BIO220 Lecture 18

Question 1

Biodiversity results in resistance to…. and higher…

Answer 1

environmental disturbances;

productivity

Question 2

GUILDS

Answer 2

variety of plant strategies (different types of plants: grass, legumes, etc.)

Question 3

more biodiversity vs. drought

Answer 3

plants with more biodiversity before drought hit maintained 1/2 their biomass after. Those with low biodiversity only had 1/16 or less biomass after.

Question 4

Cedar Creek experiement

Answer 4

• planted diff number of species/functional groups in each square on a large field
• test response of squares with more species vs. less species

Question 5

Results of Cedar Creek experiment

Answer 5

• plants with more biodiversity before drought survived better after drought
• plants with more guilds in 1 square had highest biomass

Question 6

Cedar Creek experiment aimed to measure…

Answer 6

species diversity

Question 7

MONOCULTURE

Answer 7

all genotype in the culture/crop is the same

Question 8

POLYCULTURE

Answer 8

mixture of 4 genotypes or 8 genotypes

Question 9

What experiment was performed at U of T’s Koffler Scientific Reserve?

Answer 9

Are plant patches that are more genetically diverse able to support more insects?

Question 10

Are plant patches that are more genetically diverse able to support more insects?

Answer 10

Yes
1 genotype < 4 genotypes < 8 genotypes
*NB: overall number of individuals measured was controlled for

Question 11

What does it mean if genotypes in a mixture react additively?

Answer 11

• genotypes are independent (no interaction of genotypes w/ surrounding genotypes)
• sum of monoculture results = polyculture results

Question 12

What does it mean if genotypes in a mixture react non-additively?

Answer 12

• genotypes are dependent on surrounding genotypes

- sum of monoculture results != polyculture results

Question 13

did the genotypes in the plant-predator study react additively or non-additively?

Answer 13

for 2/3 guilds of insects, it was non-additive

• predators = non-additive; more than expected
• omnivores = non additive; more than expected
• herbivores = additive

Question 14

why were there more insect guilds than expected?

whole > sum of the parts

Answer 14

• plant genotypes differ in their phenotypes: nutrition, growth, defense, flowering
• more diverse patches = more spacial & temporal niches for insects
• insects more likely to visit nearby phenotypes if they find their preferred phenotype in a mixed patch

Question 15

what is the suspected cause of hayfever? what is the real cause?

Answer 15

suspected: Solidago (goldenrod)
actual: ragweed

Question 16

Solidago / goldenrod:

• __ species in 2 generations
• one of eastern N. America’s ___
• colonizes in ____

Answer 16

• 130
• most abundant wildflowers
• abandoned fields

Question 17

what do goldenrods infected by R. solidaginis have (phenotype)?

Answer 17

gall on the plant (spiky ball thing)

Question 18

what do R. solidaginis do to plants?

Answer 18

eat plant tissue from the inside, and lay egg inside

Question 19

Goldenrod genotypes differ in their susceptibility to __

Answer 19

galling

Question 20

nutrient concentration in galled vs. ungalled plants

Answer 20

galled: more N and C rich

Question 21

whether or not goldenrods are attacked by insects affect…

Answer 21

rate of nutrient flow in the ecosystem

Question 22

can genetic variation affect nutrient sampling? give an example.

Answer 22

Yes;

Goldenrod gall formation

Question 23

rate of decomposition in galled vs. ungalled goldenrods

Answer 23

gall lose nutrients slower, but by 24 weeks, galled = ungalled

Question 24

Coyote Bush is native to…

Answer 24

California

Question 25

Coyote Bush is an important colonizing species of...

Answer 25

glasslands & scrub ecosystems

Question 26

2 distinct architectual genotypes of Coyote Bush

Answer 26

1. erect (tall) | 2. prostrate (flat, spread over large area)

Question 27

when Coyote Bush colonizes, it facilitates...

Answer 27

the colonization of other coastal sage scrub species

Question 28

the different coyote bush phenotypes affect...

Answer 28

- light hitting ground under bush - temp under bush - litter depth (amount of leave dropped on the ground) v - biomass - % cover - species richness of other colonizers

Question 29

which Coyote Bush genotype has more litter depth?

Answer 29

prostrate

Question 30

which Coyote Bush genotype has more... - biomass - % cover - species richness of other colonizers

Answer 30

Erect (for total, exotic, and native species of Coyote Bush)

Question 31

genotype of the Coyote bush affects ____

Answer 31

abiotic environment; success of other plant species growing in this environment is affected by phenotype of this plant

Question 32

can genetic variation affect the colonization of other species?

Answer 32

yes

Question 33

What is happening at the Rothamsted Research Station, UK?

Answer 33

Experiment that started in 1850; | Effect of fertilizer on hay fields (how to maximize hay yield)

Question 34

What is present in fertilizer to increase hay yield?

Answer 34

different combinations of N, P, K, Mg

Question 35

the Rothamsted experiment examines response of communities to...

Answer 35

- fertilizer - time - both

Question 36

By changing the nutrients given to each plot of land, the Rothamsted experiment was able to...

Answer 36

change the type of vegetation that grew in each pasture

Question 37

How does fertilizer influence species diversity? Why?

Answer 37

More fertilizer added = less species richness - remove limiting resource for the most competitive species - allows most competitive species to out-compete all other species

Question 38

How does fertilizer influence genetic diversity? Why?

Answer 38

More nutrients added = more genetic diversity - remove limiting nutrient of a type of species - that species has more nutrients to support more genotypes - elimination of weaker competitors opens niche space for more genotype of remaining species

Question 39

What species was examined by the Rothamsted experiment for genetic diversity?

Answer 39

Anthoxanthum odoratum

Question 40

main idea of this lecture

Answer 40

genetic variation will affect ecological processes around it

Question 41

traditional view of ecology & genes

Answer 41

ecology imposes selection, which shapes which genes are selected for by evolution

Question 42

genetic variation within species will affect...

Answer 42

ecological processes - distribution & abundance of other species - disturbance recovery - nutrient decomposition

Question 43

BIO220 combines...

Answer 43

- ecology - evolution - genes