Ecology Exam 2

Question 1

Explain the differences between aestivation and torpor (hybernation)

Answer 1

Aestivation is in heat during the summer
torpor is brief and usually at night during sleep

Question 2

Describe phenotypic plasticity

Answer 2

An organism changing it’s phenotype to suit environment but not changing DNA. ex. plant that was moved to another side of room will change appearance to be closer to sun

Question 3

Describe blood shunting

Answer 3

adaptation that allows specific blood vessels to shut off so that the warm blood can stay where it is most needed

Question 4

countercurrent blood circulation (Bird legs)

Answer 4

the arteries carry warm blood away from heart and are next to the veins that are cold so they warm up the cold blood

Question 5

what did Henry Thoreu do, find, and why is it important?

Answer 5

stayed in a cabin
important: effects of climate change
found: that flowering time is 7 days earlier and that temperature increased by 2*C

Question 7

describe difference between fecundity and partity

Answer 7

fecundity: number of offspring per birth
parity: number of times an organism can get pregnant

Question 8

what is fitness in terms of reproduction

Answer 8

number of successful offspring

Question 9

what are differences in slow and fast life history?

Answer 9

slow: longer life, less kids, high parental involvement
fast: short life, lots of kids, no parental involvement

Question 10

what is principle of allocation

Answer 10

an organism deciding where to focus its energy, whether on reproducing, growing, or finding food

Question 11

determinate growth (birds) vs indeterminate growth (plants)

Answer 11

determinate: individual doesn’t grow more after reaching sexual maturity
indeterminate: individual keeps growing even after reaching sexual maturity

Question 12

semelparity vs iteroparity

Answer 12

semelparity reproduce once
iteroparity reproduce more than once

Question 13

describe photoperiod and why it’s important

Answer 13

amount of light that happens each day
important bc a lot of life changes happen during the day, like birds getting food at sunrise

Question 14

SENESCENCE!!!

Answer 14

dying, aging, reaching absolute death

Question 15

differences between ruderals and competitors

Answer 15

ruderals experience high disturbance and seeds are dispersed in winds
competitors grow fast and have little energy for seed production

Question 16

example of ruderals and example of competitors

Answer 16

ruderal: dandelion
competitor: goldenrod

Question 17

what are stress tolerators?

Answer 17

small herbs with long life span and slow growth, relies on vegetative reproduction instead of seeds