Evolution 1 Flashcards
Who first defined ecology?
E. Haeckel (1866).
What was the first definition of ecology?
The comprehensive science of the relationship of the organism to the environment…the science which concerns…with the external relations of plants and animals to each other and to the past and present conditions of their existence.
What is the modern definition of ecology?
The scientific study of interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms.
What can interactions be between?
Organism and abiotic environment, organism and biotic environment
What do we need to take into account when looking at invasive species and how to prepare?
The physical range in which they can survive, their ability to evolve to new strategies, their predators or parasites that may control their progress and what they eat.
Why was a legislation introduced to remove phosphate from detergents?
It was found that phosphate caused algal blooms to occur.
Why is ecology important?
Needed for monitoring long term changes in the environment (global warming), accessing and understanding impact of humans on their environment, underpinning conservation e.g. preserving habitats, species and biodiversity and revealing how to use resources in a sustainable way.
What are the different ways ecology can be studied?
The ecosystem level, community level, the population level and the organism level.
What is population ecology?
It deals with the growth of populations and their variation in size.
What is a population?
A group of the same species occupying a particular space at a particular time. The organisms rely on the same resources, are influenced by similar environment factors, interact with each other and can potentially interbreed.
What is the process for the Lincoln-Peterson method?
Collect X individuals, mark them, resample Y individuals and use the equation n = originally marked x resampled / recaptured to find an estimate for population size.
What are the assumptions for the Lincoln-Peterson method?
Marked and unmarked individuals are equally likely to live or die and are randomly distributed through the population, the marks stay on, there are not a lot of births or deaths and there is no significant emigration or immigration.
What is the equation for population density?
Density = population size/area.
What are the different types of dispersion patterns of populations?
Clumped, uniform and random.
What are the different scales that ecology can be studied at?
Ecosystem level, community level, population level and organism level.
