M10 Flashcards
List the 3 types of species distribution and provide an example
Uniform - Penguin
Random - Plants
Clumped - Elephants
What insight into life history does understanding species distribution provide
Species territory
Species family structure
What are the ways that scientists estimate population size
Count each individual(Census)
Quadrat method
Mark and Recapture
List the 3 types of survivorship curves and identify whether survivorship is high equal or low
Type 1 high - low
Type 2 equal-equal
Type 3 low-high
What is the competitive exclusion principle
No 2 species can occupy the same niche at the same time
Provide the definition for a foundation species species and provide an example
Foundation Species: Forms the major structural portion of the habitat, Typically primary producers, increase biodiversity. Kelp is an example of this.
Provide the definition for a keystone species and provide an example
Presence maintains biodiversity. Typically a top predator increases biodiversity.
What is the definition of Ecology
Study of how organisms interact with each other and with their environment
Population size
total number of individuals
Population density
number of individuals per unit area
What can you determine using population size
Adaptability after disturbance
What can you determine using population density
Intraspecific competition
What does higher density mean
More competition and ability to find mates
What is the definition of species distribution
How species are organized with a habitat
What are the cons of using a census to Estimate population size
Difficult, time consuming
What is the Quadrant method
Used for immobile/slow organisms on a small-scale. Use several then find the average. A square of PVC generally.
What is Mark and recapture
Mobile/large organisms used for like whales.
What is the formula for estimating population size
N=(M*C)/R
M is the marked and released
C is total in second capture
R is the marked in second capture
What is Demography
Statistical study of a population that describes the populations composition and change over time
How do you calculate birth rate
Number of Births/population size
How do you calculate mortality rate
Number died. / number survived
Does mortality and life expectancy change from age class to age class
Yes different factors affect survivability.
What is a tool that shows mortality and life expectancy changes from age class to age class
Life Table
What is population ecology
Dynamics of a population over time such as birth and death rates
What are the 2 models that predict population demographics
Exponential growth and logistic growth
What does the exponential growth model show
Accelerated growth of a population with unlimited resources
What does the logistic growth model show
Growth due to limited resources
What is carrying capacity(K)
Max population an environment can sustain
What are the 2 types of population growth regulators
Density dependent and density independent
What are density dependent regulators
Biological, population seize matters. For example competition, predation,disease
What are Density independent regulators
Physical, pop size does not matter. For example natural disasters, fire , drought
What are r selected Species
Simple, Promiscuous sexuality, early sexual maturity, high # of offspring, low parental investment
What is a K selected Species
Opposite of R selected, more parental care, less offspring,
What are long -term consequences of Humans long life span and exponential growth
Effect on enviornment(deforistatoin,overfishing)
Strict Policies(one child policies)
Climate change(Global Warming, intense weather)
How have humans hacked the system for exponential growth
We can alter ecosystems, Advanced technology, Retrieve resources, Health care all extend life span
What is community ecology
Study of how species interact with each other
What are the types of community ecology
Competition
Predation
Symbiosis
What is the Competitive Exclusion Principle
No 2 species can occupy the same niches at the same time
What are the 3 things Predation results in
Cycling of Predator-Prey population sizes
Adaptations in predators and preys
Mimicry
What are the 4 types of adaptation predators and preys can have for predation
Mechanical: Discourages physical contact(thorns)
Chemical: Toxins,Venoms
Physical: Avoid detection, camoflauge
Behavioral: Play dead, schooling of fish
What are the 2 types of mimicry
Batesian mimicry: harmless species mimics harmful species
Mullerian mimicry: harmful species mimic each other
What are the 3 types of Symbiosis
Mutualistic: both species benefit(bee + flower)
commensal: one species benefits other species experiences neither benefit or harm
Parasitic: one species benefits, other species experiences harm
How are the 2 was to characterize a community
Species richness, Species abundance
What is Species richness
of species within a habitat
What is species abundance
of individuals in each species within a habitat
What is biodiversity
combines species richness and relative species abundance
What is a Foundation Species
forms the major structural position of the habitat, Typically primary producer, increases biodiversity
What is a Keystone Species
presence maintaining biodiversity, Typically a top predator -> increases biodiversity
What are community dynamics
How a community structure and composition change overtime
What is Succession
Sequential appearance and disappearance of species in a community after a disturbance
What are 2 types of succession
Primary
Secondary
What is primary succession
Only happens when new land forms
What is Secondary Succession
Disturbance destroys previous climax community then restart with new pioneer species to new climax community
What is Ecosystem Ecology
Study of how nutrients + energy flow through organisms and their surroudings
What are the 3 large categories of ecosystems
Terrestrial(23%)
Marine(Salt Water)(75%)
Freshwater(2%)
How many biomes are in Terrestrial
8 biomes
What is ecosystem Resistance
Ability to remain at equilibrium
What is ecosystem Resilience
Speed of return to equilibrium
What is biomagnification
Increasing concentrations of persistant, toxic substances in organisms at each successive trophic levels
What is the Law of conservation of mass
Matter cannot be created or destroyed
What are the 5 big biogeochemical cycles
Water, Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphate, Sulfer
Water Cycle
All living things need/use it
<1% of available freshwater
Pollution, runoff, infiltration
Carbon Cycle
All organic macromolecules contain carbon
global warming
greenhouse effect
Nitrogen Cycle
Nucleic acids + Proteins
Agriculture (nitrogen fertilizer) runs off into water
Phosphate Cycle
Nucleic acids + phospholipids
Weathering from rocks
Agricultural runoff->water ways->less sunlight more algae more deacy less oxygen less life
Eutrophication
Nitrogen and Phosphate entering exosystem = rapid growth = algal Bloom = Dead zone
Sulfur Cycle
Cystine(Amino acid) + Protein folding
Acid rain - b/c human emmissions
What are Biomes
Large-scale communities are defined by the dominant plant types + similar climates. Dictated by temp + preciptioation
How many major biomes are their
8 major biomes
What are the 3 marine Biomes
Ocean
Coral reef - Lots of light, warm, Shallow, High biodiversity
Estuary - Brackish, River meets ocean, Large change in Salinity daily
How many Marine and aquatic biomes are their
6, 3 each
What affectes the marine and aquatic biomes
Dictaed by light, temperature, flow regime, dissolved solids
What are the 3 aquatic Biomes
Lakes and Ponds - Limited flow regime, Vary in size, Large thermal stratification
Rivers + Streams - Constant moving water, Colder and faster at source
Wetlands - Soil is permanently or periodically saturated with water, Near continuous cover of vegetation, Bog,Marsh,Swamp
Key features of Tropical Rainforest
Near the equator, Warm + Wet
High biodiversity
High deforestation
Key Features of Savana
Grassland
low Trees
Hot + Topical
Dry Seasons -> Fires -> Adaptations
Key Features of Desert
Low Biodiversity
Annual plant growth
Evaporation > Precipitation
Hot days
Freezing night
Key Features Chaparral
Shrub forest
Dry summer
rainfall in summer
periodic fires
Key Features of Temperate Grasslands
Prairies/Steppes
Hot summer
low precipitation
Grasses dominate
Cold winter
High fires
Key Features of Temperate Forest
Deciduous trees dominate
Wide temperature range
Relatively constant precipitation
Key Features of Boreal Forest
Cold dry winter
cool wet summer
Taiga/coniferous forest
subarctic and higher altitudes
coniferous evergreens dominate
Key Features of Arctic Tundra
Very cold
very low precipitation
very short plant growth season
very low biodiversity
permafrost
Nature’s importance to humans
Food/Agriculture
Medications
Fisheries
Livestock
Cultural, Spiritual, Psychological
Biodiversity Importance to Nature
Better resistance and resilience to natural events, Disease and Human impact
Types of Biodiversity
Genetic biodiversity
species diversity
community/ecosystem diversity
Threats to biodiversity
Humans
->Habitat Loss, Invasive Species, Overharvesting, Climate change
Are Extinction natural
Extinctions are natural
Holocene
Current ongoing mass extinction due to human impacts
How to preserve biodiversity
Legislation
Government agencies
Non-Profits
Protected Areas
Habitat restoration + wildlife rehabilitation
Captive Breeding Programs
What is the Species type which is characterized by maturing later in life
K-selected species
Species type that forms the major structural portion of a habitat
Foundation species
A measure of species richness and relative species abundance
biodiversity
Spines are an example of this category of predator-prey adaptation
mechanical
Species type whose presence maintains biodiversity
Keystone species
Species distribution type that indicates territorial behavior within a population
uniform
Growth curve of population that experience unlimited resources
Exponential
Type of symbiosis in which one species benefit and the other species experience harm
parasitic
Tool that shows mortality and life expectancy changes form age class to age class
life table
Mimicry type in which a harmless species mimics a harmful species
Batesian mimicry
