Fundamentals of Ecology Flashcards
what is the difference between macroclimate and microclimate?
macro - global, regional, landscape, etc. large - scale
micro - very very fine patterns. ex, the specific conditions under a log, temper
what is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors? give an example of each.
biotic - anything living. ex. soil microorganisms
abiotic - non living. ex. topography
what are 2 major selective pressures?
environment and competition
What is a fundamental niche?
the total area that an organism can physically survive in.
what is a realized niche?
the area of the fundamental niche which the organism occupies.
interactions in _____ time result in adaptations in ______ time
ecological, evolutionary
what are the 2 structural features of populations?
density and dispersion
what is the difference between crude and ecological density?
crude - # of individuals regardless of how habitable landscape is
ecological - # of individuals in a specific part of a landscape
what are the three types of dispersion? give an example of each.
clumped - starfish
uniform/individual - seagulls?
random - dandelions
What are the two methods of population size estimation?
Density + Dispersion, mark and recapture
describe how the density + dispersion method of population size estimation works.
- split up the geographic range into plots
- count individuals in each plot
- avrg density/plots measured x plots in range
more plots = more accurate!
describe how the mark and recapture method of population size estimation works.
a sample from a population is taken, tagged, and released back into environment
second sample is then taken and then number of individuals recaptured is counted
list the types of ecology from least to most inclusive
organismal ecology, population ecology, community ecology, ecosystem ecology, landscape ecology, global ecology.
define population ecology.
studies the size and age compositions of populations and the environmental processes affecting them
what are the three types of of survivorship curves? describe them and give an example for each.
- low death rates during early and middle life, increase in death rates among older age groups. ex. humans
- constant death rates throughout life. ex. ground squirrels
- high death rates for young, and lower death rate for survivors. ex. molluscs
t/f; exponential growth can be sustained for a long time in any population
false!
what is carrying capacity?
the population size that an environment can sustain.
which growth model incorporates carrying capacity? what is the shape of the curve? give an example of an organism that fits into this type of growth model.
logistic, “s” shaped, lab growth of paramecia
what does an overshoot above the carrying capacity cause in a population? why?
population crash, because there aren’t enough resources to sustain the pop.
what is community ecology?
the study of effect of interspecific interactions on community structure & organization
what are the interspecific interactions? are they +/-/none?
competition : -/-
predation/herbivory: +/-
parasitism: +/-
mutualism: +/+
commensalism: +/0
what are symbiotic interspecific interactions?
where one species depends on another
what are the types of symbiotic interspecific interactions? describe each briefly and give an example.
parasitism - parasite derives resources from host. ex. tick
mutualism - both species benefit. ex. organisms in herbivore gut
commensalism - one species benefits but doesn’t affect other
what is the difference between endo and ectoparasites
endo - live inside host. ex. tapeworm
ecto - live outside host. ex. tick
what is the difference between obligative and facultative mutualism?
obligative - one/both cannot survive without the other
facultative - both species can survive on their own
what does the competitive exclusion principle state?
2 species competing for same limiting resources cannot coexist
what is resource partitioning?
when different species in the same fundamental niche only use the resources in their realized niche to minimize competition.
what are some defenses against predation?
behaviour, mechanical (ex. spines), chemical, cryptic colouration, mimicry
what are some defenses against herbivory?
chemical (ex. toxins, bad taste), structures (ex. spines, trichomes)
what 4 traits can be seen in communities with high diversity?
- more productive (higher biomass)
- more stable productivity over the years
- more stable community structure under environmental change
- more resistant to invasive species
what is trophic structure?
the different feeding relationships in an ecosystem which determine the direction of transfer of energy
what is a trophic level?
species whom derive food/energy from similar source
