Introduction to the Discipline of Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

What is the definition of ecology?

A

-Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms (Charles J. Krebs)

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2
Q

Why is it important to study ecology

A

-Maximize agriculture
-Eradicate pests
-Stop disease spread
-World population
-Climate change

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3
Q

When did ecology come to prominence?

A

1960s

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4
Q

Where can the origins of ecology be traced to?

A

Ancient Greece

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5
Q

Who introduced the word ecology into English?

A

Ellen Swallow Richards (1842-1911)

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6
Q

Who coined the concept of ecology of nature?

A

Carl Linnaeus (1707 - 1778)

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7
Q

What occurred in the 1960s in relation to ecology?

A

-Rapidly increasing human population
-More awareness of pollution and environmental
-Increased interest in ecology
-Birth of environmentalism

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8
Q

When was Silent Spring written by Rachel Carson?

A

1962

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9
Q

Describe environmentalism

A

-Social and political movement
-Concerned with human impact on environment
-Seeks to minimise human impacts

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10
Q

Describe ecology

A

-Scientific discipline
-Concerned with interactions between all living things and their environment
-Removed from ethical considerations

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11
Q

What is the order of living things (etc. cells - tissues -organs)

A

-Individual organisms
-Populations
-Species
-Communities
-Ecosystems

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12
Q

What happens with an increase of complexity?

A

A decrease of scientific understanding

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13
Q

What are the principles of ecology?

A

-Factors that determine the distribution of organisms
-Questions of abundance
-Ecological communities
-Ecological energetics

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14
Q

Describe factors that determine the distribution of organisms

A

Is the spread of exotic species

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15
Q

Describe questions of abundance

A

Population growth
Regulation and limitation
Carrying capacity

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16
Q

Describe ecological communities

A

Natural succession, keystone species, biodiversity

17
Q

Describe ecological energetics

A

How energy and nutrients move through ecosystems

18
Q

What is species distribution shaped by?

A

-Adaptation and natural selection
-Environmental and biotic change

19
Q

Why is it important to have understanding of factors that affect species distribution?

A

-Design of Marine Protected Areas
-Predicting species responses to climate change
-Managing invasive species

20
Q

Species could survive outside its current range but its absent because…

A
  1. It can’t get there dispersal
  2. It does not recognise it as suitable habitat (habitat selection)
21
Q

Species could not complete its lifecycle outside of its current range because of….

A
  1. Interactions with other organisms
  2. Impacts of physical and chemical factors (temperature, light moisture)
22
Q

How can factors that limit distribution by identified?

A

Oceanographic modelling
Ecological niche modelling
Transplant experiments

23
Q

What information does oceanographic modelling provide?

A

Simulates dispersal trajectories

24
Q

What information does ecological niche modelling provide?

A

Predicts suitable habitats

25
What information does transplant experiments provide?
Provides empirical evidence of species ability to survive outside its current range
26
What is the general principle of ecology?
Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms
27
What is the distribution of species determined by?
Biotic factors (species interactions) Abiotic (environmental)
28
What does ecological understanding aid?
Issues in conservation and resource management