Ecology

Question 1

What is ecology?

Answer 1

The science that studies the interactions between organisms and between organisms and their environments

Question 2

Interactions in Ecosystems: What are the abiotic actors?

Answer 2

1. Temp
2. Water
3. Sunlight
4. Nutrients: plants, algae, plankton, bacteria
5. Gases
6. pH: availability of nutrients
7. Substrate Structure: soil, mineral, physical structure
8. Disturbances

Question 3

Biotic Interactions: Behavioural Ecology

Answer 3

1. Competition: negative, exploiting a common limited resource
   - Intraspecific: same species
   - Interspecific: diff species – can cause competitive exclusion
2. Ecosystem Engineers: species that dramatically alter their physical environment
3. Predation: individuals of one species eat individuals of another species – predators (senses & physical) & prey develop (camouflage, hiding, physiological adaptations)

Question 4

What are the types of niches?

Answer 4

1. Fundamental niche: its potential niche (in absence of competitors)
2. Realized niche: The proportion of its fundamental niche that it actually occupies in an environment

Question 5

What’s a keystone predator?

Answer 5

An organism whose presence allows more species to exist – increases biodiversity
ie: [sea otter, urchin, seaweed], piaster

Question 6

What are the mechanisms for Predator and Prey to warn each other?

Answer 6

1. Aposematic colouring: warning
2. Cryptic colouring: camouflage
3. Batesian Mimicry: harmless mimics harmful
4. Mullein Mimicry: two unpalatable species mimic each other

Question 7

Different types of Biotic Interactions:

Answer 7

1. Parasitism: individuals from one species derive their nourishment from another. Interaction is detrimental to host. (malaria, tapeworm, etc…)
2. Infectious disease
3. Mutualism: mutualistic symbiosis (both benefit)
4. Commensalism: One species benefits, other isn’t affected
   5.

Question 8

What is Phenology?

Answer 8

The association of the life cycle of organisms with seasonal fluctuations in habitat and niche.
ie: organisms reproducing purposely at a time when their prey species is most abundant. (climate change!!)

Question 9

Population Ecology: What is Metapopulation?

Answer 9

Smaller individual populations all linked into a larger one by frequent movement between them.

Question 10

What are the factors of population size?

Answer 10

Balance between natality & mortality vs. immigration & emigration

• Populations can only support a limited pop. size (limited resources) = Carrying capacity = K

Question 11

Species Diversity is made up of what factors?

Answer 11

1. Species richness: number of diff. kinds of species in a specific area
2. relative abundance: what is the species evenness? equal #

Question 12

What is production efficiency?

Answer 12

The efficiency of animals as energy transformers:

P.E. = (Net secondary production x 100%) / Assimilation of primary production

Question 13

What is the 10% Rule?

Answer 13

Trophic transfers are inefficient, 10% energy from each producer/consumer

Question 14

The Carbon Cycle

Answer 14

Universal currency for material and energy flow in ecosystem
- Carbon reservoirs: Fossils, Sedimentary rock, dissolved in oceans
- Main processes in carbon cycle: photosynthesis, respiration, exchange, sedimentation, extraction, combustion

Question 15

Anthropocene: Human Activity and Global Change

Answer 15

1. Habitat loss
2. Nutrient enrichment through fertilizer (algal blooms= eutrophication)
3. Chemical pollution & waste
4. Ozone depletion
5. Climate change

Question 16

What are the solutions to these problems?

Answer 16

• Lower population of planet
• Renewable energies
• Take care of biodiversity
• Eat less meat
• Stop deforestation