Exam 1 Flashcards
What are the Levels of Ecology
Individuals (Organismal)
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Landscape
Biosphere/Global
What is Organismal Ecology
focused on the Physiology, Morphology, Behavior, and Evolution
e.g., how do zebras regulate internal water balance?
What is Population?
group of interbreeding individuals of SINGLE species living in same area
What is Population Ecology
variables impacting population size, distribution, and changes over time, evolution abiotic-biotic interactions
e.g., what factors control zebra populations?
What is Community?
group of populations of DIFFERENT species in same area
What is Community Ecology
how species interactions affect evolution, structure, and organization of involved species
What is an Ecosystem?
community of organisms + physical and chemical environment
What is Ecosystem Ecology
energy flow, chemical cycling between organisms and environment
What is a Landscape?
“mosaic” of connected ecosystems (including terrestrial and aquatic)
What is Landscape Ecology
exchanges of energy, materials, and organisms across ecosystems
e.g., how do vegetated corridors affect rate of movement among isolated forest fragments?
What is the Biosphere?
global ecosystem, sum of the planet’s ecosystems and landscapes
What are the three options in counting individuals?
- “Count Everything”
-large, non-motile organisms - “Quadrat” Method
-sample of total population
-appropriate of relatively immotile organisms - “Mark-and-Recapture”
-highly motile organisms, often in difficult to access areas
What is the formula for Mark-Recapture?
(# marked & released x # captured in 2nd sampling) / # marked that are recaptured
= population size
Some organisms are elusive and hard to count.
What are some ways to count these organisms?
-listen/tally vocalizations
-camera trapping
-counting scat (poop)
-pickup roadkill
-yield from fishing/hunting efforts
100 kingfishers are captured and marked.
Several days later, 20 birds are caught, and 10 are marked.
What is the estimated population size?
100 x 20 / 10
= 200 pop. size
Define the following distribution types for individuals across a landscape:
Clumped
Regular
Random
Clumped: unequal chance of being anywhere
-most common
-e.g. sea stars
Regular: “uniform,” evenly spaced
-e.g. penguins
Random: equal chance of being anywhere
-e.g. dandelions
Define Ecology
scientific study of RELATIONSHIPS between organisms and between organisms and the ENVIRONMENT
T/F: A hypothesis is a proposition to explain natural phenomena made with limited evidence that is the starting point for further testing
TRUE
T/F: red squirrels who actively defend territories is an example of a group most likely to exhibit UNIFORM DISPERSION
TRUE
What does Habitat Fragmentation lead to?
decreased habitat area
increased isolation
“edge effects”
What are some natural and anthropogenic causes of fragmentation?
fire
flooding
lava flows
roads
urbanization
border walls
dams
Which islands, large or small, harbor more species?
large islands
-bigger target for migrants
-support larger populations
-multiple habitat types
Do islands closer or farther from the “source” have more species?
closer to the source
-more species migrants arrive
-“rescue effect”
What does Darlington’s Rule regarding island area and number of species state?
10x increase in island area leads to 2x increase in number of species