Ecology Lectures 2 + 3

Question 1

Define: ENDEMISM

Answer 1

a species EVOLVED in a DEFINED place and is ONLY found there (ex. mountain range, island, country, other defined zone).

Question 2

Define: RANGE EXPANSION

Answer 2

a species EVOLVED somewhere ELSE and then EXPANDED its habitat range to include the new region.

Question 3

Define: RANGE SHIFT

Answer 3

a species EVOLVED somewhere ELSE and USED to live there, but its RANGE SHIFTED and ONLY includes the new region.

Question 4

Define: DISPERSAL

Answer 4

a species ARRIVED from somewhere else, and not near by (ex. seeds travelling via bird migration)

Question 5

Define: VICARIANCE

Answer 5

a species EVOLVED somewhere under certain ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, but the physical landscape moved, so the species was exposed to DIFFERENT conditions(ex. continental drift, tectonic plates)

Question 6

Why might a species not be found in a certain environment

Answer 6

1. hasn’t ARRIVED yet (dispersal)
2. can’t SURVIVE there

Question 7

What TWO experiments must be done for a transplant?

Answer 7

1. Control: transplant WITHIN the current range
2. Treatment: transplant OUTSIDE current range (new location)

Question 8

Why do control transplant happens?

Answer 8

to determine if a species can’t survive in a new location because it cannot adapt OR because of an IMPROPER TRANSPLANT

Question 9

Define: ABIOTIC factor

Answer 9

physical and chemical features of an environment

Question 10

What is an ECOLOGICAL niche?

Answer 10

the range of conditions necessary for a species to survive in an ecosystem, as well as its ecological role in the ecosystem

Question 11

Define: RANGE of TOLERANCE

Answer 11

environmental CONDITIONS at which a population could grow, survive, and reproduce, based on ABIOTIC factors. this is a FUNDAMENTAL NICHE.

Question 12

Define: REALIZED NICHE

Answer 12

set of conditions where a species could ACTUALLY live, after interactions with OTHER species and BIOTIC factors are accounted for.