Biota Flashcards

1
Q

The conectedness food web

A

displays diet, who eats whom

not quantitative

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

the energy flow food web

A

additionally supplies information about the flux rates along the links in the web

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

how do you make a food web?

A
  • stomach content analysis
  • feeding trials (what eats what)(only cultured representatives)
  • direct observation
  • label with C13 or N15
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is biomass?

A

a pool (kg or mJ)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what is productivity?

A

a flux (in time units; kg/year)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

interactions not included in food webs

A

mutualists, ecosystem engineers (earthworms) and litter decomposers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what is the problem with trophic levels

A

consumers often feed on multiple trophic levels

cannabalism

dont show energy flow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Architectural root traits

A

determine the spatial configuration of the entire root system of an individual plant.

commonly used traits include rooting depth, root length, density and root branching

influence carbon cycling (mainly inputs),
nutrient cycle plant uptake,
structural stability (erosion resistance and porosity, sometimes aggregation)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Morphological root traits

A

features of individual roots such as root diameter, specific root length, root tissue density and root dry mater content

mainly influences carbon cycling (inputs),
nutrient cycling (plant uptake),
structural stability (erosion resistance, porosity, aggregation)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Physiological root traits

A

characterise roots in terms of nutrient uptake, kinetics, root respiration, and release of root exudates

carbon cycling (inputs and decomposition (although unknown if exudates influence decomp.))
nutrient cycling (root n content affects inputs and mineralisation, exudates just inputs)
structural stability (only exudates have influence on erosion resistance and aggregation)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Biotic root traits

A

involve direct interactions betweeen roots and soil biota that affect nutrient capture such as associations with Mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia (in legumes) but also interactions with pathogens

carbon cycling (path. no influence on inputs, otherwise influence on inputs and decomp.)
nutrient cycling (myco. no influencee on inputs and neutral on mineralisation, path negative influence on plant uptake. Otherwise others positive on inputs, mineralisation and plant uptake)
structural stability (path no influence, myco no influence on porosity)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

General properties of roots

A

high degree of plasticity

localised response to increased nutrient supply
e.g. increased root hairs when low P in soil; increasedd root hairs in localised places with high N

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Lateral root initiation

A

lateral roots start growing out of casparian zone (under epidermis) this releases alot of exudates

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Rhizodeposition consists of …

A
  • Low molecular weight exudates
  • Secretions
  • Mucilages, sloughed off cells
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

percentage of allocated carbon lost by roots

A

respiration: 16-76%
Rhizodeposition: 4-70%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Low molecular weight exudates

A
  • Compounds of low molecular weight which leak from all cells into the soil either directly or via intercellular spaces
  • Examples are sugars, amino acids
  • Exudation amount and composition can vary with a lot of factors (defoliation, water stress,…)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Secretions

A
  • Includes both low and high molecular weight compounds released by metabolic processes
  • Example: organic acids
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

chemical warfare
root - bacteria
positive interaction

A

PGPRs; symbionts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

chemical warfare
root - fungi
positive interaction

A

->Biocontrol, VAM, endophytes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

chemical warfare
root - root
positive interaction

A

growth facilitators

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

chemical warfare
root - nematode
positive interaction

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

chemical warfare
root - root
negative interaction

A

allelopathy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

chemical warfare
root - nematodes (herbivors)
negative interaction

A

nematicidal/ insecticidal compounds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

chemical warfare
root - fungi
negative interaction

A

->antifungal compounds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

chemical warfare
root - bacteria
negative interaction

A

->antibacterial compounds, QS mimics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

How can exudates even work?

A

theory 1. time lag in excretion of root exudates and arrival of microorganisms who “eat”/ decompose exudates (this also leads to spatial separation of initial excretion of exudates and microorganisms)

theory 2. transport of substances via a mycorrhizal fast lane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

border cells role in defence (example)

A

“lure of the sirens”

one root tip “loses” boarder cells. Nematods swarm to root tip with boarder cells leaving tip without boarder cells nematode free

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

The rhizosphere

A

Among other factors, the release of Mucilages, mucigels, sloughed cells and tissues (plus dead roots) leads to the establishment of an important soil hot spot, the rhizosphere.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

The rhizosphere

definition by Hiltner 1904

A

Soil region under immediate influence of plant roots and in which there is a microbial population distinct from the rest of the (bulk) soil.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Mycorrhizal fungi

A

Mycorrhizae (singular: mycorrhiza) are highly evolved, generally mutualistic associations between soil fungi and plant roots (literally: fungus-root).

Mycorrhizal associations involve 3-way interactions between host plants, fungi (communities) and soil factors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)

A

All fungi that form this association are in the phylum Glomeromycota (Schüßler et al. 2011). There are currently about 210 morphologically described species. The sequence data base is steadily increasing with environmental sequences (MaarjAM)

it is estimated that 2/3 of all plant species on earth form associations with AMF

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

AMF structures

A

Arbuscules- in cells, dont alter cell structure (look like trees), responsible for nutrient exchange

Vesicles- only some AMF’s produce vesicles, used for storage

Spores- asexual reproduction

Hyphae

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

plant level function of AMF

A

Nutrient uptake (P, also N; micronutrients)
pathogen protection
Effects on biomass, to some extent nutrient content, very well documented
Less well known: early life history stage effects!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

community level function of AMF

A

Influence on community structure (influence on rare or dominant plant species)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

ecosystem level function of AMF

A

Soil aggregation, soil C storage
Nutrient cycling processes
Leaching, nutrient losses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Ectomycorrhiza ECM

A

Mostly Basidiomycota, a few Ascomycota; fairly large diversity (about 5,000 described)
evolutionarily much younger than Glomeromycota. Communities often species-rich (>200 morphotypes)

An estimated 2,000 plant species (Gymnosperms and Angiosperms) form this association, including Pinaceae, Fagaceae, Betulaceae. Few tropical trees.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

ECM structures

A

mantle- covers the root, substantial modification of root morphology

Harting net- characteristic for ECM. hyphae do not grom intracellularly. (Grow in root but not in cell)

Rhizomorphs- thread or cord like structure made up of multiple hyphae in soil

fruiting bodies- can be formed above and below ground, not 1:1 relationship between fruiting bodies and ECM on roots.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Pathogenic root inhabiting fungi

A

a pathogent is an agent, biotic or abiotic, that causes disease by interfering with one or more of the essential functions of the plant

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Parasitic root inhabiting fungi

A

important destinction between obligate and facultative parasites.
Facultative can use food (nutrients) from other sources when they do not parasitize. They are sacrotrophic.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

Plant disease

disease triangle

A

what is “needed” for plants to get diseased

Pathogen - presence, virulence, abundance etc.

Environment - conditions favouring disease

Host - presence and degree of susceptibility

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

Amount of crops lost to fungi

A

Rice blast - 10-35%

Stem rust (wheat) - 10-70%

Corn smut - 2-20%

Late blight (potato) - 5-78%

soybean rust - 10-80%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

Fusarium

A

genus with mostly harmless species but some extreme plant pathogens

e.g. fusarium wilt

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

Pythium

A

damping off disease of seedlings ( rotten apearance at soil interface)

can also be of importance without catastrophic epidemics.
e.g. black cherry seedlings are “killed” close to mother tree when in high density to avoid competition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

Phytophthora infestans

A

cause of the potato blight and irish potato famine!

45
Q

AM fungi and fungal root parasites can interact

A

experiment: when “no fungi”, “just AM” and “AM and parasite” present then root length and shoot biomass stay the same. when “just parasite” present both root length and shoot biomass decrease. This means that AM fungi either stops parasite from colonising root or helps plant counter act effects of the parasite

46
Q

Sebacinales

A

Also root colonising fungi

found everywhere, very difficult to isolate

47
Q

Piriformospora indica

A

one representative of sebacinales

similar properties to AM fungi
e.g. stress tolerance (salinity)
pathogen protection (fusarium)

48
Q

3 nutritional modes of Heterotrophs

A

Biotrophs
sacrotrophs
necrotrophs

49
Q

Symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria

A

only prokaryotic cells can fix nitrogen

N2 + 8H^+ +16ATP -> 2NH3 + H2 + 16ADP
Nitrogenase (Fe-S, FeMoCo) -> The required enzym!!!

Limited by Molybdenum and P (for ATP, very expensive to fixate N!!!)

50
Q

N- fixing organisms that form symbiosis

A

e.g. Rhizobium, actinomycetes

Energy source (organic carbon): sucrose and its metabolites from host plant

Legumes fix most (50-400 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1)
nodulated non legumes (20-300 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1)

51
Q

N- fixing organisms that form associations

A

e.g. Azospirillum, Azobacter

Energy source (organic carbon): Root exudates from host plant

(10-200 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1)

52
Q

free living N- fixers

A

e.g. Azobacter, Klebsiella, Rhodospirillium

Heterotrophs get energy from plant residues
Autotrophs from photosynthesis

Heterotrophs only fix 1-2 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1
Autotrophs 10-80 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1

53
Q

Frankia

A
  • Frankia are actinobacteria; i.e. filamentous bacteria

* Frankia also forms nodules, but on (often pioneer) woody plants (shrubs, trees), e.g. alder (Alnus, Betulaceae)

54
Q

Top down control of N-fixing bacteria

A

Symbiosis partner very yummy!!!

55
Q

Viable but non-culturables (VCN)

A

many bacteria cant be cultivated in labs because they are dependent on the metabolites of other bacteria (microorganisms).
Kaeberlein et al. (2002): designed diffusion growth chambers to cultivate normally uncultarable organisms. chambers were separated by a wascher with 0.03µm pores so that metabolites from other microorganisms could diffuse without contaminating the wanted bacteria.

56
Q

Phototrophs

A

use light as ENERGY source

57
Q

Chemotrophs

A

use chemical compounds as ENERGY source

58
Q

Autotrophs

A

use CO2 as CARBON source

59
Q

heterotrophs

A

need organic CARBON

60
Q

Lithotrophs

A

use inorganic substances as ELECTRON DONOR

61
Q

organitrophs

A

use organic substances as ELECTRON DONOR

62
Q

Oligiotrophs

A

can grow in environments with extremely low organic C (1-15 mg soluble C l^-1)

63
Q

copiotrophs

A

require high levels of organic C (1,000 mg soluble C l^-1)

64
Q

Bacterial motility

A

some have flagella for movement (life at low reynolds number, even air is viscous)

65
Q

endospores

A

only for survival not reproduction

66
Q

Actinobacteria

A

filamentous gram-positive bacteria

  • Responsible for the earthy, musky smell of soil (geosmins)
  • Originally called “ray fungi” because of their filamentous growth habit.
  • Most are saprobes (there are also pathogens)
  • Tolerant of alkaline conditions (in alkaline soils 95% of the microbial isolates may be actinobacteria), and generally acid intolerant
  • One of the most common genera in soil: Streptomyces; there are now over 80 described genera (in 1940 only five were known, before development of antibiotics)
  • About 75% of all antibiotics are isolated from actinomycetes
67
Q

Archea

A

Phylogenetically and structurally different from bacteria, for example:
o Membrane: lipids are hydrocarbons not fatty acids, and linked to glycerol by ether bonds (ester linked in bacterial & eukaryotes)
o Transcription: more complex than bacteria (polymerase is more closely related to eukaryotic polymerases)

tolerant of extremely harsh environments

also occur in soils and might be very important as ammonia oxidizers!!!

68
Q

Definition of Fungi

A

Fungi are defined as organisms that are:
eukaryotes, heterotrophic and have absorptive nutrition;
that reproduce by means of spores and typically produce a hyphal body (mycelium).

69
Q

Saprobic

A

Ecological function: decomposer, using dead or decaying organic material

70
Q

Biotrophic

A

requiring a living host cell for nutrition

71
Q

Necrotrophic

A

fungus kills tissue as it grows through them such that it always colonizes dead substrate

72
Q

Haustorium

A

only hostile structure (mutualistic structure= arbuscule)

73
Q

exoenzymes

A

operate outside of cell, breaks down macropieces and makes them soluble. Gets there by diffusion.

Enzymes very long living, only produced when substrate present. Produce antibiotics to kill everything else so no competition for substrate

74
Q

Definition of absorptive nutrition

A

A process where exoenzymes are secreted from hyphal tips into the surrounding medium, breaking down polymers into soluble compounds; the soluble products are then absorbed into the hypha.

75
Q

Hyphae as “tunneling machines”

A

filament grows from the tip, otherwise it would have to be very rigid to avoid buckling.
Exerts hydrostatic pressure
Produces hydrophobins which are protiens that attach to surrounding so that force can be exacted (bracing)

76
Q

Spores

A

microscopic propagules that lack an embryo and are specialized for dispersal or dormant survival.

  • Survival in dormant condition (dispersal in time)
  • Dispersal to a different site

Many fungi produce more than one kind of spore (tight environmental control). can be sexual or asexual

77
Q

How are Fungi phylogenetically defined?

A

They are not! they are a way of life!

78
Q

Unitary organisms

A

form is highly determinate; there is a predictable succession of life history phases (e.g. infant, sexual maturity, senescence). Many evolutionary and ecological generalizations are based on this.

79
Q

Modular organisms

A

Zygote develops into a unit of construction (a module), which then produces further, similar modules. Developmental program is less predictable and strongly dependent on interaction with environment. There are many groups of modular organisms (sponges, corals, fungi, many plants).

difficult to define individual: either genetic individual or module (ramet; shoot; tiller; hyphal growth unit)

80
Q

heterokaryosis

A

Fungi exist with mixtures of genetically different nuclear types in the cytoplasm of a hypha
Arise by mutation or hyphal fusion (anastomosis)
Fungi and a kind of “subcellular population biology”
the individual is the nucleus, not the mycelium? (e.g. Wildman 1992).
…and then, of course, also mitochondria (contain DNA), and viruses can be exchanged, as well as cytoplasm….

81
Q

fungal community

A

Any grouping of populations of different organisms found living together in a particular environment. The organisms interact and give the community a structure.

82
Q

fungal assemblage

A

phylogenetically and geographically delineated community

83
Q

fungal functional groups

A

always defined with respect to function of interest, e.g. decomposition

84
Q

different types of fungi present at different times

example decomposers

A

First: pathogens/ weak parasites and pioneer saprotrophic fungi

second: polymer degrading fungi
third: degraders of recalcitrant compounds and secondary oportunistic invaders

85
Q

recalcitrant compounds

A

complex polymeres like ligin

86
Q

Protists

A

“…recommend to use ‘protist’ as a term for all single celled phototrophic, mixotrophic and heterotrophic eukaryotes, with the exception of fungi.”

can be phototrophs, parasites, omnivores and fungivores

87
Q

Ciliates

A

10-150 micrometer diameter
• Motility is by means of few to many whip-like organelles
• Sexual reproduction is by conjugation and exchange of protoplasm, no gametes are formed
• Most cilitates feed by grazing and predation, primarily on bacteria, particulate organic matter, but also other protozoa and algae
• Food is ingested through a cell mouth (cytosome) and passed into a vacuole for digestion

88
Q

Flagellates

A

2-50 micrometer diameter (i.e. generally among the smaller protozoa)
• Possess one to many flagella and a single nucleus
• Bacteria are principal prey items
• Sexual reproduction by syngamy (fusion of two cells)

89
Q

Amoebae

A

5-200 micrometer diameter (up to 6mm for giant naked amoeba)
• Amoebas produce cytoplasmic flows into temporary extensions called pseudopodia; these are used for locomotion and feeding
• There are naked and shelled Amoebas

90
Q

Ecological roles of soil protozoa

A
  • Mineralization of N, P and S immobilized in bacterial (and fungal biomass)
  • Protozoa produce ammonium as a waste product- Dominant effect!
  • Release of C from soil via respiration
  • Food source for predators such as nematodes
  • potential supression of pathogens (bacteria, fungi) by reducing their numbers, diversity
91
Q

The microbial loop

A
  • Roots produce exudates
  • This attracts bacteria
  • this attracts protozoa
  • protozoa excrete ammonia
  • protozoa selectively do not feed on nitrifiers and IAA producing bacteria
  • NO3 and IAA induce lateral root growth
  • This leads to more exudates…
92
Q

IAA

A

indol acidid acid

a plant hormone that induces lateral root growth. Some bacteria can also produce this hormone

93
Q

Nematodes

A

Nematodes are unsegmented roundworms

  • Size: Most species in soil are between 0.25 to 5.5 mm long
  • Reproduction: All nematodes lay eggs.
  • Abundance: Nematodes may constitute as much as 90% of all multi-cellular animals in soil and often exceed several million m-2. Nematodes are probably the most numerous multicellular animals on earth!
  • Diet: Nematodes eat bacteria, fungi, algae, yeasts, and may be predators of small invertebrate animals, including other nematodes; they are also parasites. Exact feeding habits of most nematodes are unknown, but they are frequently divided into five trophic categories
94
Q

Plant feeding nematodes

A

posses a stylet (with which they poke into plant cells)

most extensively studied because they can cause plant disease and crop loss

95
Q

Fungal feeding nematodes

A

have slender stylets

difficult to destinguish from plant feeders

96
Q

bacterial feeding nematodes

A

Wischmop

no stylet, mop up everything that gets in their path

97
Q

Ecosystem function

A

important pest for agricultural crops

In native ecosystems plant consumption by nematodes can be substantial, exceeding that of other herbivores

Nutrient cycling by feeding on bacteria and fungi

Position in the food web between plant and microbe and higher trophic levels

98
Q

Microarthropods

A

The collembolans, mites, and a variety of small insects are collectively known as microarthropods

99
Q

Collembola

A

Primitive wingless insects (Hexapoda) (subclass Apterygota)
• Common name springtails
• Many species are able to jump by means of a lever (the furcula) attached to the bottom of the abdomen
• Collembola are ubiquitous members of the soil fauna, occurring throughout the world (even Antarctica)
• Many species in soil unnamed; there are about 6,000 known species (in general), but some researchers estimate that there could be over 50,000
• Many species are bisexual, some common species (e.g. Folsomia candida) are parthenogenetic
• Collembola can have rapid population growth rates

100
Q

mites (ascari)

A

Mites are related to the spiders (not insects)
• A 100-g sample from a rich forest soil may contain as many as 500 mites, representing almost 100 genera!
• Four suborders occur frequently in soil

101
Q

oribatei

A

Characteristic soil mites; an ancient group (there are fossils from Devonian)
• They are often the most numerous of the microarthropods; many species
• Juvenile polymorphism (immatures morphologically extremely dissimilar from adults)
• Reproduce relatively slowly (one or two generations per year, females do not lay many eggs); low grazing rates
• Usually fungivores or detritivores (although details of feeding habits and nutrition remain elusive in soil)

102
Q

microarthropods functions

A
  • foodweb (grazing)
  • Respiration (contribution to soil is typically very low <10%); i.e. they have small contribution to total soil metabolic activity
  • Transport, dispersal of microbial inoculum (they eat it and poop it out further away)

-Decomposition
o Comminution
o Mixing
o Fragmentation

  • Microbial community composition: selective grazing
  • soil structure
  • microbial production (compensatory growth)
103
Q

Tullgren (or Berlese) funnel

A

funnel with mesh with litter on top. Collecting pot underneath, lightbulb on top.
arthropods etc. go away from light and fall into pot

104
Q

Oligochaeta (earhtworms)

A

Earthworms

Diversity: estimated at 6-7 thousand species
in Germany about 35 (23 common)
• Body size ranges from a few centimeters to 2-3 meters
• Earthworm species are stratified vertically based on their ecological strategy:
o Anecic (Gr. up from, out of): litter and soil, live in burrows
o Epigeic (Gr. on top): eat and live in litter
o Endogeic (Gr. in): live within soil

105
Q

Physiology of an earthworm

A
  • Aristotle: “the intestines of the earth”
  • Gut conditions are significantly different from that of the soil, with massive production of intestinal mucus (5-38% of the dry weight of soil ingested); change in pH (usually more basic), association with gut microbiota, etc.
  • Endogeic earthworms (geophagous) ingest daily from 5-30 times their own weight of organic and mineral particles
106
Q

Biogeography of earthworms

A

The earthworms are invading north america!!!!

dissapeared after last ice age

107
Q

Enchytraeids (also oligiocheata)

A

Smaller than earthworms (up to 50 mm long)

about 200-300 species in Central Europe ~600 spp total;
typically about 20-30 species per ecosystem

not geophagous (like earthworms), but rely on pore spaces to move in the soil
consume bacteria, fungi and soil organic material
108
Q

functional roles of enchytraeids

A

decomposition (communition [but no gizzard], inoculation, selective grazing)

soil structure (burrowing capacity, production of fecal pellets, transport of mineral particles);
enchytraeids affect soil porosity, but effects are generally assumed to be minimal