Marine Ecology and Populations Flashcards

1
Q

Divergent Evolution

A

One species diverges (divides) into new species

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2
Q

Allopatric Speciation

A
  • Type of divergent evolution
  • Geographic speciation: biological populations become geographically isolated from each other in a way that prevents / interferes with gene flow
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3
Q

Peripatric Speciation

A
  • Type of allopatric speciation
  • Mode of speciation in which a new species is formed from an isolated population
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4
Q

Convergent Evolution

A

Species which are unrelated to one another but live in similar environments may independently acquire similar traits (ex: dorsal fins on sharks and dolphins)

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5
Q

Adaptation

A

The process of gaining traits that lead to better reproductive success

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6
Q

Evolution

A

The creation of a new species by way if adaptations and natural selection

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7
Q

How do populations grow?

A

Exponentially

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8
Q

Carrying capacity (k)

A

The largest population size that can be sustained by the available resources

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9
Q

Can exponential growth continue forever?

A

No!
- A carrying capacity is reached
- Limiting factors determine carrying capacity

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10
Q

What is the population growth trend known as?

A

Logistic growth: populations grow exponentially until a carrying capacity is reached

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11
Q

What kinds of resources can act as limits?

A

Any resource important to the survival of a species (ex: sunlight, water, food etc.)

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12
Q

Intraspecific Competition

A

Members of the same species competing for resources

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13
Q

Interspecific Competition

A

Member of different species competing for resources

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14
Q

Will intraspecific competition affect larger or smaller populations?

A
  • Larger
  • If a population is under its carrying capacity (lots of resources) competition may not occur
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15
Q

What is the competitive exclusion principle?

A
  • Complete competitors cannot coexist in the same place (there will aways be a winner!!)
  • If two species have identical needs for resources there will be extinction / niche differentiation
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16
Q

Ecological Niches

A

A species unique requirements and adaptations for survival

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17
Q

Fundamental Niche

A

Entire set of conditions under which an animal can survive and reproduce

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18
Q

Realized Niche

A

Set of conditions actually used by a given animal after interactions (completion) with other species have been taken into account
Barnacle Example

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19
Q

Functional Redundancy

A

Multiple (very different) species can share an ecological role

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20
Q

Why is functional redundancy a problem?

A
  • It implies that species loss = compensated
    If you consider multiple dimensions of function there may not be as much redundancy between organisms
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21
Q

What factors influence the effects of species loss?

A
  • The variety of functions and diversity of species within a functional group
  • How functions are spread put across different groups of species
  • Whether other species in the same group can compensate for the loss of one species’s function (functional redundancy)
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22
Q

Keystone Species

A

Organisms that help hold the system together (even if other species are able to fill their role)
Low abundance or biomass of this species will influence the structure and function of ecosystems

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23
Q

How do predator keystone species influence communities?

A

They can exert pressures on lower trophic levels to prevent them from monopolizing certain resources

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24
Q

How do mutualistic keystone species influence communities?

A

Species that support the life cycle of a variety of species within a community (ex: pollinators)

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25
Q

How do engineer keystone species influence communities?

A

Refashion the environment in a manner that promotes the survival of other species (ex: coral)

26
Q

How much energy is transferred between trophic levels (as you go up)?

A
  • 10%
  • Biomass decreases
  • Organisms size increases
27
Q

What are the two different types of trophic cascade effects?

A
  1. Bottom up: trophic structure is shaped by the rates of primary producer species (etc. plants, algae etc.)
  2. Top down: trophic structure is shaped by the lethal and sub-lethal effects of apex predators
28
Q

Symbiosis

A

Members of different species live in close association with one another

29
Q

Mutualism

A

Both organisms benefit (ex: pollinator)

30
Q

Commensalism

A

The host is not affected by the symbiont (ex: barnacles on whales)

31
Q

Parasitism

A

The symbiont harms the host (ex: flea on cat)

32
Q

Fitness

A

Measure of reproductive success
How many MATURE offspring are produced

33
Q

How can a high fitness be achieved?

A
  • Survival (mortality selection)
  • Mating success (sexual selection)
  • Family size (fecundity selection)
34
Q

Fecundity Selection

A

High fecundity is an adaptation to make up for high larval mortality

35
Q

What traits promote survival?
Why are these traits important

A
  • Speed
  • Stealth
  • Camouflage
  • Poison / venom
36
Q

Sexual Selection

A
  • Females choose mates among the available males
37
Q

R selection

A
  • Opportunistic
  • Short life span
  • Grow fast
  • High fecundity
  • No parental
  • Small body size
  • Advantageous in unstable environments
38
Q

K selection

A
  • Long life span
  • Mature late
  • Low fecundity
  • High parental care
  • Large body size
  • Advantageous in stable environments
39
Q

Spawning

A

External fertilization
Eggs and sperm are freely released into a body of water

40
Q

Aggregation Spawning

A

Males and females travel together in large groups

41
Q

What requirements are needed for aggregation spawning?

A
  • Warm water temperatures
  • Migration of species from cold temps. to warm temps.
42
Q

What are the benefits of aggregation spawning?

A
  • Lots of genetic diversity
  • High chance of offspring survival
  • Protection against predators (safety in numbers)
43
Q

What are the cons of aggregation spawning?

A
  • Vulnerable to predation (due to aggregation behavior)
  • Vulnerable to fishery operations
  • Predictably
  • Strong economic incentives for fishermen to target spawning areas
44
Q

Pair Spawning

A

Two individuals mate for the purpose of reproduction

45
Q

What are the two different types of pair spawning?

A
  1. Monogamous pairing: The exclusive repeated spawning between a male and female over a long period of time (ex: clownfish)
  2. Harems: One male controls and spawns exclusively with more than one female
46
Q

Lek Mating Systems

A
  • Males gather in a specific area (Lek) and display in order to attract female attention
  • Females them visit leks to find a mate
47
Q

What are the benefits of lek mating systems?

A

Both sexes have high mating success

48
Q

What are the cons of lek mating systems?

A

The traits that females find “attractive” may be costly to maintain resulting in increased predation

49
Q

Guard / Nest Spawning

A

One or both parents guard the eggs or nest after spawning

50
Q

Mouth brooding

A

One parent (typically female) carries fertilized eggs or offspring in its mouth

51
Q

Is internal fertilization a trait of R selected or K selected species?

A

K selected

52
Q

What are the different types of internal fertilization?

A
  1. Oviparity
  2. Ovoviparity
  3. Viviparity
53
Q

Oviparity

A
  • Fertilized eggs are laid and developed outside the females body
  • Receive nourishment from the egg yolk
54
Q

Ovoviparity

A
  • Fertilized eggs are retained in the female
  • Embryo obtains energy from the egg yolk
  • Young are fully developed when they are hatched
55
Q

Viviparity

A
  • The young develop within the female
  • Nourishment is received through the mothers blood / placenta
  • Offspring develop in the female and are born alive
    Most marine mammals
56
Q

Fecundity

A

Measure of the reproductive capacity of an individual or population

57
Q

Life History

A

The pattern of survival and reproductive events typical for a member of the species

58
Q

What are life history traits?

A
  • Growth rate
  • Age and size at sexual maturity
  • Number, sex, size and ratio of offspring
  • Patterns of dispersal
59
Q

Allee Effect

A
  • Phenomenon where individuals experience reduced fitness or reproductive success at low population densities
  • It becomes harder for individuals to find mates and engage in cooperative behaviors necessary for survival
60
Q

Sperm Limitation

A

Low gamete densities caused by low population densities