Definitions

Question 1

Niche

Answer 1

An organisms role in an ecosystem in relation to distribution, resources and competition.

Question 2

Equilibrial

Answer 2

• Large, relatively long-lived species whose presence often indicate undisturbed conditions.
• The state of being in equilibrium. (A state in which opposing influences are balanced)

Question 3

Opportunistic

Answer 3

Species that colonize disturbed or polluted sediments. These species are often small, grow rapidly, have short life spans, and produce many offspring

Question 4

Competition

Answer 4

The interaction between animal or plant species, or individual organisms, that are attempting to gain a share of a limited environmental resource

Question 5

Demography

Answer 5

The study of age and sex structures within a population.

Question 6

Ecology

Answer 6

The branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.

Question 7

Mesopradotor

Answer 7

A theory which relates to the trophic cascades experienced in an ecosystem when the top predators population declines.

Question 8

Marine Protected Areas

Answer 8

An area that is reserved by law for the protection of the organisms within the boundary – usually associated with lower or no fishing pressure.
20km areas, 50km apart

Question 9

Logistic Growth

Answer 9

Logistic growth increases exponentially until it begins to trail off to 0 at the carrying capacity.

Question 10

Exponential Growth

Answer 10

Exponential growth increases exponentially infinitely.

Question 11

Population

Answer 11

A community of animals, plants, or humans among whose members interbreeding occurs.

Question 12

Natural Selection

Answer 12

The unequal reproductive success of individuals in a pop.

Question 13

Angiosperm

Answer 13

Flowering plants.

Question 14

Biological Species Concept

Answer 14

Species are defined as being members of populations that actually or potentially interbreed in nature and produce viable, fertile offspring

Question 15

Ecosystem Service

Answer 15

The suite of benefits that ecosystem provide to humanity. Including: air quality regulation, climate regulation, water regulation and purification, disease regulation, erosion control, pest regulation, and pollination.

Question 16

Phenology

Answer 16

Influence of climate on annual phenomena of animal and plant life such as reproduction and bird migrations.

Question 17

Symbiosis

Answer 17

An ecological relationship between organisms of 2 different species that live together in direct contact.

Question 18

Predation

Answer 18

The preying of one animal on others.

Question 19

Commensalism

Answer 19

An association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm

Question 20

Parasitism

Answer 20

The relation between two different kinds of organisms in which one receives benefits from the other by causing damage to it (usually not fatal damage)

Question 21

Mutualism

Answer 21

Symbiosis which is beneficial to both organisms involved.

Question 22

Keystone Species

Answer 22

Species that play a disproportionate role in community structure. Large impact and small biomass - ie. Lions or elephants.

Question 23

Dominants

Answer 23

Species whose impacts are proportional to their biomass.

Question 24

Ecosystem Engineers

Answer 24

Species which alter the environment to suit them - For example elephants convert dense woodland to grassland.

Question 25

Interspecific Competition

Answer 25

In which individuals from different species compete for the same resources.

Question 26

Intraspecific Competition

Answer 26

In which individuals from the same species compete for the same resources.

Question 27

Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis

Answer 27

Suggests the highest species diversity is associated with the intermediate levels of disturbance, as there have been niches left open to fill and competition has not driven species that are competing interspecifically away.

Question 28

Early Successional Species

Answer 28

Opportunistic - Grow and reproduce quickly

Question 29

Late Successional Species

Answer 29

Equilibrial - Grow and reproduce more slowly.

Question 30

Genotype

Answer 30

The genetic constitution of an individual organism

Question 31

Ring Species

Answer 31

According to the ring-species model, a parental population diverges along two fronts around an area of unsuitable habitat so that its terminal forms behave as distinct species upon secondary contact.

Question 32

Phylogenetics

Answer 32

Phylogenetics is the study of genetic & morphological relationships among groups of organisms

Question 33

Analogous

Answer 33

Organs or structures that perform a similar/the same function but have come from different evolutionary origins.

Question 34

Homologous

Answer 34

Organs or structures that have come from similar evolutionary origins but differ in function, for example the pentadctyle limb.

Question 35

Convergence

Answer 35

The tendency of unrelated animals and plants to evolve superficially similar characteristics under similar environmental conditions.

Question 36

Natural Selection

Answer 36

Is the mechanisms with which organisms with greater fitness live to pass on their traits to their offspring leading to evolution.

Question 37

Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU)

Answer 37

A population of organisms that is considered distinct for purposes of conservation action. Can apply to any species , subspecies , geographic race , or population.

Question 38

Acclimation

Answer 38

The response by an individual animal that enables it to tolerate a change in a single factor (e.g. temperature) in its environment.

Question 39

Speciation

Answer 39

The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

Question 40

Morphological Species Concept

Answer 40

Species are differentiated through body shape and other structural features.

Question 41

Ecological Species Concept

Answer 41

Species are differentiated in terms of ecological niche, how they interact with the biotic and non biotic factors around them.

Question 42

Phylogenetic Species Concept

Answer 42

Species are differentiated by being the smallest group of individuals that share a common ancestor.