ecology Flashcards

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1
Q

biotic

A

living

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2
Q

abiotic

A

non-living

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3
Q

community

A

a group of multiple different species interacting with one another

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4
Q

ecosystem

A

a group of species interacting both with each other and their environment

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5
Q

organismal ecology

A

the study of how an organism’s structure, physiology, and behavior meet environmental challenges
-how well is an organism suited to
its environment?
-what traits help it thrive?

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6
Q

population ecology

A

the study of a population of the same species in the same geographic location; focuses on factors affecting how many individuals of a species live in an area
-how many?
-territory?
-why?

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7
Q

community ecology

A

examines how interactions among species affect community structure and organization
-roles?
-interrelationships?
-mutualism?
-predator/prey?

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8
Q

ecosystem ecology

A

emphasizes energy flow and chemical cycling among the various biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem
-energy flow
-origin of energy
-transfer of energy

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9
Q

landscape ecology

A

the study of interconnected ecosystems across a land area; focuses on the factors that generate patterns of ecosystems in a geographical region
-how are ecosystems
similar/different?
-how are they related?

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10
Q

global (macro) ecology

A

the broadest field of ecology that looks at how ecosystems are connected across long distances

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11
Q

climate

A

long term prevailing weather conditions in a particular place over many years
-temperature
-precipitation
-sunlight
-wind/gyres

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12
Q

Hadley cell

A

-an atmospheric cell ranging from from the equator to 30° north or 30° south that drives a specific pattern of climate in that area
-low-lying air is principally moving
towards the equator
-Coriolis deflection to the west

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13
Q

Ferrel cell

A

-north of the Hadley cell
-low-lying air is principally moving
away from the equator
-Coriolis deflection to the east

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14
Q

Polar cell

A

-north of the Ferrel cell
-low-lying air is principally moving
towards the equator
-Coriolis deflection to the west

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15
Q

Coriolis effect (deflection)

A

the phenomenon generated by the rotation of the earth that the speed of rotation differs at different latitudes

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16
Q

seasonality

A

differential heating caused by the earth’s tilt that is reflected in seasons

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17
Q

gyre (current)

A

pattern of water movement in large bodies of water

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18
Q

microclimate

A

local atmospheric zone in which the climate differs from the surrounding area

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19
Q

subnivium

A

a microclimate located beneath the snow in northern climates

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20
Q

what modulates climate?

A

1) seasonality
2) mass specific heating
3) topology
4) microclimate
5) climate change

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21
Q

ecology

A

the study of the interactions between organisms and the environment

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22
Q

how does latitudinal variation in sunlight intensity lead to predictable latitudinal variation in sunlight and temperature?

A

the curvature of the earth causes the angle of sunlight to vary depending on latitude

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23
Q

how does latitudinal variation in sunlight intensity lead to predictable latitudinal variation in precipitation?

A

Hadley cells, Ferrel cells, and Polar cells cause increased precipitation at the equator and at 60° north and south and decreased precipitation at 30° and 90° north and south

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24
Q

how does latitudinal variation in sunlight intensity lead to latitudinal variation in wind?

A

-increased wind speeds closer to the equator due to increased rotation speed
-Coriolis effect (deflection)
-polar easterlies~ polar cells
-westerlies~ ferrel cells
-NE trade winds~ hadley cells

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25
Q

bodies of water

A

-gyres
-regulate temperature of surrounding
land
~mass specific heat of water is 4x
greater than soils

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26
Q

windward side of a mountain

A

meets an air current causing a rain-out event; tends to be wetter than the leeward side

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27
Q

leeward side of a mountain

A

cool, dry air flows over after moisture is rained out over windward side; tends to be drier than the windward side

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28
Q

climate change

A

-warming of the earth exacerbated by
human industrialization
-temporally variable: effects vary
across seasons

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29
Q

phenotypic mismatch

A

evolved traits that were once advantageous but became maladaptive due to changes in the environment

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30
Q

phenological mismatch

A

when the timing of regularly repeated phases in a species life cycle are no longer advantageous, but maladaptive

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31
Q

phenology

A

the study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life

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32
Q

no-analog community

A

a collection of species that have not evolved in an environment in which they are forced to interact due to changes in their range distribution

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33
Q

phenological synchronization

A

the coordinated timing of biological events

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34
Q

biome

A

a region of distinctive plant and animal groups well-adapted to the physical environment
of its distributional area

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35
Q

climograph

A

graphical representation of basic climatic parameters such as average temperature and precipitation at a certain location

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36
Q

ecotone

A

the overlapping conditions of two or more biomes

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37
Q

tension zone

A

an ecotone in Wisconsin identified in the late 1950s

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38
Q

net primary production (NPP)

A

gross primary productivity, or
organic carbon generated by
autotrophs, minus plant respiration;
measured in units of mass per area
per time

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39
Q

primary production

A

the production of organic
compounds from atmospheric or
aquatic carbon dioxide by autotrophs

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40
Q

biodiversity

A

-variation of the living world, ranging
from genetic variability within a
species to the diversity of different
ecosystems or biomes on earth
-species richness: number of species

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41
Q

tropical rainforest

A

a biome characterized by high rainfall, warm temperatures, high
biodiversity, and high NPP

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42
Q

desert

A

a biome characterized by dry conditions, warm temperatures, high biodiversity, and low NPP

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43
Q

savanna

A

a biome characterized by seasonal rainfall, recurrent fires, medium biodiversity, and medium NPP

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44
Q

grassland

A

a biome characterized by strong seasonality in temperature and precipitation, moderate biodiversity, and moderate NPP

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45
Q

chapparal

A

a small biome characterized by seasonality dictated by oceanic gyres, summer fire regimes, low biodiversity, and high NPP

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46
Q

northern coniferous (boreal) forest

A

a biome characterized by evergreen trees, long cold winters, short cool summers, high NPP, and low biodiversity

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47
Q

temperate deciduous forest

A

a biome characterized by overall warm and wet conditions, high
biodiversity, and high NPP

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48
Q

tundra

A

a biome characterized by cool temperatures, minimal precipitation, low biodiversity, and low NPP

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49
Q

anthrome

A

-biome created by humans
-similar no matter where you are
-human heat island: increased
temperatures due to an increase of
absorption of solar radiation by
human infrastructure

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50
Q

marine biome

A

a subclass of aquatic biomes characterized by salt water

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51
Q

freshwater biome

A

a subclass of aquatic biomes characterized by salt content less than 1% NaCl

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52
Q

pelagic biome

A

a marine biome characterized by high gross primary productivity, but low net primary productivity scaled for space and time

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53
Q

abyssal zone (hydrothermal vents)

A

a diverse biome found at the bottom of oceans whose primary producers are chemosynthetic bacteria

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54
Q

coral reef

A

a shallow marine biome characterized by structures made of calcium carbonate; high biodiversity and high NPP

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55
Q

kelp forest

A

a shallow marine biome characterized by tree-like plants that house many species and generate high NPP

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56
Q

estuary

A

a biome located where freshwater and marine systems meet; characterized by high levels of NPP and low levels of biodiversity

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57
Q

salt marsh

A

a biome located at the intersection of terrestrial and marine biomes found at mid to high latitudes; high NPP, low biodiversity

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58
Q

mangrove forest

A

a biome located at the intersection of terrestrial and marine biomes
characterized by mangroves, shrub-like trees that provide physical protection for the shoreline; high NPP, low biodiversity

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59
Q

lentic

A

still, terrestrial freshwater including lakes and wetlands

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60
Q

lotic

A

moving, terrestrial freshwater such as rivers and streams

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61
Q

olgiotrophic

A

a cold, deep lake characterized by low NPP and low biodiversity

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62
Q

eutrophic

A

a warm, shallow lake characterized by high NPP and high biodiversity

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63
Q

eutrophication

A

the process of making an oligotrophic lake warmer and more nutrient-rich so that its NPP rises

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64
Q

wetland

A

a lentic, freshwater aquatic biome in which the land is covered by water for part of the year so that the soil is wet, and the vegetation is made up of hydrophytes (water-lovers); includes marshes, swamps, bogs, and vernal pools

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65
Q

river continuum

A

the observed phenomenon in which the diversity and productivity of a river looks different at different points along its length

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66
Q

coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM)

A

organic matter that enters a river and is used as the primary energy source for shredders and other organisms within the river

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67
Q

fine particulate organic matter (FPOM)

A

fine organic particles that are a byproduct of shredders utilizing CPOM

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68
Q

latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG)

A

the well-documented ecological phenomenon in many taxa that biodiversity is higher near the equator and lower near the poles

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69
Q

mid-domain effect

A

a statistical model of the LDG in which simply by chance there is more diversity near the equator, at the center of the globe, because all species have finite distributional ranges

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70
Q

causation

A

what are the stimuli that elicit the response, and what physiological mechanism mediates the response?

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71
Q

ontogeny

A

how does the behavior change with age, and what early experiences are necessary for the animal to display the behavior? learned or innate?

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72
Q

function

A

how does the behavior affect the animal’s chance of survival and reproduction? why does the animal respond that way instead of some other way?

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73
Q

phylogeny (behavioral ecology)

A

how does the behavior compare with similar behavior in related species, and how might it have begun through the process of evolution

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74
Q

proximate (immediate) causes of behavior

A

causation and ontogeny

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75
Q

fixed action pattern (FAP)

A

innate behavioral sequence that is invisible and runs to completion; invariant and in response to an external stimulus, a sign stimulus

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76
Q

brood parasitism/”code-breaking”

A

when birds lay their eggs in the nests of other birds species, exploiting the FAP of that species to feed and raise their offspring

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77
Q

movement taxis

A

innate movement in response to a directional stimulus or gradient of stimulus intensity

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78
Q

movement kinesis

A

innate movement in response to a non-directional stimulus

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79
Q

orthokinesis

A

the speed of movement is dependent upon the intensity of the stimulus
-non-directional
-in presence of risk

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80
Q

klinokinesis

A

sinousity (linearity) of movement is proportional to stimulus intensity

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81
Q

signal

A

a stimulus transmitted from one animal to another

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82
Q

communication

A

transmission and reception of signals

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83
Q

imprinting

A

any phase-sensitive learning that is rapid and independent of the consequences of the behavior

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84
Q

spatial learning

A

the intake and memory of the spatial distribution of important landmarks

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85
Q

path integration/ded reckoning

A

a type of spatial learning in which the organism can compute its location in space based on its past trajectory

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86
Q

cognitive map

A

internal representation of the landscape; allows an animal to “visualize” a direct and efficient pathway between 2 points in a mapped area, even if it hasn’t previously used that pathway

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87
Q

associative learning

A

the association of one stimulus to another

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88
Q

cognition

A

the process of knowing that involves awareness, reasoning, recollection, and judgement

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89
Q

social learning

A

in social species, the learning of behaviors

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90
Q

foraging ecology

A

the study of the suite of behaviors an animal employs to search for, find, capture, subdue, and consume food

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91
Q

optimal foraging theory

A

the theory that organisms balance the cost and benefits of their resources to make decisions about how and when to get food

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92
Q

profitability (optimal foraging level)

A

profitability = energy in food / (searching time + handling time)

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93
Q

infanticide

A

the killing of young offspring by a mature animal of its own species

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94
Q

non-consumptive effects

A

effects not directly resulting from the death of animals by predation
ex) changes in animal behavior in
response to a risk of predation

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95
Q

consumptive effects

A

effects of predation
ex) population size shrinkage

96
Q

risk landscape (landscape of fear)

A

the phenomenon in which prey animals change their foraging behaviors based on an assessment of where in their landscape holds the highest risk of predation

97
Q

ghost of predators past

A

the hypothesis that species subject to past selection for antipredator behavior will retain that antipredator behavior, if it is not too costly to do so, even after the predator has disappeared

98
Q

behaviors/adaptations prey have to avoid being found (search time)

A

-camouflage
-timing, location of activity
-clumped distribution to flood the
predator

99
Q

behaviors/adaptations prey have to avoid capture (handling time)

A

-run or swim away
-taste bad
-protective surfaces such as shells or
hard exoskeletons

100
Q

type 1 predator functional response

A

kill rate directly proportional to prey density

101
Q

type 2 predator functional response

A

kill rate limited at high prey densities by handling time

102
Q

type 3 predator functional response

A

kill rate limited at low prey densities by search time, accelerated at moderate prey densities, and slowed at high prey densities by handling time

103
Q

reproductive ecology

A

the study of mating behaviors in animals

104
Q

monogamy

A

-animal mating system in which each
male and female mate with one
partner of the opposite sex
-monogamous systems differ in the
length of the monogamous
partnerships
-equal parental investment

105
Q

polygyny

A

-mating system in which one male
mates with many females
-female investment > male
investment

106
Q

polyandry

A

-mating system in which each female
mates with many males
-male investment > female
investment

107
Q

promiscuity

A

-mating system in which males and
females both freely mate with
multiple partners
-female investment > male
investment

108
Q

anisogamy

A

the idea that female gametes require a higher energy investment than male gametes

109
Q

bateman’s principle

A

the theory that there is greater variance in male reproductive success than in female reproductive success due to females being the more selective sex

110
Q

resource defense polygyny

A

one male can mate with many females by overseeing a resource-rich habitat in which the females choose to reside

111
Q

mate-guarded polygyny

A

-one male can mate with many
females by actively guarding a group
of females
-the males in these species often
exhibit some exaggerated
secondary sexual characteristics
-found in systems in which the
resources are not defensible

112
Q

lek polygyny

A

-males compete for the opportunity
to mate with females by performing
some show of attractiveness
-found in systems in which the resources are not defensible

113
Q

cooperative polyandry

A

several males defend a female’s territory

114
Q

resource defense polyandry

A

females defend territories that contain smaller areas of groups of males

115
Q

endler’s guppies

A

-guppies with no predators~ colorful
spots
-guppies with predators~ no colorful
spots
-colorful spots selected for sexually
and selected against with predators
present

116
Q

defining populations

A

1) spatially (almost always a
prerequisite for the other two)
2) genetically (population geneticist’s
emphasis)
3) demographically (birth rate, death
rate, sex and age ratios)

117
Q

dispersion

A

spatial organization of a population; can be clumped, uniform, or random

118
Q

poisson distribution

A

the statistical phenomenon in which the mean equals the variance

119
Q

uniform dispersion

A

-individual organisms are evenly
distributed throughout the
landscape
-population mean is greater than population variance

120
Q

clumped dispersion

A

-individual organisms are aggregated
in small groups across the landscape
-population variance is greater than
population mean

121
Q

random dispersion

A

-individual organisms are scattered in
no identifiable pattern
-population variance equals
population mean

122
Q

population characteristics

A

-demography
-genetic
-abundance/density
-dispersion

123
Q

density

A

-individuals per area
-D = n/2wL
~n= total number observed
~L= length of transect
~w= effective half-width of transect

124
Q

calculating organismal density from nest density

A

D= D(N)/prt
-p= proportion of nest builders
-r= rate of nest building
-t= nest decay rate

125
Q

mark-recapture equation

A

N= mc/r
-N= population size
-m= the # marked in t1
-c= the total number captured in t2
-r= the # marked in t1 and
recaptured in t2

126
Q

to calculate variance

A

1) take the count from one quadrant
2) subtract the mean
3) square the total
4) repeat for every quadrant

127
Q

to calculate mean

A

1) sum the counts from each
quadrant
2) divide by the number of quadrants

128
Q

assumptions of the lincoln-peterson (mark-recapture technique) estimator

A

1) marked and unmarked have equal probability of capture
2) complete mixture after release
3) closed population

129
Q

exponential growth equation (continuous)

A

dN/dt= rN
-N= population at time t
-r= difference of per captia birth
and death rates
~r > 0: population increasing
~r < 0: population decreasing
~r = 0: population stationary

130
Q

exponential growth equation (discrete)

A

N(t+1)= N(t)(lambda)
-lambda= BxIxDxE (N(t+1)/N(t))
~lambda < 1: population
increasing
~0 < lambda < 1: population
decreasing
~ lambda = 1: population
stationary

131
Q

r

A

-intrinsic rate of increase
-inflow - outflow
-used in the continuous differential
equation formulation
- = ln(lambda)

132
Q

lambda

A

-finite rate of increase
-factor by which the population is
multiplied per discrete time unit
-used in discrete population
projections
- = e^r

133
Q

assumptions of exponential growth

A

1) no immigration or emigration
2) constant b and d
-across time (every year the same)
-across individuals (no age/sex
structure, no individuality)
3) no time lags- population responds
instantly to changing N

134
Q

negative density dependence

A

decline in population growth with increasing population size because of reduced survival and reproduction due to:
-competition for resources
-predation
-physiological (intrinsic) factors
-territoriality
-disease

135
Q

logistic growth (density dependence)

A

dN/dt= rN((K-N)/K)

136
Q

allee effect (positive density dependence)

A

-population growth rates low when
population size is small (low
reproductive success or survival)
-usually associated with disruption of
social or mating system, avoiding
predation, or food acquisition, due to
impacts of low number of individuals
-(causes little dip at beginning of
graph)

137
Q

stochasticity

A

random and unpredictable events or changes that can lead to uncertainty and alter populations

138
Q

environmental stochasticity

A

random changes to the environment that vary from year to year

139
Q

catastrophic events

A

sudden, acute, and intense changes that have a dramatic impact on many individuals in a population

140
Q

demographic stochasiticity

A

natural and unpredictable fluctuations in demographics such as the birth rate, death rate, or sex ratio of a population

141
Q

factors influencing demographic stochasticity

A

1) patterns of mortality
2) sex ratios
3) patterns of natality
4) age-sex structure

142
Q

genetic stochasticity

A

unpredictable changes in the genetic composition of a population

143
Q

deterministic model

A

the outcome is determined only by the inputs, and nothing is left to chance or incorporates uncertainty or changing conditions

144
Q

stochastic model

A

includes less predictable (weather, food, supplies, etc.) changes and uncertainty around growth rates that alter population factors

145
Q

type 3 survivorship curve

A

-mortality rates high early in life
-those who do make it to adulthood
have a long lifespan

146
Q

type 2 survivorship curve

A

constant proportion of individuals dying over time, regardless of age

147
Q

type 1 survivorship curve

A

-very few individuals die at a young
age
-nonlinear monotonic decline in
survivorship~ once individuals reach
some maximum lifespan, there is a
sharp drop in survivorship at that
point

148
Q

primary sex ratio

A

the sex ratio at conception

149
Q

secondary sex ratio

A

the sex ratio at birth

150
Q

tertiary sex ratio

A

the sex ratio of adults in a population

151
Q

natality

A

rate that females are reproducing in a population

152
Q

dispersal

A

the permanent movement away from an existing population or from the parent organism

153
Q

migration

A

the seasonal movement from breeding to wintering grounds and back again

154
Q

metapopulation

A

an assemblage of local populations connected by dispersal

155
Q

local population

A

a set group of individuals with a high probability of interacting

156
Q

matrix

A

the space between subpopulations in a metapopulation in which the organisms in the population do not live

157
Q

classic metapopulation

A

-subpopulations are demographically
independent~ independent b, d, i, e
-dispersal increases viability/resilience~ can “save” each other

158
Q

source-sink dynamics

A

-metapopulation with one source subpopulation that provides an excess of individuals, due to a high birth rate, to sink subpopulations with low birth rates
-source: b >d and i < e
-sinks: b < d and i > e

159
Q

patchy populations

A

metapopulation in which the dispersal is so high that demographical outcomes are no longer independent

160
Q

island populations

A

set of subpopulations within a metapopulation with very low dispersal and therefore very independent demographics

161
Q

island biogeography equilibrium theory

A

the number of species on an island reflects a balance between the rate at which new species colonize and the rate at which populations of established species become extinct

162
Q

island size

A

-species area curve~ more area, more
species
-small islands have higher extinction
rates
-large islands have lower extinction
rates

163
Q

island proximity

A

-islands closer to the mainland have
higher rates of colonization
-islands farther from the mainland
have lower rates of colonization

164
Q

interspecific interactions

A

interactions between different species

165
Q

commensalism

A

interspecific interaction that is good for one species and has no effect on the other

166
Q

amensalism

A

interspecific interaction that is bad for one species but has no reciprocal cost to the other species

167
Q

competition

A

interspecific interaction that is bad for both species

168
Q

exploitation competition

A

two species use the same resource so they indirectly compete with each other by both using that resource

169
Q

interference competition

A

competition between two species that involves direct behavior interaction as one species attempts to keep the other from gaining access to some shared and depletable resource

170
Q

interspecific killing

A

-if two species are in competition for
a resource, they will kill members of
the other species to reduce
competition
-occurs most often when there is
both a moderate resource overlap
and moderate risk (moderate
difference in body size)

171
Q

gause’s competitive exclusion principle

A

if two species have almost completely overlapping niches, they cannot continue to coexist- one of the two will be driven to extinction

172
Q

niche

A

all the combinations of biotic and abiotic resources that an organism can use to survive

173
Q

fundamental niche

A

niche occupancy in the absence of competitors

174
Q

realized niche

A

niche occupancy in the presence of competitors

175
Q

niche separation

A

given some competition, species should be under selection by evolving niches with lower overlap

176
Q

character displacement

A

displacement away from an organism’s fundamental niche as a result of competitive pressure; heritable process passed down through generations

177
Q

character release

A

the release of an organism from competitive pressure that has pushed it into a realized niche

178
Q

phenotypic plasticity

A

-phenotypic change due to
environmental factors
-not heritable through generations

179
Q

predation

A

interspecific interaction that is good for one species and bad for the other

180
Q

herbivory

A

the consumption of plants

181
Q

monophagy

A

eating one thing

182
Q

polyphagy

A

eating many different types of food

183
Q

insect parasitoid

A

insects that lay eggs on or near a host that is consumed by the larvae

184
Q

heterospecific predation

A

predation of another species

185
Q

crypticity

A

camouflage

186
Q

aposematism

A

organisms with dangerous defense mechanisms are colorful as a warning to predators

187
Q

batesian mimicry

A

the phenomenon in which a harmless species has a physical appearance that imitates the warning signals of a harmful species to deter a shared predator

188
Q

mullerian mimicry

A

the phenomenon in which multiple species with a shared predator have similar coloration so that the anti-predation effect is multiplied

189
Q

keystone predator

A

a predator that is essential to holding together the structure of an ecological community

190
Q

ecological release

A

the increase in the population of one species due to the relaxation of predation or competition of another

191
Q

food chain

A

simple linear hierarchy of monophagous consumers

192
Q

monophagous

A

primary producers consumed by primary consumers, consumed by secondary consumers, and so on; assumes there is a direct link from the autotroph to the primary consumer

193
Q

food web

A

complex network of interacting species functioning as producers and consumers

194
Q

energy transfer between trophic levels

A

-only about 10%
-autotrophs are abundant and top predators are rare (in number and in biomass) due to energetic limitations

195
Q

biomass transfer between trophic levels

A

-biomass pyramid can be inverted (often in aquatic ecosystems) but energy pyramids cannot

196
Q

why can biomass pyramids be inverted?

A

-primarily in aquatic biomes
-r (intrinsic rate of population increase) is high for autotrophs
-consumption of autotrophs by primary consumers is very high

197
Q

why are predator : prey body-mass ratios higher in aquatic than in terrestrial habitats?

A

-gape limitation~ how big a
predator’s mouth is
-most aquatic predators engulf their
prey to avoid it sinking or being
swept away

198
Q

why are the vast majority (80%) of predators larger than their prey?

A

-efficiency
-less risk
-easier handling

199
Q

why is the energy transfer in aquatic ecosystems more efficient than in terrestrial ecosystems?

A

in terrestrial ecosystems, gravity is a factor~ requires cellulose, bones, and other indigestible things, making energy transfer less efficient

200
Q

bottom-up regulation

A

primary producers limit the number of primary consumers that can be supported in a system by setting the energy available at the base trophic level

201
Q

top-down regulation

A

-top consumers limit primary
consumers, which allows primary
producers (autotrophs) to thrive
-without top consumers, primary
consumers would eat all the green
material produced by autotrophs
-predators serve an important regulatory role in their ecosystems

202
Q

green world hypothesis

A

ecosystems can be regulated by top-down limitations, bottom-up limitations, or both

203
Q

trophic cascade

A

-reciprocal predator-prey effects that
alter the abundance, biomass, or
productivity of a population,
community, or trophic level across
more than one link in a food web
-the enemy of my enemy is my friend
-extension of top-down regulation~
autotrophs need top predators to
thrive

204
Q

trophic levels

A

-autotrophs and heterotrophs (primary, secondary, tertiary, etc. consumers)
-only about 10% of energy is transferred between trophic levels

205
Q

trophic ecology

A

the study of the structure of feeding relationships between among organisms in an ecosystem

206
Q

global cycles

A

nitrogen, carbon, oxygen, and sulfur

207
Q

local cycles

A

phosphorous, potassium, and calcium

208
Q

reservoir

A

the total inorganic or organic material that is available to organisms

209
Q

flux

A

the rate of movement between reservoirs

210
Q

dynamic equilibrium

A

the balance of flux between reservoirs in a biogeochemical cycle

211
Q

how have humans affected the carbon cycle?

A

transferred carbon from other sources to the atmosphere
-change in flux
-change in reservoir size

212
Q

what is the primary way carbon is sequestered in oceanic biomes?

A

creates calcium carbonate to form the shells of marine organisms

213
Q

how does increased atmospheric CO2 increase ocean acidity?

A

1) reacts with water to form carbonic
acid
2) carbonic acid readily breaks down
into hydrogen ions and
bicarbonate
-hydrogen ions lower the pH
3) existing carbonate that usually
forms shells with calcium instead
combines more readily with excess
hydrogen ions forming more
bicarbonate, creating a positive
feedback loop

214
Q

ocean acidification

A

the ongoing decrease in the pH of the earth’s oceans, caused by the uptake of CO2 from the atmosphere

215
Q

organic forms of nitrogen

A

found in amino acids, proteins, and more resistant nitrogen compounds

216
Q

inorganic forms of nitrogen

A

ammonium ions, ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite

217
Q

processes in the nitrogen cycle

A

fixation, ammonification (mineralization), nitrification, assimilation, and denitrification

218
Q

biotic nitrogen fixation

A

the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia by an enzyme called nitrogenase

219
Q

abiotic nitrogen ammonification

A

the conversion of ammonia to ammonium ions
-occurs more rapidly when the pH is
low (more H+ ions)

220
Q

biotic ammonification

A

when a plant or animal dies or an animal expels waste, and bacteria or fungi convert the organic nitrogen to ammonium ions

221
Q

nitrification

A

the process in which bacteria change the oxidative state of ammonium ions to create nitrite or nitrate

222
Q

assimilation

A

many plant species form mutualisms with mycorrhizal fungi to degrade nitrogen compounds and aid in amino acid absorption
-plants and fungi trade nitrogen for
carbon

223
Q

denitrification

A

the reduction of nitrates back into atmospheric N2
-performed by bacteria

224
Q

mass extinction

A

dramatic increase in the rate of species loss

225
Q

anthropocene

A

the geological era in which humans have been dominant

226
Q

holocene (anthropocene) extinction event

A

the most recent mass extinction event in history, caused by human actions

227
Q

habitat destruction

A

the rapid conversion of a historic biome into an anthrome

228
Q

introduction of species

A

the addition of species into a novel environment, outside of its historical distribution area

229
Q

secondary extinction

A

the elimination of a species due to the elimination of another species; the indirect effect of human actions

230
Q

overkill (overharvest)

A

the killing of more animals in a population than that population can recover by birth rate

231
Q

evil quartet

A

1) habitat destruction
2) introduced species
3) secondary extinctions
4) overkill

232
Q

evil sextet

A

the 6 principle drivers behind the holocene extinction event
1) habitat destruction
2) introduced species
3) secondary extinctions
4) overkill
5) climate change
6) extinction synergies

233
Q

extinction synergy

A

the idea that drivers of extinction do not only add together, but reinforce one another to make an overall effect larger than the sum of its parts

234
Q

planetary boundaries

A

guiding human development on a changing planet

235
Q
A