Biodiversity

Question 1

Behaviour

Answer 1

How organisms respond to the biotic and abiotic environment

Question 2

Coping mechanism

Answer 2

Morphology + Physiology + Behaviour

Question 3

Fitness

Answer 3

Individual’s ability to reproduce successfully and passes on their genes to the next generation’s gene pool

Question 3

Planetary health steps

Answer 3

1. Primary observations
2. Diagnose problems (Understanding the variable that is the problem and what surrounds it)
3. Prescribe treatments for remediation and restoration
4. Advocate for ecosystem health

Question 4

The rates of ecosystem collapse

Answer 4

Pulse - Very fast, happens in a short time
press - ongoing change, global climate change indicators

Question 5

Types of ecosystem collapse

Answer 5

1. Abrupt
2. Smooth
3. Stepped
4. Fluctuating

Question 6

Ecological significance of behaviour

Answer 6

• Links individuals with their environment
• The interaction between biotic and abiotic environment
• Affects demographics (population level)

Question 7

Evolutionary significance of behaviour

Answer 7

• Affects fitness
• Depending on the genes being passed on to the next generation
• The genes can either be advantageous or disadvantageous
• The survival and behaviour of the animals are also dependent on this

Question 8

Theories on foraging

Answer 8

Optimal foraging theory
Marginal foraging theorem

Question 9

What does the optimal foraging theory states

Answer 9

Predicts foragers should maximise net rate of food (=energy) intake and focuses on the efficiency of foraging. Assumed to be in a non-depleting environment. It is flawed as most foragers are also prey so foraging strategies should be more linked to predator avoidance strategies

Question 10

Marginal foraging theorem

Answer 10

Foragers should leave the food patches when have eaten most or all of the food out. When capture/harvest rate at patch < average capture/harvest rate

Question 11

Strategies to avoid becoming food

Answer 11

1. Hiding
2. Run away
3. Group
4. Act costly
5. Be costly
6. Feed in safe places/times

Question 12

Logistic growth

Answer 12

Growth first starts as exponentially growing, growth then starts to slow down at higher numbers, then growth stops when it reaches the carrying capacity limit

Question 13

Two types of growth rates

Answer 13

Instantaneous - Population that keeps breeding (no restriction in reproduction)
Discrete - Where population breeds at certain times (seasonal reproduction)

Question 14

Demographic rates in a ‘closed’ system

Answer 14

Only takes account of birth and death rates where
Nt + Births - Deaths

Question 15

Demographic rates in a ‘open’ system

Answer 15

Takes account of emigration and immigration of population

Question 16

MRR (Mark Release Recapture)

Answer 16

a method that estimates total population size from a sample proportion. Assumed to be in a closed population, all individuals are marked and have not lost their mark

Question 17

Metapopulation

Answer 17

Collection of all local populations interacting together where demographic rates vary spatially

Question 18

Population Viability Analysis (PVA)

Answer 18

A tool to model population dynamics over time. Gives input environmental variables/variations to give a good prediction of the population

Question 19

What info does PVA need?

Answer 19

1. Fecundity (probability of birth)
2. Population size/carrying capacity (K)
3. Mortality

Question 20

Chances that contribute to extinction

Answer 20

1. Demographic stochasticity (random birth and deaths)
2. Environmental stochasticity (environmental variation)
3. Catastrophe

Question 21

Biotic homogenisation

Answer 21

A process by which two or more spatially distributed ecological communities become increasingly similar over time

Question 22

Spatial distribution

Answer 22

Difference in groups of organisms that are associated with the different vegetation across the landscape

Question 23

Temporal distribution

Answer 23

Communities can change over time due to allowing local colonization or driving extinctions of other species depending on the change that happens over time

Question 24

Grazing food chain

Answer 24

Primary food base is green plants or algae

Question 25

Detritus food chain

Answer 25

Primary food base is dead organism

Question 26

Genetic drift

Answer 26

Reduces genetic variation in a population

Question 27

Species richness

Answer 27

Number of species in a community

Question 28

Species diversity

Answer 28

The number of different species in a particular area and their relative abundance.

Question 29

genetic diversity

Answer 29

the difference between animals of the same species