Eco Concepts and Applications Flashcards
How are Source and Sink populations different
Source populations are larger than sinks
Sources occupy larger areas of viable habitat
Sinks cannot self sustain without imput from the source
Source populations are less prone to extinction than sink populations
How can isolation affect a population
Less genetic variability
More disease prone
More likely to go extinct
Reduced fitness within the population
Can cause evolutionary changes in the population
Describe one factor that can result habitat fragmentation
Urbanisation
Wildfires / stochastic events
Sea levels rising
Deforestation
Agriculture
Leisure/ Recreation
Industry
Regeneration
Succession
Define Polygamous
Individuals mate with multiple others
Define Monogamous
One male mating with one female
State what is meant by a polyandrous mating system
One female mates with many males
What are 3 benefits of Bi-parental care
Shared responsibility
Offspring more likely to survive to adulthood
Better protection from harsh environments to the offspring
Better able to deter predators
Able to collect more food for the young
More opportunities for adults to feed themselves
State 3 typical characteristics of r breeding strategists
Live in unstable environments
Smaller
More “cheap offspring”
Less parental care
Shorter lifespan
Shorter gestation
Often prey animals
Rapig growth
Early sexual maturity
Give 3 reasons why polygamous mating systems often result in the development of agressive behaviours
To defend a display ground/territory
To defend mates
Physically intimate rivals
Increased levels of hormones
Demonstrate physical/biologival fitness
To demonstrate genetic/evolutionary fitness
Describe three consequences of isolation within a fragmented landscape
Limited gene pool
Greater risk of extinction
Less robust against abiotic/biotic factors
Give 3 biotic factors that influence metapopulations
Evolutionary age comunities
Primary productivity
Community structure and competition
Fecundity
Natality
Mortality
Immigration
Emigration
Breeding stratergy
Competition
Predation
Disease
What is reproductive success?
An individual’s ability to pass on their genes to the next generation
This concept is central to understanding evolutionary biology and the fitness of organisms.
How does competition influence behaviour?
Drives individuals to behave aggressively or more strategically to ensure survival and reproduction
Competition can occur for resources like food, mates, and territory.
What is meant by social systems?
The organisation and structure within a group, such as roles and relationships, that influence behaviour
Social systems can vary widely among different species.
What is maternal investment?
The time and energy a female invests in caring for her offspring
This can include feeding, protecting, and teaching young.
What is paternal investment?
The resources, time, and energy a male contributes to the care of his offspring
This can vary significantly among species.
Define social behaviour.
Interactions with others in a group, such as cooperation or conflict
Social behaviour is critical for the survival and success of many species.
How does territorial behaviour impact animals?
Helps protect resources and mates from intruders, influencing reproductive success
Territoriality can lead to aggressive encounters and affect population dynamics.
What is communication in animals?
Signals or behaviours used to convey information, such as mating calls or warning signals
Communication can be vocal, visual, or chemical.
How do nutrient cycles influence behaviour?
Drive behavioural adaptations related to foraging, migration, and reproduction
Nutrient availability can affect food sources and habitat choices.
What is the role of habitat in influencing animal behaviour?
Animals adapt their behaviour to the specific conditions of their habitats, such as temperature or shelter availability
Habitat characteristics can dictate the survival strategies of species.
What is a trophic level?
The position an organism occupies in the food chain (e.g., producer, herbivore, carnivore)
Trophic levels are crucial for understanding energy flow in ecosystems.
Define niche in ecology.
The specific role an organism plays in its ecosystem, including its interactions with resources and other organisms
A niche encompasses the organism’s habitat, resource use, and relationships.
What is natural selection?
The process by which individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce
Natural selection drives evolution and adaptation.
Explain mating systems in animals.
Determine how individuals pair and reproduce, such as monogamy or polygamy
Mating systems can significantly impact genetic diversity.
How do scales (individual, species, community) influence behaviour?
Behaviour can vary depending on whether an organism is acting as an individual, part of a species, or part of a community
Different scales can reveal different ecological and social dynamics.
How do ecosystems affect animal behaviour?
Shape behaviour by providing resources and environmental factors that influence survival and reproduction
Ecosystem changes can lead to shifts in behaviour and adaptations.
What is the relationship between environmental factors and animal behaviour?
Environmental factors like climate or food availability shape behaviours such as migration, hibernation, or mating patterns
Changes in environmental conditions can lead to significant behavioural adjustments.
What is parental investment?
Parental investment is the time, energy, and resources an organism contributes to raising its offspring.
This concept is crucial in understanding reproductive strategies in various species.
What are the different types of parental investment?
Maternal, paternal, and social group investments.
Each type involves different contributions to offspring care.
How do social groups influence parental investment?
Individuals may share the responsibility of raising offspring, leading to cooperative behaviour.
This can enhance the survival of the young.
What factors determine the amount of parental investment?
Time, energy, and resources available, along with the survival chances of the offspring.
These factors can vary widely among different species and environmental contexts.
What is selective breeding?
Selective breeding involves choosing mates based on specific traits to enhance reproductive success.
This practice is often used in agriculture and animal husbandry.
What is monogamy?
Monogamy is a mating system where one male pairs with one female for a breeding season or lifetime.
This system can promote greater parental investment from both partners.
What is polygamy?
Polygamy is a mating system where an individual has multiple mates, either polygyny (one male, many females) or polyandry (one female, many males).
This can influence the dynamics of parental investment.
What is the difference between K-selected and r-selected strategies?
K-selected species invest more in fewer offspring with higher survival rates, while r-selected species produce many offspring with lower survival rates.
This reflects different evolutionary strategies in response to environmental pressures.
How does time influence parental investment?
Longer periods of investment, like those seen in mammals, often lead to more complex parental care strategies.
This complexity can enhance the survival and development of offspring.
What is the relationship between breeding systems and parental investment?
Different breeding systems require varying levels of parental investment, influencing survival rates and offspring care.
This relationship is critical in understanding reproductive success.
What role do energy expenditures play in reproductive behaviour?
High energy investment can limit reproductive opportunities but may lead to more successful offspring.
This trade-off is an important consideration in evolutionary biology.
What is the purpose of paternal care in animals?
Paternal care increases offspring survival chances by providing protection, food, or teaching essential survival skills.
This behavior can vary significantly among species.
How does the environment influence breeding strategies?
Environmental conditions such as resource availability and predator pressures shape reproductive behaviours and strategies.
This adaptability is essential for species survival.
What is a metapopulation?
A group of spatially separated populations of the same species that interact through immigration and emigration.
What factors influence metapopulations?
Factors like:
* prey-predator relationships
* habitat size
* resources
* environmental conditions
What is the concept of population fluctuations?
Changes in the size of a population over time due to factors like resource availability or predation.
What are demes in a metapopulation?
Local populations within a metapopulation that are geographically isolated but can interact through migration.
How does isolation affect metapopulations?
It can reduce genetic diversity and hinder the flow of individuals between subpopulations, making survival harder.
What is the significance of evolutionary age in metapopulations?
Older communities may have more stable populations, while younger ones may experience more frequent fluctuations.
How do abiotic factors like climate affect metapopulations?
They influence species survival and reproduction within metapopulations.
What is primary productivity?
The rate at which plants and other producers create organic compounds through photosynthesis, affecting food availability.
How do biotic factors like competition impact metapopulations?
They can limit population growth, alter reproductive strategies, and influence species distribution.
What are the effects of environmental seasonality on metapopulations?
Seasonal changes can cause predictable fluctuations in population size and resource availability, influencing behaviour.
What role does natality play in metapopulations?
It impacts population growth and stability, influencing the overall success of a metapopulation.
How does immigration affect a metapopulation?
It introduces new individuals, increasing genetic diversity and stabilising the population.
How does emigration impact a metapopulation?
It removes individuals from a population, potentially lowering genetic diversity and affecting local population numbers.
What is the relationship between metapopulations and genetic variability?
Genetic variability is essential for metapopulation health, allowing for adaptation to environmental changes.
What is habitat fragmentation?
Habitat fragmentation is the process of dividing large, continuous habitats into smaller, isolated patches.
How does habitat fragmentation impact species?
It can isolate populations, reduce genetic diversity, and limit access to resources, leading to potential local extinctions.
What human activities contribute to habitat fragmentation?
Agriculture, urbanisation, deforestation, and infrastructure development are key contributors.
What is local extinction?
Local extinction occurs when a species disappears from a particular area, even though it may still exist elsewhere.
How does urbanisation affect habitats?
Urbanisation alters ecosystems, reducing available habitats, disrupting food chains, and increasing pollution.
What impact does agriculture have on wildlife?
Agriculture can lead to habitat loss, pollution, and the introduction of invasive species, all of which affect local biodiversity.
How do natural disasters contribute to habitat loss?
Natural disasters like fires, floods, or volcanic eruptions can rapidly alter or destroy habitats, leading to local extinctions.
What is the role of regeneration in habitat restoration?
Regeneration allows ecosystems to recover and restore biodiversity by re-establishing plant and animal populations.
How does leisure use affect habitats?
Leisure activities can cause disturbance, trampling, pollution, and habitat destruction, impacting biodiversity.
What is the role of deforestation in habitat fragmentation?
Deforestation creates isolated forest patches, reduces biodiversity, and disrupts ecosystems.
What is the kick sampling method?
What is the kick sampling method?
