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Biology 101 > Community Ecology (PP23) > Flashcards

Community Ecology (PP23) Flashcards

1
Q

define metacommunities

A

group of communities between which movement & interactions may take place

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2
Q

what does community ecology consider

A

Considers the interactions between all species in a defined geography

Species inhabit specific niches within their environment, which affects how they interact with the larger community

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3
Q

what is phenolgy and If a certain prey / predator changes its behaviour due to seasonal changes, will it have consequences on the dynamic of the community?

A

Study of plant & animal life cycles & how these are influenced by seasonal changes in climate

yes it will have significant consequences

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4
Q

explain niche

A

specific ecological role a particular species plays, as well as the biotic & abiotic influences the environment has on that organism

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5
Q

what is a fundemental niche?

A

full range of resources or habitat a species could exploit if there was no competition with other species (i.e. theoretical niche)

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6
Q

what is a realized niche

A

resources or habitat a species actually uses (i.e. actual niche)

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7
Q

what are the two ecological niches and explain them.

give an example of a species that is each of them

A

Generalist: very broad niche (consumes many types of resources) (ie. Racoon/ seagull)

Specialist: very narrow niche (consumes only a small range of resources) (ie. Koala, panda)

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8
Q

define range

A

geographical area over which an organism lives

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9
Q

What is a species range determined by?

A

Each species has its own range determined by physiological & resource constraints

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10
Q

When is considering range important?

A

Important when considering the specific habitat of an organism & what this means for the population and community ecology

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11
Q

What are populations linked by and what do they affect

A

Populations are linked by interspecific interactions that affect the survival & reproduction of the species engaged in the interaction

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12
Q

what are the community interactions`

A 
Competition 
Predation 
Herbivory
Parasitism (e.g. disease)
Symbiosis (mutualism / commensalism)
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13
Q

What does intraspecific mean?

A

competition among members of the same species

Often intense due to same space and nutritional requirements

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14
Q

what does interspecific mean?

A

competition between members of different species

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15
Q

define terrioriality

A

organisms defend specific areas
Primarily against members of own species.
Resource allocation & spacing

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16
Q

what is the Principle of Competitive Exclusion

A

2 species cannot occupy the exact same niche for a prolonged period:
One will eventually out-compete the other & claim that resource

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17
Q

what will happen to the losing species according to the principle of competitive exclusion

A

Losing species will either migrate, become extinct, or partition the resource (utilize a sub-set of the same resource)

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18
Q

give an example of the principle of competitive exclusion

A

you will generally not find foxes & coyotes living in the same area due to competitive exclusion

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19
Q

what are predator adaptations

A

Claws, teeth, fangs, stingers, venom

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20
Q

what are prey adaptations?

A

Colouration, mimicry, detachment / vomiting, spines, bioluminescence, toxins

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21
Q

exaplain cryptic coloration give an example

A

Cryptic colouring: colouration blends in with its environment, so not be easily detected by predators (camouflage)
lizard camouflaging on brach

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22
Q

explain disruptive colouring and give an example

A

Disruptive colouring: colouration hides the physical “edges” (ends) - strong contrasts in light & dark across the patterns of the animal
(ex. zebra)

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23
Q

explain counter shading and give an example

A

Counter shading: helps cancel the effects of shading / shadows, of an animal - have a lighter underside & darker upper part cancel out natural shadow
(deer)

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24
Q

explain aposematic colouring

A

Aposematic colouring: poisonous organisms tend to be brightly coloured to warn predators that they are, in fact, poisonous

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25
are all animals that display aposematic colouration actually poisonous?
Not all animals that display aposematic colouration are actually poisonous – some only mimic animals that are poisonous.
26
True or false? Predators never learn to avoid types of animals with bright colouration>
false, the bright colouration serves as a warning in the future
27
explain batesian mimicry
Batesian mimicry: animal that lacks poison / venom appears similar to another animal that is
28
explain mullerian mimicry
Müllerian mimicry: animal that mimics a poisonous / venomous one still has some poison, though not necessarily to the same degree
29
explain aggressive mimicry
Aggressive mimicry: predator attracts its prey towards itself with a lure or mimicked cry
30
what is symbiosis
Relationship in which 2 or more organisms are closely associated in a way that benefits at least 1 of the participants
31
explain mutualism and give an explanation
Both organisms in an interaction benefit from one another: Win / Win (+/+) e.g. Humans & intestinal flora: while there may be a slight disadvantage in this relationship (have to carry the bacteria around), this disadvantage is outweighed by the benefit (help digest our food)
32
explain facultative mutualism and give an example
Facultative: organisms are able to live without each-other | e.g. Clownfish & sea anemones
33
explain obligate mutualism and give an example
Obligate: one organism cannot survive without the other | e.g. Yucca & yucca moth
34
explain commensalism and give an example
One organism in an interaction benefits & one is unaffected: Win / Meh (+/0) Remora fish (suckerfish) & sharks/whales: remora gets a snack while it hitches a ride on the fish/whale, while the latter isn’t much bothered but doesn’t gain anything Cattle egret & buffalo: egret benefits from all the insects kicked up by the buffalo, which gets nothing in return
35
explain parasitism and give an example
One organism in an interaction benefits at the expense of the other: Win / Lose (+/-) Tapeworms & host: tapeworm enters intestinal tract, grows, & reproduces, causing the host abdominal pain, diarrhoea, weight loss Disease & host: disease completes its life cycle at the expense of the host, causing physical symptoms & possibly death
36
what are the two ways to measure species diversity and explain them
Species richness: total number of different species in the community Does not take into account concentrations of different organisms Relative abundance: compares the relative quantities (proportions) of different species in the same community & looks at density
37
true or false: there is a latitudinal gradient of species diversity for most taxa true or false: Species diversity increases as latitude increases? PIC IN SLIDES
true | FALSE Species diversity declines as latitude increases
38
increase in biodiversity is associated with what
increase in community productive increase in community stability and increase in ecosystem services
39
explain increase of community productivity
↑ Community productivity: - Production of biomass (biological organisms) / reproduction - More diverse community has greater quantities of life forms - Enables different species to rely on those species from which they best obtain nutrients (greater selection)
40
explain increase in community stability
↑ Community stability: Resilience of community against extinction of 1 or more species At low diversity, loss of 1 species triggers a domino effect leading to more extinctions
41
explain increase in ecosystem services
↑ Ecosystem services: Benefits to humans from an ecosystem (e.g. clean water) Greater diversity means a broader range of organisms that can offer benefits
42
define stability
Stability: constant composition or abundance | Consistent pattern in fluctuations
43
what are the elements of stability
Resistance: Resilience: (Elasticity): (Amplitude):
44
what is elasticity
how quickly the system returns to its previous state
45
what is amplitude
to what degree the system can be moved but still return to its previous state
46
what is resilience
how much of the system’s function & structure is retained, & how easily/quickly can it recover
47
what is resistance
how little / how much the system changes
48
what is a climax/mature community
Climax / mature community: when a community reaches a relatively unchanging state Will still cycle through small population changes, but will not undergo large changes (succession) until it faces a disturbance
49
what is a disturbance
Any major event that has an impact on the community: can be abiotic or biotic
50
what can a disturbance result in | SEE DIAGRAM IN SLIDES
Results in succession Process whereby the community in a given habitat changes (primary and secondary)
51
explain primary succession
Primary succession: when community forms for very first time & new species arrive in a geographic region only ever happens once
52
explain secondary succession
Secondary succession: when growth and changes take place in the environment in response to the disturbance
53
what are the 3 basic categories of organisms
producers (autotrophs) consumers (heterotrophs) decomposers
54
explain decomposers
Decomposers Break down / regenerate remains & waste products of plants & animals into simple inorganic nutrients Major role in biogeochemical cycle
55
explain producers
Producers (Autotrophs) Produce own food through photosynthesis. Only way carbon & energy get into the system. Autotrophic algae, bacteria, plants
56
explain consumers
``` Consumers (Heterotrophs) Depend on autotrophs or the organic compounds they produce for their food supply Herbivores: eat plants or algae Carnivores: eat other animals Omnivores: eat both plants and animals Bacteriovores: eat bacteria ```
57
define herbivores
Herbivores: eat plants or algae
58
define carnivores
Carnivores: eat other animals
59
define omnivores
Omnivores: eat both plants and animals
60
define bacteriovores
Bacteriovores: eat bacteria
61
define trophic level
each of the different feeding levels of organisms
62
what are the 3 basic trophic levels
1st: primary producers (autotrophic phytoplankton & plants) 2nd: herbivores (zooplankton & animals feeding on plants) 3rd: carnivores (animals feeding on other animals)
63
True of false: Total biomass decreases with increasing trophic level
true
64
what is the 10% law of ecological efficiency
: only about 10% of the resources from one trophic level are passed on to the next level
65
define transfer efficiency
energy provided to the next higher trophic level divided by the energy received from the next lower trophic level
66
What are losses of mass and energy due to ?
Losses of mass & energy within each trophic level due to respiration, feces, etc.
67
who invented the 10% rule
lindemen
68
what do food webs do?
Food webs link the trophic levels from producers to top carnivores
69
who is the primary consumer
Primary consumer: herbivore (plant eater)
70
who is the secondary consumer
Secondary consumer: carnivore (meat eater): tertiary consumer
71
what does an omnivore do?
Omnivore: eats both plants & animals
72
what does the top carnivore do?
Top Carnivore: eats other carnivores
73
who are the decomposers
Decomposers: detritivores (detritus eater): bacteria
74
who are the phototrophs
Phototrophs: plants, algae (phytoplankton), bacteria
75
who are the primary producers
autotrophs
76
FOOD WEB DIAGRAM
LOOK IN SLIDES
77
what is a food chain
simple, linear sequence of organisms through which energy is transferred
78
true or false Usually only 1 species at the consumer levels
TRUE
79
food chain show...
Highest transfer efficiency and maximum harvest
80
what is a food web?
complex food chain with many links between producers and consumers
81
what is the problem but also upside of a food web?
Less efficient but more resilient
82
what is a keystone species
: particularly important part in a trophic web
83
what will the disruption of a keystone species cause?
Its disruption will cause a major trophic cascade
84
what is the argument of keystone species
Argument that, in one way or another, all animals are keystone species, since it is impossible to remove one species entirely without having major impacts on a trophic web
85
KEYSTONE OTTER SLIDE
NOTE SLIDE
86
what is a Bottom-up trophic cascade
Bottom-up trophic cascade: If an animal that is lower on a trophic pyramid is removed
87
what is the consequence of bottom up trophic cascade and give an example
Subsequent layers of the pyramid will be impacted & will diminish e.g. if a primary producer is reduced, this will decrease the presence of primary consumers, which will decrease the presence of secondary consumers, etc.
88
what is the consequence of top-down trophic cascade
Population of the next highest trophic level will increase → this increase will result in a decrease in the next trophic level, which causes an increase in the level below it, etc.
89
What is a Top-down trophic cascade
: elimination of a higher predator
90
what will trophic cascade shifts cause?
These shifts emphasize the important interspecific interactions within an ecosystem
91
what is bioaccumulation
organism cannot eliminate the toxin → toxin accumulates over its lifetime
92
what is the result of bioaccumulation?
Results in increased concentration of toxin in the organism’s body
93
true or false: When an organism affected by bioaccumulation is eaten by a higher trophic level-animal, the toxins pass to this animal
true
94
give examples of toxins
DDT, PCBs, Mg
95
what is bio-magnification
Bio-magnification: toxins become more concentrated with each successive trophic level
96
what does bio-magnification result from>
Results from biomass at each trophic level being produced from a much larger biomass ingested from level below
97
biomagnification occurs under what conditions
- Pollutant/toxin must be long-lived. - Pollutant/toxin must be concentrated by producers - Pollutant/toxin must be fat-soluble & transferred to higher trophic levels
98
what is the schema of the concentration of toxin
Concentration of toxin: | 3rd trophic > 2nd trophic > 1st trophic

Biology 101 (15 decks)

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