Answer 25

the actual conditions and resources an organism uses and occupies in an ecosystem, taking into account interactions such as competition, predation, and symbiosis, which may limit its existence to a smaller subset of its fundamental niche

Question 26

Competitive advantage

Answer 26

the traits or characteristics that allow an organism or species to outcompete others for resources, leading to greater survival, reproduction, and occupancy within a given environment or niche

Question 27

Commensalism

Answer 27

symbiotic relationship between two species where one species benefits without affecting the other, either positively or negatively

Question 27

Symbiosis

Answer 27

a long-term interaction between two different species, where at least one party benefits. Includes mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism

Question 28

Mutualism

Answer 28

symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit

Question 29

Parasitism

Answer 29

symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits to the detriment of the other

Question 30

Examples of mutualism

Answer 30

• Bees pollinate flowers while obtaining nectar for food and energy.
• Clownfish live safely among anemones, protecting them from predators.
• Oxpecker bird eat bugs and parasites off the skin of rhinoceros.

Question 31

Examples of commensalism

Answer 31

• Barnacles attach to whales, gaining mobility without harming the whale.
• Orchids grow on trees for sunlight, not affecting the host.
• Birds nest in trees, gaining shelter without impacting the tree.

Question 32

Examples of parasitism

Answer 32

• Ticks feed on mammal blood, harming their hosts’ health
• Mistletoe plants absorb water, nutrients from trees, weakening them gradually.
• Parasitic wasps lay eggs inside caterpillars, larvae consume host internally.

Question 33

Ecology

Answer 33

the scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environment

Question 34

Survivorship

Answer 34

refers to the proportion of individuals in a population surviving to different ages, often illustrated by a survivorship curve

Question 35

Post reproductive survivorship

Answer 35

refers to the period in an organism’s life after it has stopped reproducing, focusing on the survival rates and longevity of individuals during this phase.

Question 36

Pre reproductive survivorship

Answer 36

refers to the phase of an organism’s life from birth until it reaches sexual maturity, focusing on the survival rates of individuals before they are capable of reproduction.
Humans have a high pre-reproductive surivorship
Frogs have a low pre-reproductive survivorship.

Question 37

r-selected species

Answer 37

characterized by high reproductive rates, short gestation, early maturation, and a strategy focused on producing a large number of offspring with low survival rates.
As opposed to “K-selected species”

Question 38

K-selected species

Answer 38

characterized by lower reproductive rates, longer gestation periods, late maturation, and a strategy focused on producing fewer offspring but with higher investments in parental care and survival.
As opposed to r-selected species.

Question 39

J-curve

Answer 39

illustrates exponential growth in which a population size increases rapidly and without apparent limit over time.

Question 40

S-curve

Answer 40

a pattern of population growth that starts rapidly, then slows as the population approaches its carrying capacity
As opposed to a “J-shaped curve”

Question 41

Density dependent limiting factor

Answer 41

an ecological factor whose effects on a population vary depending on the population density, typically intensifying as the population size increases.

Question 42

Limiting factor

Answer 42

an environmental condition that restricts the growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism or a population within an ecosystem

Question 43

Carrying Capacity

Answer 43

the maximum population size that an environment can sustain

Question 44

Exponential

Answer 44

Rapid growth. Not linear. Short doubling time. Forms a “J-shaped curve”.