BIO LAB - EXAM 1 Flashcards
Define Marsh
any undisturbed low spot that will contain water (from groundwater, rainfall, snowmelt or floodwater sources) into which water tolerant, rooted plants can invade
What are the values of marshes to humans and the value of conserving wetlands
-flooding
-removing carbon from the air
Define Species Richness
Species richness is the number of different species represented in an ecological community, landscape or region
Define species abundance
Species abundance is the number of individuals per species
How do you calculate a biodiversity index?
Number of species in the area ÷ total number of individuals in the area = biodiversity index
Explain how population biology can be used in our community to study populations
- population biology can help us to understand how a species and how it interacts with its environment
- can be used to figure out ways to protect the species
- help bring environmental issues that affect the species to light
define terms associated with population biology
Community: A group consisting of various species, which interact with each other directly or passively, in a common location.
Species: A group of physically similar individuals, which are capable of reproducing with the outcome of fertile offspring.
Gene pool: The set of genes present within a population or species.
Population biology: The study of populations and how they change over time.
Population ecology: The study of the interactions between populations and their environment
identify and define the three types of survivorship curves
Type I survivorship curves have low probability of death when young, and highest in old age (e.g. elephants, humans).
Type III survivorship have the greatest probability of death at young ages. Few survive until old age. In other words, these species suffer very high mortality of eggs and young (e.g., trout and most other fish, frogs, Higgins’-eye pearly mussel, most insects).
Type II survivorship is intermediate between the other types and have a constant chance of dying at any age within their potential lifespan (e.g., rabbits, seagulls, perching birds such as cardinals, and some lizards).
define symbiosis
a situation where two organisms of different species live in very close association with each other. Typically, this association benefits at least one of the participants.
define each type of symbiosis
“facultative symbiosis”- one (or both) of the species can survive in the presence or the absence of the other, yet the species tends to have greater fitness benefit in the presence of the partner
“obligate symbioses” - where one (or both) of the partners require(s) the other for survival and reproduction
Differentiate between the different symbiont relationships
Mutualism—A symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit from the association.
Mutualism can be designated by the following symbols: +/+
Commensalism—A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is neither harmed nor benefited. Commensalism can be designated by +/0
Parasitism—A symbiotic relationship in which one organism (the parasite) benefits, while the host is harmed. Parasitism can be designated by +/-
Identify the different ways to construct a life table and what a life table is?
Life tables can be used to study population ecology and demographics using information about age and sex-specific mortality rates to determine patterns of survivorship and life expectance
Life tables can be constructed in two ways: A cohort (a group of individuals born around the same time) can be studied from birth to death. Cohort studies are impractical for studying changes in the human population because humans tend to live for a relatively long time.
A more practical approach when studying human populations and other populations that have over-lapping generations is to construct a static life table using data collected from cemeteries, obituaries and other sources. Static life tables allow births and deaths in a population to be recorded at a particular point in time.
