L38 From Genes To Ecosystems

Question 1

why is conserving sea grass so important?

Answer 1

it supports 40,000 fish and 50 million small invertebrates

buries 11% of atmospheric carbon

Question 2

how does sea grass reproduce asexually?

Answer 2

clonal reproduction

Question 3

how does sea grass reproduce sexually?

Answer 3

water pollination or via small invertebrates

Question 4

what is a keystone species?

Answer 4

an organism that helps define it’s entire ecosystem - the glue holding it together

Question 5

what is just as important as conserving endangered species?

Answer 5

conserving keystone species

Question 6

how does increased biodiversity effect an organism’s response to global warming?

Answer 6

it results in more functions and therefore more resilience

Question 7

what are kelp?

Answer 7

algae that live in shallow waters providing shelter and food

Question 8

would you consider kelp a keystone species, why?

Answer 8

yes, they provide shelter and food for OTHER organisms

Question 9

how does high levels of biodiversity allow for resilience against global warming?

Answer 9

associated traits

Question 10

what happens in low biodiversity areas when heatwaves occur?

Answer 10

the heatwave can wipe out the low diversity that is present

Question 11

what is an example of a terrestrial keystone species?

Answer 11

tall golden rod plants

Question 12

how do plants behave in low genetic diversity environments?

Answer 12

they form a single large colony

Question 13

how do plants behave in high genetic diversity environments?

Answer 13

they have different colonies fighting against one another

Question 14

how does evolution occur in the absence of biodiversity?

Answer 14

it doesn’t occur

Question 15

how does a single gene change effect an entire ecosystem?

Answer 15

it can cause as much change as the absence of a predator

Question 16

what can a single gene change cause?

Answer 16

a trophic cascade

Question 17

give an example of change at genetic level that can cause change at ecosystem level:

Answer 17

sickle back fish
highly armoured - release more phosphorous
changing amount of phosphorous in an ecosystem

Question 18

how can change at gene level occur?

Answer 18

migration of organisms into new environments and mixing genes causing gene flow

Question 19

can evolution act on an ecological time frame?

Answer 19

yes
example predator-prey relationships
example algae evolves defence against rotifer predator (becomes less nutritous)

Question 20

why is it difficult for coral reefs to survive extinction?

Answer 20

low diversity - slower evolution

Question 21

what was found out from coral reefs recently in relation to global warming?

Answer 21

they have been observed to live past their optimum temperatures by changing their gene expression pathway

Question 22

what happened pink salmon due to the evolution/ mutation of one gene?

Answer 22

LMMA, they began to migrate earlier
this could impact themselves (prey availability)
this could impact their predators too
trophic cascade possible 
out of rhythm