Introduction

Question 1

Ecology definition

Answer 1

Scientific study of the interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms

Question 2

Individual

Answer 2

Biological entity with a unique genotype, capable of growth, maintenance and reproduction

-Unit of reproduction
-has a membrane/covering to transfer energy and materials with environment

Question 3

Population

Answer 3

Group of individuals of the same species living in a certain area at a certain time

Unit of evolution

Question 4

Community

Answer 4

Assemblage of individuals/ populations of different species living in a certain area at a certain time

Question 5

Ecosystem

Answer 5

A biological community plus all the abiotic factors influenced by that community

Focus on the Flow of energy and matter in the system

Question 6

Ecological system

Answer 6

Biological entity that has its own internal processes and interacts with its external surrounding

May be an individual, population, species, community, an ecosystem, landscape or biosphere

Question 7

Why is biosphere a debated hierarchical organization of ecological systems

Answer 7

There is only one (earth), so hard to compare to other things

Question 8

Ecological system input and output examples

Answer 8

Input: food, birth, immigration, colonization, solar energy, evolution of species

Output: death, waste, extinction, energy re-radiation, energy leaving system

Question 9

Evolution

Answer 9

Descent with modification
-change in allele frequencies in a population

Question 10

Mechanisms for evolution

Answer 10

-mutation
-natural selection
-genetic drift
-migration (gene flow)

Question 11

Evolution holds part of the answer as to why species are _________

Answer 11

Where they are

Distribution and abundance

Question 12

Phylogenies trees

Answer 12

Show evolutionary relationships

Question 13

Even though from same phylum, some plants look different in which ways:

Answer 13

-how they get nutrients (autotrophic/heterotrophic)
-different environments (tree, soil, host)
-size
-shape
-colour

Question 14

Producers

Answer 14

Create (transform inorganic to organic matter)

-autotrophic plants

Ex:
-chemosynthetic bacteria
-algae
-Cyanobacteria
-most plants

Question 15

Mixotrophs

Answer 15

-receive nutrients from both photosynthesis and outside resources

Ex:
-algae
-protists
-some plants/ some animals

Question 16

Consumers

Answer 16

Heterotrophs

Ex:
-Fungi
-Bacteria
-Herbivore
-carnivore

Question 17

Hypothesis

Answer 17

Assumed explanation or answer to a question

-proximate: mechanisms (how?)
-ultimate: evolutionary perspective

Question 18

Prediction

Answer 18

Statement regarding the future

Question 19

Manipulative experiment

Answer 19

Manipulation or treatment in which replication, randomization and an experimental unit are used.

Question 20

Selective abortion in E. havanense

Answer 20

Hypothesis and outcomes of tests
1. Not enough pollination: adding pollen manually did not increase fruit

2.not enough resources to mature fruits: Even when fruit removed manually, still same numbers aborted

3 moms are choosy based on donor: some pollen donors were preferred!!!!! Winner!

Question 21

Hubbard Brook experiment

Answer 21

Studying the catchment area of watersheds. Started in 1963 and is ongoing. Results showed that do to deforestation, there is 13 times the normal rate of dissolved inorganic substances in the water shed.

Due to great reduction in evapotranspiration (because of lack of leaves) resulting in more precipitation going to ground water and causing more erosion. There are no trees to absorb and store these ions/ minerals

Question 22

Some principles of ecology

Answer 22

1. Principle of allocation (distributing)
2. Populations do not grow infinitely
3. Principle of competitive exclusion
4. Liebig law if minimum
5. Available energy decreases as trophic level increases

Question 23

Adaptations

Answer 23

The characteristics of an organism that make it well suited to its environment

Question 24

5 distinct properties of populations that are not exhibited by individuals

Answer 24

Geographic range (where it lives)
Abundance
Density (# per unit of area)
Change in size
Composition (sex, age)

Question 25

Landscape

Answer 25

Includes multiple ecosystems that are connected by the movement of individuals, populations, matter, and energy

Interactions among ecosystems

Question 26

Hierarchy of ecology

Answer 26

Biosphere
Landscape
Ecosystem
Community
Population
Individual

Question 27

3 major biological principles

Answer 27

Conservation of matter and energy
-can’t be created or destroyed
-Can only change form

Dynamic steady states
-when gains and losses are in balance

Evolution
-change in genetic composition of a population over time

Question 28

Types of consumers

Answer 28

-predators: kill and partially or fully eat individuals (+-)

-parasitoids: lay eggs on or inside other animals and larvae consume the host (+-)

-parasites: live in or on another organism (rarely kills) (+-)

-herbivory: consume producers (does not kill it, but eats small portion) (+-)

-competition: between two species that results negatively for both. (Live better far away) (- -)

-mutualism: when two species interact and each benefits (++)

-commensalism: two species live in close association and one receives a benefit, and other recipes neither. (+0)

Question 29

Symbiotic relationship

Answer 29

A close physical relationship between two different types of organisms

Question 30

Consumers of dead organic matter types

Answer 30

-scavengers: consume dead animals
-Detritivores: break down dead organic matter and waste products
-decomposes: break down dead organic material into simpler elements that can be recycled

Question 31

Habitat

Answer 31

Place or physical setting in which an organism lives

Question 32

Niche

Answer 32

The range of abiotic and biotic conditions an organism can tolerate

-temp
-humidity
-food
-predators

Question 33

Manipulative experiments

Answer 33

A process by which a hypothesis is tested by altering a factor that is hypothesized to be an underlying cause of the phenomenon

Also known as treatment experiments

Question 34

Experimental unit

Answer 34

The object to which we apply the manipulatioin

Question 35

Randomization

Answer 35

Every experimental unit has an equal chance of being assigned a particular manipulation

Question 36

Microcosms

Answer 36

Simplified ecological systems that attempt to replicate the essential features of an ecological systems

Question 37

Natural experiment

Answer 37

Relies on natural variation in the environment to test a hypothesis