Ecology Flashcards
What is ecology?
Ecology is the study of the distribution and abundance of living organisms.
Define species
Group of similar individuals that can reproduce fertile offspring.
Define population
Group of organisms of the same specie living in the same area at a particular time.
Define community
Groups of different populations in an area or habitat.
List the 4 sphere’s.
Biosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, Lithosphere.
What is a biome?
Biomes are the collection of plants and animals with similar characteristics to survive in a particular biome.
What is the ecosystem?
Where species interact with each other and the environment.
List the ecosystem in order.
Atom, Molecule, Cell, Tissue/Organ, Body System, Organism, Population, Community, Ecosystem.
How can you compare biomes?
Buoyancy, Pressure, Gases, Temperature, Viscosity.
What is a metapopulation?
A number of populations of the same species occurring in different suitable areas of separated habitats.
What is a source population?
A source population occurs when there are more births than deaths making it easier to disperse.
What is a sink population?
A sink population occurs when there is a higher death rate and a low birth rate.
What is abundance?
Abundance is the number of the same species found in a small area to calculate the total species in the environment.
State the main reason of Charles Darwin’s evolution theory.
The Galapagos finches beaks have adapted to their environment to acquire their nutritional food source to prevent competition.
What is a niche?
The niche of a species is it’s role in the community.
Define competition.
This occurs when 2 or more individuals strive to obtain the same resources when there is short supply.
Define adaption.
Organisms adapt so that they are uniquely able to exploit their own niche to prevent competition.
Or
The organism has adapted to be specialised to suit the environment they live in.
What are the different adaptions?
Behavioural - Actions by the organism to survive
Physiological - Internal workings
Anatomical - Can be seen when organism is dissected
What is a common descent?
Common to their ancestors with little change.
What is descent with modification?
Has similar characteristics to their parents but with different modifications.
Define natural selection.
Within a population, a characteristic has more than one phenotype, these phenotypes result in genetic variation.
What is directional selection?
Acts against one of the extremes in a range of phenotypes where one phenotype becomes rare and the other more common.
What is stabilising selection?
Individuals with the average form of a trait with the same fitness.
What is disruptive selection?
Individuals with either extreme variation of a trait have higher fitness with the average form of the trait.
Define speciation.
Formation of a new species by natural selection is known as speciation.
Define drosophila.
Before mating, males and females undergo a courtship ritual known as drosophila.
What effects survival in animals?
Competition, Predation, Limited Light, Temperature, Disease, Human influence.
What is divergent evolution?
Two or more species diverge from a common ancestor. ( For example, the fox, wolf and dog. )
What is convergent evolution?
Two or more distinct species share traits not due to a common ancestor. ( Bird, Butterfly and Bat )
What is parallel evolution?
When a trait develops in species that aren’t related. ( Anteater and Numbat || Mouse and Marsupial Mouse )
What is mutualism?
Between organisms of 2 species where each benefit.
Define communalism.
A relationship between 2 species where one obtains food without hurting the other.
Define parasitism.
Parasite living on a host.
Define predation.
The process of capture, kill and ingest of another organism.
What does ‘BAP’ stand for?
Biodiversity Action Plan
What is batesian mimicry?
When a harmless animal looks dangerous.
What is mullerian mimicry?
Poisonous animals evolve to look similar to one another.
What is the ‘r’ and ‘k’ selection?
Used by ecologists to describe growth and reproduction strategies in organisms.
‘r’
Many offspring with little or no parental care on the hopes some survive.
‘k’
Some offspring suitable for the environment, requires a lot of parental care.
Limiting Factors
Environmental conditions that control the rate at which a process can occur. ( Such as pop growth )
What is Pop-Growth?
Determined by density dependant or density independent factors.
Panda Paw?
Panda - Density Dependant
Paw - Density Independent
Predators Availability of resources Nutrient supply Disease Spread Accumulation of wastes
Phenomena
Abiotic Factors
Weather conditions
Density independent
Environmental factors are not influenced by the relative size of population. ( Weather, Climate, Natural Disasters )
Density dependant
Environmental factors are influenced by the relative size of the population. (Predation, Food availability, Other resources, Pathogenic diseases.
Logistic growth
Environmental resistance occurs
Slowing of rate of growth
Competition limits growth
Exponential growth
Ideal environment No competition Small population J- curve Growth without limits
S - curve
Logistic growth pattern
Environmental pressure slows rate of growth
J - curve
Exponential growth pattern
Ideal, unlimited environment
Environment Act
1995 It created: The environment agency The Scottish environment protection agency The national park authorities
Wildlife and Countryside Act
1981
Protects native species
Controls the release of non-native species
Offense to kill or injure any wild animal
Take damage or destroy a wild nest
Take or destroy an egg
Deer Act
1991 Law covers: Poaching deer Killing deer Use of ammunition in hunting
Conservation regulations
1994
Provisions for the conservation of natural habitats and flora + fauna.
Conservation of habitats and species regulations
2010
Prevent the killing, harm and disturbance of EU protected species
Protects the habitat of the protected species
Protects the corridors of dispersal to/from the habitat.
Protection of Badgers Act
1992
Offence to kill, injure or take a badger or to damage or interfere with a sett
Digging works not allowed 30M of the sett
Setts can only be destroyed under license only if vacant.
