Exam 4 Class 4 Introduction to Ecology Flashcards
what is ecology
the study of how orgnisms nteract with each other and the environment
the primary goal of studying ecology is to undrstand
the distribution, diversity, and abundance of organisms
there is not species that can
exist in all environments
what are some fundamental questions of ecology?
- why do some individuals live and some die
- why do some species move between habitats
- how do some species become invasive
- how will species respond to climate change?
what are the 5 levels that ecology is studied at?
- organismal
- population
- community
- ecosystem
- biosphere aka global
go take a look at the chart on the power point that has details for each level
hehe
what is organismal ecology?
explores adaptations that allow individuals to live in a particular area
asks how individuals interact with each other and the environment
- behavior, sexual selection, physiology in diff. habitats
what is population ecology
explores how and why the abundance and distribution of individuals within a population change over time
- offspring success, river variability, competition for resources
what is an example of organismal ecology?
salmon migrate from freshwater environments to breed
(salmon migration patterns)
what is an example of population ecology?
few salmon offspring will survive to the same stream to breed
(salmon offspring survival rates)
what is community ecology?
explores how populations of different species interact with each other and what the consequences of these interactions are
-competition with other species, predators, and pathogens
what is an example of community ecology?
salmon act as prey as well as predators
(study of the salmons impact in the community food web)
what is ecosystem ecology?
explores the interactions among the living an dnon living components of a region
- energy flow, nutrient cycles between marine freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems
what is an example of ecosystem ecology?
salmon die and decompose then reslease nutrients that are used by other organisms
(salmons death impact on the ecosystem)
what is biosphere/global ecology?
explores interactions among ecosystems on earth
- change in one region can affect other regions as well
what is an example of biosphere ecology?
the salmons complex life cycle and their reduced populations greatly impact humans
(the interaction between salmon populations and humans around the world)
what is conservation of biology
the study of humans effect on the environment and attempt to reduce and restore it
example of a conservation biology measure
dam removal
what is biogeography?
the study of how organisms are distributed geographically
distribution is effected by
abiotic and biotic factors
what are some abiotic factors that can effect a species geographic distribution:
temperature , moisture, sunlight, salinity
what are some biotic factors that can effects a species geographic distribution
competitiors, predators, prey, reproductive requirements, parasites
past abiotic and biotic factors also
influence present distribution
what is an example of a natural dispersal barrier on current distribution?
wallace line that seperate asian and australin species
what is an example of a biotic factor that could effect dispersal
dominant male cougars take over an area and the subordinates do not enter
a hunter kills a dominant make so now younger males will come into the area looking to claim the new territory
- they want to defend the new territory
- more prey abundance
- trees to climb and conceal themselves
- humans
how do we measure population sizes?
uber of individuals at the time + births - deaths + immigration - emigration
how do we measure pop growth:
(births - deaths +immigration - emigration) / (original population)
then x by 100
