Midterm #1 Flashcards
Polymorphic
One or more variants at a locus within a population
Minimum Viable Population
Population size needed to retain 90% of genetic variability after 200 years
Minimum Viable Area
Minimum area size needed to maintain genetic variability after 200 years
Anangensis
gradual change over geological time. Changing adaptations over time
Cladogensis
the branching of lineages and formation of new species
Geological Timetable (7)
First Unicellular Life -- 3.5 BYA Multicellular Soft Bodied -- 1 BYA Hardbody fossil deposits -- 800 MYA Age of Fishes -- Paleozoic (540-250) MYA Greatest Extinction Event -- 250 MYA Age of Reptiles -- Mesozoic (250-65) MYA Age of Mammals -- Cenozoic (65 MYA - Present)
K/T Boundary
A geological signature within the rock that shows the distinction between the cretaceous and tertiary periods
Optimal Foraging Theory
Preference for food/prey with greatest NET energy gain
Feed more selectively when food/prey is abundant
Include low quality food/prey only when food/prey is scarce
Patch Foraging Rules
Concentrate foraging on most productive patches, ignore patches of low productivity
Stay within patch until productivity falls to a level equal to the average of all patches combined
Best Predictor of Asexual Reproduction in Animals
Constant environment and short lifespan
Panmixis
Unrestricted random mating, all individuals of the opposite sex are potential mates
Most schooling fishes and marine invertebrates
Usually monomorphic
Dominant/Strong Male Preference
Females will often flock to the strongest male in the area for protection and exclusively mate with this male
Parasite-free Male Hypothesis
Individuals differ in their ability to contract pathogens
Resistance to disease is a heritable trait, and males with no parasites have better immunological genes and physiology
Hypothesize that bright colours are costly to produce so can only be produced by parasite-free males
Hamilton and Zuk only have partial support for this
Symmetrical Male Hypothesis
Minor errors during development cause asymmetries in the animal
Excellent genotypes can correct these errors so females choose symmetrical males as they have better genotypes
Good support in the literature
Inbreeding Avoidance
All plants/animals have a mechanism to prevent inbreeding (homozygosity)
Mostly done by ~30 genes for special proteins in the cell membrane for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Used to detect pheromones about relatedness,prefer males that smell most dissimilar to them
Advantages of Group Living (5)
Increased food search efficiency, Increased capture efficiency, Increased detection of predators (many eyes hypothesis), Increased defence against predators, Selfish-herd theory (dilution effect)
Disadvantages of Group Living (3)
Shared resources and resource depletion, Increased transmission of parasites and conflicts/stress
R-Selected
high numbers of eggs, high population growth potential, boom or bust cycle, maximum reproductive capacity (r)
K-Selected
low numbers of eggs, low population growth potential, stable populations, usually long-lived, populations near carrying capacity (K)
Semelparous
Single reproduction event (insects, cephalopods, salmon)
Iteroparous
Repeated reproduction events (plants, molluscs, fish, Vertebrata)
Precocial Young
Offspring that soon after birth are capable of fending for themselves
Altricial Young
Offspring who are born relatively helpless to their environment
David Lack
Proposed that number of eggs in bird clutch size represents the maximum number of young that the parent and successfully raise
