Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Ecology > Midterm 2 > Flashcards

Midterm 2 Flashcards

1
Q

When do polar bears reach sexual maturity?

A

Four, five, or six years old.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How much cubs do polar bears have each reproductive year?

A

1-2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Why can’t polar bears produce yearly?

A

The length of time that the cubs are dependent on their mother stretches out over multiple years.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the oldest organisms in Canada? Where do they live?

A

White bark pine trees in northern Canada.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

When do white pine tree produce seeds? How many?

A

Wait until 30, 40, or 50 years to produce first seed and once first seed is germinated, then thousands follow.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Where do Reside Dace live?

A

Streams in Canada and northern US.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

When do Redside Dace reproduce? How many times?

A

Reproduce at two, only twice in their lifespan (live to four years old).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

When do Savannah Sparrow reproduce?

A

10 months old after migrating south and return.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How many eggs do Savannah Sparrows leave?

A

4-5 eggs per year = 1 clutch

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Life histories

A

Attributes of the life cycle of wild organisms, in which they pass referencing survival and reproduction.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How is life history expressed?

A

Behaviour, physiology, anatomy = leads to genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

List life history traits

A
  1. Age at maturity (sexual maturity)
  2. Size at maturity (sex)
  3. Fecundity (number of offspring)
  4. Size of offspring
  5. Frequency of reproduction
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How does age at maturity differ?

A
  1. Minutes (bacteria can quickly reproduce)
  2. Months (small mammals like bowls = 2 months old)
  3. Decades (sharks; 7 male and 13 female and whales)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Why do marine mammals have older ages fo reproducing?

A

Need to reach a particular size to actually survive cold weather and then they can reproduce (4-16 years old).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How are age at maturity and size at maturity related?

A

Large-bodied animals have later age maturity AND those smaller have lower age maturity (linear relationship).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Fecundity

A

Annual is the number of offspring produced by an individual during a breeding season.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is annual fecundity influenced by?

A

Number of reproductive events and the number of offspring per event.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Semelparous

A

Reproduce once then die.
NOTE: S for single

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Iteroparous

A

Reproduce multiple times throughout.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What do semelparous species make sure to reproduce?

A

Body is the big enough size.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How does size and number of offspring relate?

A

Negative correlation: whale can only produce one calf every 2-3 years whereas a pacific halibut can produce up to 1 million eggs per year.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are animals with extended period of parental care?

A

Ex. female grey seals lose up to 40% of their mass during lactation to help aid in the growth of offspring

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What animals leave at birth?

A

Atlantic cod leave after birth, so offspring must survive on their own.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

If a female doesn’t aid in parental care, what do they bet on?

A

A numbers game, most likely producing hundreds or thousands of babies.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Reproductive effort

A

Proportion of total energy devoted to reproduction:
1. Physiological effort (energy demands)
2. Anatomical effort (gonad development; xylem and pholem or follicular growth)
3. Behavioural effort (migration; move from ocean to stream where partners are OR finding food to produce milk)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Explain how life history traits differ from brook trout in freshwater river and cripple cove creek.

A
  1. Size at maturity = smaller in freshwater
  2. Body size devoted to eggs = smaller ones devoted more to egg production whereas the ones in cripple cove creek had a smaller percentage
  3. Eggs = number higher in small fish (freshwater)
  4. Egg size = larger eggs in freshwater
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Where are brook trout found?

A

Newfoundland

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Why are there differences between life histories in brook trout?

A

Predators experienced by freshwater river; quickly get ready to produce and invest a lot.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Where do redside dace live?

A

In toronto

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Why are redside dace obligate nest parasites?

A

They don’t make their own homes, they sneak into other fishes homes and lay their eggs there.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

How are redside dace aerial insectivores?

A

They jump out of the water and eat insects.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What are the urban stressors redside dace experience?

A

Live in streams near roads, so dealing with road salt, artifical light, turbidity (dirt in water, cannot see their food), and thermal stress (pavement is hot and the water moves into nearby streams).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

How to study thermal tolerance in redside dace?

A

Put fish in water bath, increased temperature (CTmax) to see how much they can tolerant.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

How does body size relate to population growth?

A

Negatively correlated; population growth decreases with body size.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What are bet-hedging strategies?

A

Life history traits that avoid animals from putting eggs in one basket. For instance, multiple reproductive events over time or laying eggs in multiple areas.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Bet-hedging advantage?

A

Reduces the variance in fitness over generations, even if it involves a “sacrifice” in any particular generation.
ex. 2/3 streams offspring dies, but the ones in that particular one increase growth rate.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

How do female cod show bet-hedging strategies?

A

Large female cod have longer spawning periods allowing an overlap in period of nutrient availability; therefore, producing more eggs that survive.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Tradeoff

A

An increase in one life-history trait may result in a decrease in another trait.

ex. brightest male guppies may high high reproductive success, but are more visible to predators

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

How to be evolutionary successful?

A

An organism must survive to reproduce and reproduce (either sexually or kin through related species).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

What does natural selection favour?

A

Genotypes where survival and fecundity result in the highest fitness relative to other genotypes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

r-selection

A

Emphasis on fast reproduction
ex. exponential growth mice, reach sexual maturity really quick
ex. squirrel (can have great grandchildren by end of summer)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

k-selection

A

Emphasis on survival, resource use giving birth to one species over four-five years (slower phase of population growth)
ex. elephant

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

Age at first reproduction for r-selected versus k-selected species.

A

R = young
K = old

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

Size at first reproduction for r-selected versus k-selected species.

A

R = small
K = large

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

Breeding events per lifetime for r-selected versus k-selected species.

A

R = few
K = many

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

Number of offspring for r-selected versus k-selected species.

A

R = many
K = few

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

Size of offspring for r-selected versus k-selected species.

A

R = small
K = large

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

Fast life history

A

High fecundity, short life, and young age of maturity (R-selected).
ex. chickadee

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

Slow life history

A

Low fecundity, long life, and old age of maturity (k-analogous).
ex. penguin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

How do males and females differ in bluegill sunfish?

A

Female = small and dark blue to stay hidden
Male = large and yellow-ish to compete, BUT can also be small and dark blue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

Do male bluegill sunfish help in parental care?

A

Yes, defend young eggs and those hatched from predators. ONLY the large and blue gill ones.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

Why is there a blue, small bluegill sunfish?

A

Just adds sperm on top of eggs and leaves right afterwards.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

Alternative life histories

A

Two different life history strategies within a species.
ex. male bluegill sunfish
- parental path = grow big and reproduce at 7 years old for 2 years
- cuckolder male = small ones that reproduce earlier and no parental care
OR
- male chinook salmon (large hooknoses and small jacks)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

Explain the alternative life history in male dung beetles.

A

Large and horns = more parental and fight over females
Hornless males = sneak in

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

What selection dose alternative life histories depend on?

A

Frequency-dependent selection

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

Fitness of strategy 1

A

How fit is the sneaker strategy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

Fitness of strategy 2

A

Actual parental male that invest time in growth and care.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
58
Q

When does it pay off to have fitness strat 1?

A

When it is rare.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
59
Q

Stable strategy

A

Intersection where both strategies have a similar fitness.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
60
Q

When is the fit of strat 1 (sneaker) poor?

A

When the practice becomes common, thus less parental males and less nest to sneak into and fertilize.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
61
Q

What happens to the fitness of the parental (strat 2) when sneaker strat is rare)?

A

Higher fitness.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
62
Q

What does intensive harvest lead to?

A

Genetic changes, driving earlier age of maturity and smaller size in maturity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
63
Q

Explain how selective hunting of bighorn sheep has lead to evolutionary changes.

A

The increase in hunting for those with large horns has lead to a decline in the body size and horn length in Alberta’s bighorn sheep.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
64
Q

How do army-ants live?

A

In a swarm.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
65
Q

What can army-ants due to humans?

A

Bite NOT sting

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
66
Q

Bivuaoc

A

Nest of the army-ants, made up of other ants holding onto each other to make up the walls. Found in a follow stump.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
67
Q

What is in the middle of the bivuaoc?

A

The single queen (only reproductive species), thus the army ants are eusocial.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
68
Q

How gentically related are the eusocial ants to the queen>?

A

50%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
69
Q

Does the bivuoac stay in one place?

A

No it moves every three nights

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
70
Q

What happens to the bivuoac when the ants move?

A

Carry an egg each underneath them.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
71
Q

When do army ants spread out?

A

Spread out when reach leaf areas to find food, and carry it back the to bivuoac, taking down larger organisms.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
72
Q

Where do army ants live?

A

Tropical dry forests.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
73
Q

What are ant birds?

A

Arise from multiple different ancestors, not all related and are found where army-ant swarms are.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
74
Q

What do the ant birds do?

A

Feed on the sloppy sections that flee from the army-ants (those in the lead littler that run away).
ex. wasps, etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
75
Q

How do different ant birds work?

A

How far the army ants fan out depends on how close some birds are.
ex. ocellated antbird are the largest in the middle and defend the animals in the middle whereas the spotted antbird go further out as smaller protein organisms flee near here.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
76
Q

Community

A

A group of organisms that live together at the same place and time and interact directly or indirectly. This includes all the organisms present - animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
77
Q

What are the forest in Ontario?

A

Deciduous forest in southwestern (drop leaves now and in winter slow down metabolism), and moving upwards mixed forest, boreal forest, boreal barrens, tundra.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
78
Q

Environmental gradients

A

Changes in environmental factors lead to community changes.
ex. as you move away from a lake, a decrease in moisture

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
79
Q

Ecotones

A

Transition zones where change occurs from one community to another, either gradual or abrupt.

ex. gradual in spruce to dwarf forest or sharp from grasslands to forest

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
80
Q

Community unit concept (of communities)

A

A community is a highly organized and closely integrated entity that is composed of mutually interdependent species that are co-adapted.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
81
Q

Who came up with the community unit concept and using what?

A

Frederick Clements when studying plants.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
82
Q

Who proposed the continuum concept?

A

Henry Gleason

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
83
Q

Continuum concept

A

Communities are a coincidental assemblage of species that just happen to have similar environmental requirements.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
84
Q

How do ecotones exist in the community unit concepts?

A

Discrete communities with sharp ecotones.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
85
Q

What does the continuum concept predict for gradients?

A

Continuous variation so you don’t end up with sharp ecotones where all animals are transitioning.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
86
Q

What did data of plant communities in western US reveal for concept of environmental factors?

A

Continuous, non-discrete distribution patterns along gradients of environmental factors fitting the continuum concept.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
87
Q

Why do most scientists accept Gleason’s continuum concept?

A

Empirical data supports its predictons.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
88
Q

When is the community unit concept used?

A

Discrete community units useful for applied disciplines (pragmagtic) like forestry.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
89
Q

How are communities organized?

A

By the functional role species play, which is trophic position: autotrophs, herbivores, carnivores, and detritivores.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
90
Q

Guild

A

A group of organisms that use similar resources. Do not have to be closely related
ex. nectar feeding in tropical forest (moths and hummingbirds and birds)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
91
Q

What do interactions between species influence?

A

The presence and abundance of species.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
92
Q

What level does herbivory affect?

A

The lowest trophic period and thus affecting the community composition as we move up.

ex. larvae of spruce budworm eat leaves of fir and spruce; present in low densities but if increase they can kill mature trees

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
93
Q

How do predators affect communities?

A

Reduce herbivore populations which leads to improved plant growth.
ex. boreal-breeding birds eat insects

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
94
Q

How do plants compete?

A

Light, nutrients, and water, competing for greater heights.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
95
Q

What do animals compete for?

A

Food, territory, nesting locations, etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
96
Q

What can disease do to population?

A

Reduce size.
ex. sea urchin iirupt and overgraze kelp in intertidal zones; but warm water can give a potent disease in them

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
97
Q

Symbiosis

A

Relationship between two organisms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
98
Q

Obligate symbiosis

A

Relationships where the organisms cannot live apart
ex. bullhorn acaia ants and the plants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
99
Q

Mutualism

A

Both partners benefit
ex. plants and pollinators (plant provides glucose to pollinator through nectar and the pollinator disperses the plant’s seeds)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
100
Q

Parasitism

A

One of the partners benefit and the other suffers
ex. strangler figs parasitize the vertical structure of host trees to access sunlight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
101
Q

Commenalism

A

One of the partner benefits, and the other is unharmed
ex. epiphytic plants like lichens, are supported on high surfaces in trees and the host tree is usually not affected

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
102
Q

Species richness

A

The number of species present in a community
- a large number of different species means a high diverse species

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
103
Q

Evenness

A

The relative abundance of species
- high eveness means number of organisms between species is fairly constant

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
104
Q

Species diversity

A

An integrated measure of both richness and eveness.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
105
Q

Rank abudance

A

X-axis plots more comoon to rare and y-axis does the relative biomass of each. The highest in the left and then decreases as you move to more rare organisms.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
106
Q

Dominant species

A

The most conspicuous (easily observable) and abundant one in a community.
- one for each trophic level

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
107
Q

Keystone species

A

Disproportionately large effect on community structure relative to its number

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
108
Q

What does the removal of a keystone species lead to?

A

A change in community composition.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
109
Q

How is the starfish in rocky intertidal zones a keystone species?

A
  • apex predator that grazes on mussels
  • seashells more abundant in the community
  • when removed, two species of muscles took off and most dominant species in a couple of generations
  • starfish level the playing field
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
110
Q

Explain how beavers in northern forest communities are keystone species.

A
  • logs and dam that stream turning a trickling stream into a huge pond
  • dry land can turn into an aquatic ecosystem
  • change water flow downstream
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
111
Q

Niche in community ecology

A

A multidimensional space of environmental factors that a species can tolerate (fundamental niche) within which it lives (realized niche) and to which it is well adapted.

(Hutchinson’s definition)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
112
Q

What is a multidimensional space?

A

Many environmental factors come together to determine where the organism live.
ex. plants need moisture, temperature, nutrient availability

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
113
Q

Niche overlap

A

Although species may overlap closely along certain niche axes, they are separated along others.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
114
Q

Competitive exclusion

A

Species with identical niches cannot co-exist as those in mixed populations one out competes another.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
115
Q

Competitive exclusion principle

A

In a stable environment, no two species can occupy the same niche, as one will be eliminated.
ex. two species of Galium bedstraw in Britain grow in different soil acid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
116
Q

Competitive release

A

A species that can spread out and occupy a broader niche when a competitor is eliminated.
ex. if meadow voles are removed from an area, mountain voles experience competitive release and expand to their wetter habitats

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
117
Q

Fundamental niche

A

Full range of environmental tolerances

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
118
Q

Realized niche

A

Range after restriction by competitors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
119
Q

How did Cape May Warblers evolve?

A

As glacier retreated, they flew north in the springtime for the massive number of insects they eat.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
120
Q

Explain resource use by warblers.

A

Different species of the warbler had different foraging techniques and ate different areas of the tree.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
121
Q

Do warblers defy the competitive exclusion principle?

A

No, resource partitioning allows warblers to co-exist, giving different realised niches between them.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
122
Q

Facilitation

A

Occurs outside of competition, where one organism’s presence increasing the opportunity for other organisms to exist there.

ex. hemlock uses fallen logs to regenerate in moss-rich forests OR simultaneous flowering increases pollinator attraction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
123
Q

Intermediate disturbance hypothesis

A

Species richness is the highest at intermediate levels of disturbance. At high levels, many species fail to establish where at low levels, competitively superior species suppress others.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
124
Q

How does the algal community show intermediate disturbance hypothesis?

A
  • most species live at the medium size rocks whereas the large (so solid and outcompeted by another species that stay there) and small rocks (scrapped by tide) don’t have as many species.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
125
Q

Top-down

A

Abundance of species is limited by consumers
ex. decrease in carnivores leads to increase in herbivores

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
126
Q

Bottom-up

A

Consumer abundance is determined by food limitation
ex. years of acorns leads to increase in rodents

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
127
Q

Isostasy

A

Rebound of the earth, a thousands year long process.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
128
Q

Where is isostasy taking place?

A

Upper part of the Earth’s crusts, like sandy areas around the Great Lakes. Sandy substrate underneath the Earth’s surface is coming up, decreasing lake size.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
129
Q

What helped the pinery grow?

A

Planting three million pine trees and supressing forest fires.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
130
Q

What does the Oak Savannah ecosystem depend on?

A

Forest fires since dead wood builds up over time and lightning strike leads to forest fire, acting as a cleanup.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
131
Q

What happened to the Oak Savvannah ecosystem once burns started again? In terms of animals?

A

Animals started to return after long periods of quitness, such as the red-headed woodpeckers (love dead wood and insects in it); blue lupine (sits in soil deeper, so no competitors); karner blue butterfly (blue lupine is primary food source).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
132
Q

What happened to the mottled duskywing and the Oak Savannah ecosystem?

A

Even though the plant it relied on return, new jersey tea, it didn’t return to the area.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
133
Q

How was the mottled dustywing reintroduced?

A

Reintroduced the eggs and turning into caterpillars and placing them on the plants to see if they returned the following year, which they did (Sarah Douglas did this).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
134
Q

Disturbance

A

An event that causes destruction of some part of a community or ecosystem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
135
Q

Succession

A

Is the community-level recovery that follows a disturbance
ex. introduction of plants and animals after a prescribed burn

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
136
Q

What happens if sucession restores the original community?

A

The system shows resilience.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
137
Q

What happens if the system can avoid disturbance?

A

Resistance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
138
Q

Small-scale disturbances

A

Occur in an otherwise intact community
ex. death of a single tree, grazing by cattle, etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
139
Q

Large-scale disturbances

A

Affect an entire community
ex. wildfire, wind storms, glaciation, etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
140
Q

What are regular and predictable disturbances?

A

Tides, cold or dry seasons, and spring floods.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
141
Q

What are disturbances that are regular but unpredictable?

A

Wildfires as they occur every 25 years due to tree buildup, but don’t know certain year.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
142
Q

What disturbances are irregular and unpredictable?

A

Volcanic explosions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
143
Q

Seral stages

A

Community-level recovery follows a sequence of community types.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
144
Q

Sere

A

Seral stages put together

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
145
Q

Climax communities

A

Successions have a predictable end-point; final seral stage
ex. oak forest where mature oaks make up the canopy after fires

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
146
Q

What did Gleason say about climax communities?

A

There is no predictable end-point, it’s just those that end up there.

147
Q

Climax community

A

Older ecosystems may develop and remain stable over long periods of time and represent this community.

148
Q

Forest sere

A

Initial sere stages: r-strategist plants and survivors; pioneer trees are fast-growing, shad-intolerant with strong dispersal; but over time shade-tolerant trees dominate for younger trees to survive.

149
Q

Hydrosere

A

Initial stage: a young lake or pond after glacial melting
- oligotrophic (less nutrients) at first, but sediments accumulate slowly
- nutrients increase
- entire lake can turn into a wetland or even a forest (no water left = climax community)

150
Q

Where does a lithosere occur?

A

Succession on bare rock

151
Q

When is lithosere common?

A

After glacial retreat or volcanic activity.

152
Q

Lithosere

A
  • algae, lichens, and mosses begin first
  • then grasses and shrubs much later
153
Q

Where does psammosere occur?

A

Succession on sandy substrates like shores of lakes and oceans.
ex. pinery

154
Q

Psammosere

A
  • vegetative reproduction developing (wind is difficult for initial stages)
  • shade tolerant species common afterwards
  • large tress after awhile
155
Q

Alternative stable states

A

In some cases, end point of succession may be dissimilar to the original community

ex. under some conditions, sea urchins can develop (few otters and many kelp) or after another disturbance, barren ground dominates (many otters)

156
Q

Facilitation model of succession

A

A predictable sequence of species occurs because earlier seral stages facilitate conditions for later stages

ex. lichens and mosses create a substrate for grasses, which create substrate for trees

157
Q

Tolerance model of succession

A

A predictable sequence of species occurs because species vary in their ability to utilize resources and tolerate certain conditions

ex. colonizing species are displaced at later seral stages as they cease to be able to tolerate new conditions; in abandoned field shade tolerant vegetation becomes more popular

158
Q

Inhibition model

A

A predictable sequence of species occurs because early species prevent or delay the establishment of later species

ex. tall and dense stands of pioneers prevent growth of other species (trees); phragmites

159
Q

Spatially unpredictable disturbance

A

Species with a good dispersal have an advantage in early successional stages

ex. dandelions

160
Q

Temporally unpredictable disturbance

A

Species that have long-lived seeds (seed banks) have an advantage in early successional stages.

161
Q

Seed bank

A

An enduring population of seeds in the surface litter and soil.

162
Q

How do seed banks emerge first after a disturbance?

A

Following a disturbance, there is an increase in light or nutrients, which stimulates germination.

163
Q

How do plants reproduce?

A

Vegetatively or by seed

164
Q

What are the advanatges of reproduction by seed?

A

Large numbers, good dispersal, and durability during cold or dry periods.

165
Q

Why is vegetative reproduction preferred?

A

More dependable, sending up new trunks after cut down (asexual).

166
Q

What is advanced regeneration?

A
  • trees survive over years as small plants under a canopy of mature trees
  • start to grow when the canopy opens = rapid response to disturbance
167
Q

Serotinous seeds

A

Seeds that stay for years on the plant

ex. jack pine cones

168
Q

When are serotinous seeds released?

A

By an environmental factor.

ex. cones of jack pines open in the heat of a fire and the seeds are then shed

169
Q

Primary succession

A

Follows severe disturbances

170
Q

What does primary succession depend on?

A

Organisms invading from elsehwere

171
Q

Examples of primary succession

A

Volcanic eruptions, mudslides, glacial retreat, rising land, or even bulldozing by humans

172
Q

Secondary succession

A

Follows moderate succession

173
Q

What does secondary succession depend on?

A

Both surviving organisms (seed banks) and colonists.

174
Q

Examples of secondary succession

A

Fires, abandoned fields, and storm damage.

175
Q

How do colonizing plants and persistent plants occur in primary succession?

A

Colonizing plants occur immediately after a disturbance and stabilize the substrate. Once stabilized, persistent plants occur (more shade-tolerant).

176
Q

Biomes

A

Clusters of ecosystems that have a general similarity of structure and function. They are broad.

177
Q

What is the biology of biomes defined by?

A

Climate

178
Q

How to characterize biomes?

A

By later-successional vegetation and characteristic animals.

ex. tropical rainforest, temperate grassland, and boreal forest have similar climatic and organisms

179
Q

How do animals define a biome?

A

Not the particular species present, but rather the morphological and physiological traits of dominant organisms (plants and animals)

ex. coniferous trees rather than Oak trees

180
Q

How is temperature related to precipitation?

A

A triangular distribution where all sorts of moisture occur at warm temperatures but as the temperature cools little to no rain.

181
Q

Where is the tropic of cancer?

A

Above equator

182
Q

Where is tropic of capricorn?

A

Below equator

183
Q

What is above tropic of cancer?

A

North temperate zone

184
Q

What is below the tropic of capricorn?

A

South temperate zone

185
Q

What is the Earth’s axis of rotation?

A

Titled at 23 degrees relative to the plane of our orbit around the sun. This allows for season.

186
Q

Winter solstice

A

Sun directly overhead (90) at Tropic of Capricorn at midday, with the north temperate zone titled away, some places not gaining sunlight.

187
Q

Vernal equinox (middle of spring)

A

Sun directly overhead (90) at equator at midday

188
Q

Summer solstice

A

Sun directly overhead (90) at Tropic of Cancer at midday. Northern hemipshere has more sunglight.

189
Q

Autumnal equinox

A

Sun directly overhead (90) at equator at midday.

190
Q

How many degrees does the earth rotate?

A

A full 360 degrees per 360 days (a year).

191
Q

What corresponds with distance from equator?

A

Annual variation in day length. Closer to equator means less daylight variation whereas farther away more variation (but less sun power).

192
Q

Ecudaor

A

Receives 12 hours of sun and 12 hours of dark every day of the year

193
Q

What does the warm air at the equator lead to?

A

Rises, cools, and water condenses leading to a lot of rain at the center of the equator. 0 degrees

194
Q

What happens at 30 degrees from the equator?

A

Dry air moves away from equator and returns back to the earth’s surface at these areas.

195
Q

Where are deserts located?

A

Where the dry air returns near 30 N and 30 S.

196
Q

How does preciptation depend at you move away from equator?

A

As you move out farther precipotation decreases.

197
Q

Where is tundra located?

A

High latitude biome of North America, Europe, and Asia.

198
Q

Why is growing season short in tundra?

A

Only a short period of time when there is an abundance of suns.

199
Q

What is the dominant vegetation in the tundra?

A

Grasslands and lichens

200
Q

Evapotranspiration

A

Movement of water into the atmosphere

201
Q

Precipitation and evaptotranspiration of the tundra.

A

Low and low, leading to a lot of the moisture being trapped in the the upper layer of soil (permafrost).

202
Q

What does permafrost lead to?

A

No drainage, leading to icy soil.

203
Q

What animals move to the tundra?

A

Migratory birds to breed in the arctic.

ex. arctic terns

204
Q

Where do temperate zones lay?

A

Between Arctic/Antarctic and the Tropics of Cancer/Capricorn.

205
Q

What does the vegetation depend on in temperate zones?

A

It’s based on latitude and the pattern of precipitation which is also variable based on seasonal changes.

206
Q

What plants dominate the boreal forest?

A

Coniferous trees

207
Q

Explain the summers of the boreal forest.

A

Short but warm summers.

208
Q

What plants can come into the boreal forest after disturbance?

A

Decidous trees like birch and aspen after fire.

209
Q

Where is the boreal forest?

A

The northern hemisphere.

210
Q

How do winters and summers look like in the temperate deciduous forest?

A

Cold and short winters but warm and long summers.

211
Q

How is species richness in the temperate deciduous forest?

A

High species richness in the southern temperate deciduous forest.

ex. fish and reptiles

212
Q

Where is the highest tree diversity in Canada?

A

Southern Carolinean forests.

213
Q

How are yellow and orange colours in fall leaves unmasked?

A

By the breakdown of chlorophyll.

214
Q

What are yellow and orange colours?

A

Carotenoids

215
Q

What are the pigments of red colours?

A

Anthocyanins

216
Q

How do carotenoids and anthocyanins differ?

A

Carotenoids exist in the leaves all year long and are only exposed when the dominant colour (green - chlorophyll) breaks down) whereas anthocyanins is produced during the fall at this certain time (never hidden).

217
Q

Photoprotection hypothesis

A

Red pigments protect against the harmful effects of light at low temperatures (don’t decay too quickly, and enter a dormant metabolic state).

218
Q

Coevolution hypothesis

A

Red is a warning signal towards insects migrating to the trees in autumn (they are a healthy tree but not a good tree to lay eggs).

219
Q

Where are temperature rainforest found?

A

Western North America ONLY.

220
Q

Explain precipitation in temperate rainforest.

A

Very plentiful.

221
Q

How are winters in a temperate rainforest?

A

Mild not much snow

222
Q

In which biome is the highest conifer diversity?

A

Temperate rainforest

223
Q

Rainforest

A

Area that receives 2m of rainfall over the course of a year and a moderate temperature leading to a long growing season.

224
Q

How is precipitation in the temperate grassland?

A

Low

225
Q

Why don’t temperate grasslands support forests?

A

Don’t have enough moisture due to low rain.

226
Q

How are winters and summers in the temperate grassland?

A

Cold winters and hot summers.

227
Q

How are trees kept out of the temperate grasslands?

A

Fire and herbivores, like bison, keep out trees in the more humid regions.

228
Q

What biomes exist in Canada?

A

Tundra, boreal forest, temperate deciduous forest, temperate rainforest, and temperate grassland.

229
Q

Explain summers and winters in chaparral biomes.

A

Mild, moist winters with hot, dry summers. Little to no rain.

230
Q

What limits tree growth in a chaparral biome?

A

Poor soils and fires

231
Q

What are dominant plants in a chaparral biome?

A

Shrubs

232
Q

Why can’t deserts have vegetation?

A

Too dry with too little rain due to dry air returning.

233
Q

Where do deserts exist?

A

Tropical, temperate, and arctic climates.

234
Q

What strategies do plants develop for desert climates?

A
  • storing water (cacti)
  • avoiding dry periods (annuals)
  • having deep roots
  • CAM photosynthesis
235
Q

What does the long drought in a tropical savanna and dry forest lead to?

A

Savanna (grassland) with scattered trees.

236
Q

What limits tree growth in the savannas?

A

Fire ad large herbivores (elephants).

237
Q

What happens in the short period of drought in tropical savanna and dry forest?

A

Deciduous trees drop their leaves to protect against rainfall to kept phtosynthetic tissue going.

238
Q

What is the most endangered biome?

A

Tropical savanna and dry forest because when the temperature is so dry it is easy to convert into a pasture land by setting fire.

239
Q

What does not occur in an evergreen tropical rainforest?

A

No dry season or frost.

240
Q

Where are evergreen tropical rainforests located?

A

Near the equator where there is lots of rain.

241
Q

Does temperature change in an evergreen topical rainforest?

A

Yes, the dinurnal temperature fluctuations (hot to really hot) are larger than seasonal fluctuations.

242
Q

Is there lost of species in an evergreen tropical rainforest?

A

Yes, very much high productivity and biomass.

243
Q

What are dominant trees in evergreen tropical rainforest?

A

Complex vertical structures

244
Q

Where are nutrients located in an evergreen tropical rainforest?

A

Located in the trees rather than the soils.

245
Q

Lentic ecosystems

A

Lakes and ponds with standing (non-flowing water)

246
Q

What environments do biomes consider?

A

Terrestrial ones

247
Q

What are characteristics of a lentic ecosystem?

A

Shape and volume, nutrient concentration, and water transparency.

248
Q

Littoral

A

Shore

249
Q

Pelagic

A

Open water

250
Q

Benthic

A

Bottom

251
Q

Lotic ecosystems

A

Flowing water, rivers and streams

252
Q

What are the key characteristics of lotic ecosystems?

A

Amount, speed, seasonal variation, and turbidity of water.

253
Q

Why are lotic ecosystems not self-sustaining?

A

Dependent on an influx of nutrients upstream.

254
Q

What are freshwater wetlands determined by?

A

Water nutrient content and variation in water level.

255
Q

Bogs

A

Low productivity with no inflowing groundwater; acidic

256
Q

Fens

A

Mineral rich with inflowing groundwater; non-acidic

257
Q

Swamp

A

Fertile wetlands dominated by shrubs and trees

258
Q

Marsh

A

Fertile wetlands dominated by grasslands

259
Q

What determine variation in an open ocean?

A

Currents and upwellings

260
Q

How does productivity seen in open ocean?

A

Low productivity per unit area as just single-celled algea

261
Q

Benthic

A

Mostly heterotrophic

262
Q

Pelagic

A

Currents and upwellings

263
Q

What do hydrothermal vents support?

A

Chemo synthetic bacteria use hot temps and pressure

264
Q

Why is continental shelf more productive than an open ocean?

A

More biodiversity

265
Q

Where do continental shelves get nutrients?

A

Rivers and upwellings

266
Q

Estuaries

A

Productive regions at marine/freshwater interface

ex. Amazon and Niles and mangrove forests

267
Q

What are ecosystems seen in a continental shelf?

A

Seashores, estuaries, and coral reefs.

268
Q

What are clusters of anthropogenic ecosystems?

A
  1. Urban
  2. Rural
  3. Agroecosystems
269
Q

Why are species alien in an urban ecosystem?

A

Cannot survive without humans

270
Q

How is biodiversity in urban?

A

High

271
Q

How is the climate in an urban ecosystem?

A

Warm

272
Q

What are rural ecosystems?

A

Have extensive networks of highways, railroads, electrical lines and towns associated with harvest and processing of natural resources.

273
Q

How is diversity in modern agroecosystems?

A

Low diversity because farmers usually grow a monoculture.

274
Q

What is the purpose of leaves changing colour in fall?

A

Flashing arrows that attract birds and mammals to a tree’s fruits, which leads to them dispersing the seeds as they go.

275
Q

Biodiversity

A

Richness of biological variation occurring at all levels of ecological organization.

276
Q

Where does biodiversity exist between?

A

Diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems

277
Q

What are the levels of biodiversity?

A
  1. Genetic variation within populations and species
  2. Number of species in an ecological community
  3. Assortment of communities at a landscape scale
278
Q

What is the variability of individuals within a pool based on?

A

Pool of genetic variation within a population and expression of genetic information (phenotypic plasticity).

279
Q

Clonal reproduction

A

Asexually offspring are genetic clones of parents.

ex. trembling aspen

280
Q

How does sexual reproduction create genetic diversity?

A

Recombination creates unique diploid organisms.

281
Q

What happens to populations with low genetic diversity?

A

At risk in changing environments, and vulnerable to pests and disease.

282
Q

Endemic species

A

Those that occur in a restricted area that may have low genetic diversity.

ex. remote islands for Hawaiian flora

283
Q

Where were panthers once widespread?

A

Throughout North America

284
Q

Where are wild populations of panther restricted to in Canada and US?

A

West coast plus Florida.

285
Q

What happened to the Florida panther population by the late 20th century?

A

Shrunk to 20-25 adults and genetic diversity was rapidly lost leading to inbreeding.

286
Q

How humans helped with Florida panther genetic rescue?

A

Moved eight females from Texas to Florida.

287
Q

What happened to the genetic heterozygosity when the Florida panthers were intrdouced?

A

Increased very rapidly saving them from extinction.

288
Q

What happened to the age of the Florida panthers when translocated?

A

Went back down to before inbreeding efforts.

289
Q

What is needed to determine good species richness?

A

Knowledge in systematics (take an animal and know the exact species) and taxonomy.

290
Q

How are species classified by (name)?

A

Latinized binomial name.

291
Q

How many identified species to we have?

A

1.8 million species.

292
Q

What is global species richness?

A

Number of described and estimated species across taxonomic groups.

293
Q

How many estimated species?

A

15 million species

294
Q

What species are the most poorly known ones?

A

Small tropical arthropods

295
Q

How many identified species live n the temperate zone?

A

65%

296
Q

How many estimated species live in the tropics?

A

90%

297
Q

Why is there a difference between number of species found in tropics versus temperate zones?

A
  1. Tropics is a stable environment where they can grow and diversify
  2. Most of Earth’s universities close to temperate zones
298
Q

Where are the 90% of the undiscovered species found?

A

In the tropical rainforest (single biome).

299
Q

What are the hidden biodiversity species?

A

Invertebrates, specifically beetles.

300
Q

How many beetles in a Leuhea seemannii tree and how many new to science?

A

1100 beetles with 14.5% of those previously unknown.

301
Q

How many tree species found in Canada?

A

300

302
Q

How many tree species found in Malaysia?

A

742 tree species with 50% as single individuals

303
Q

Richness of communities

A

A landscape with a dynamic mosaic of different communities is richer than a uniform landscape.

ex. low community diversity of boreal forest and high community in a tropical forest

304
Q

Why is community conservation important?

A

Environmental services they provide (carbon storage, regulation of water flow, and production of biological resources).

305
Q

Why are late-successional communities rare?

A

Because of human influence.

ex. decline in cover of old-growth forest in the US

306
Q

Late-successional communities

A

Habitats that have undergone disturbances and have had the opportunity to regrow, and maybe even create humans that can populate these areas. Usually have the higher levels of biodiversity.

307
Q

What are examples of late-successional communities?

A

Marsh at Point Pelee and the Boreal forest in Algonquin

308
Q

What is the fastest shrinking late successional stage on Earth?

A

Tropical forests with high levels of biodiversity at the second stage

309
Q

How to measure genetic biodiversity?

A

Molecular markers (genotyping) that can focus on heterozygosity and the number of alleles. Showing quantification between each individual of a species.

310
Q

How to measure species diversity?

A

Species richness (how many there) is the simplest level of measurement, thus taxonomic knowledge is needed

311
Q

How is species richness measured?

A

At the level of the guild (what it appears to be)

ex. this is a pollinator with a mandible

312
Q

What are the top two biomes with great amount of biodiversity?

A

Tropical rainforest and coral reef (much unknown).

313
Q

How does Terry Irwin study insects?

A
  1. Uses a fogging machine with insecticide
  2. Sprays into one tree (certain tree that haven’t studied before)
  3. All insects die
  4. Funnel traps collect the insects that fall down
314
Q

How many beetles did Terry Erwin find in the Luehea seemannii tree?

A

1100 species of beetles in the canopy of one tree; therefore, the species richness is 1100 beetle species.

315
Q

What is the problem with species biodiversity measurements?

A
  1. Richness doesn’t account for relative abundance of each species
  2. Richness doesn’t account for the identity of the species (invasive or not and their roles)
316
Q

Species diversity

A

Measure that includes both number of species present (richness) and their relative abundances (evenness).

317
Q

What does the Shannon Index (H’) measure?

A

Species diversity, accounting for the relative proportions of the species present.

318
Q

Species-area curve

A

Plot how many area you have sampled to the number of species (richness) in that area.

319
Q

What does the species-area curve allow?

A

Ecologists to estimate whether biodiversity sampling is complete.

320
Q

What happens to the species-area curve when we add more and more areas?

A

No new species, reached an asymptote, meaning that we have exhaustively sampled in that region.

321
Q

How many estimated species of insects? Identified?

A

Estimated = 8 million
Identified = nearly 1 million

322
Q

How did Irwin’s beetle collections lead to belief of 8 million insects?

A
  • fogged trees in Panama, identifying 1200 per tree and 163 were host-specific
  • estimated 70 trees per hectare in tropical rainforest
  • 11,410 host-specific beetles per hectare
  • therefore, with more than 700 known host specific tropical rainforest tree = 8 million beetles
323
Q

What did Daniel Janzen discover that lead to our ecology course?

A

Ant-plant symbiosis

324
Q

DNA barcoding

A

Identifying species with a short sequence of species-specific DNA

ex. over 10 million species from more than 1 million species have been barcoded

325
Q

What region does DNA barcoding use?

A

A mitochondrial region that varies from species, but not individuals.

326
Q

What species have been barcoded?

A
  1. North American birds
  2. 10,000 fish
  3. Butterflies and moths close to a million
327
Q

What level does barcoding measure of species diversity?

A

Level one

328
Q

How to measure the third level of biodiversity?

A

Use a modified version of the Shannon index due to similar challenges. This accounts for different biomasses and area of communities within a landscape.

329
Q

Instrumental value

A

Things that can generate money, such as food, materials (wood in buildings), energy (biofuels), and medicine (rosy periwinkle used to suppress tumor growth).

330
Q

Ecological services

A

Maintenance of itself and for humans: Nutrient cycling (nitrogen needed for us to live), cleaning the environment (mangrove trees), and resilience to perturbation, such as floods and landslide.

331
Q

Aesthetic value

A
  • symbolic value of species like the beaver or the loon
  • maple leaf in the Canadian flag for cultural identity
332
Q

Inherent value

A

Allows us to appreciate biodiversity independent of our needs (non-anthropocentric value). Something is cool such as the symbiosis of ants and trees.

333
Q

Landscape ecology

A

Integrative study of the relationship between spatial patterns and ecological processes at various scales

334
Q

What are some core themes of landscape ecology?

A
  1. Detecting/quantifying spatial patterns of ecosystems
  2. How (a)biotic influences on those patterns
  3. Understanding the implications of those patterns for populations and communities found there
  4. Characterising ecosystems patterns in space and time
  5. Managing landscapes to achieve conservation and economic objectives
335
Q

What are the different scales ecologists study landscapes at?

A

Coarse scales (large) = regional
Fine scale (small scale) = residental

336
Q

What happens when tent caterpillars are mature?

A

Swarm all around one area creating a tent of silk, can even lose a tree.

337
Q

What is the case study on tent caterpillars?

A

Those that enter periodically in temperate forests (native).

ex. see hundreds one year and then only a few the next

338
Q

What is the issue of tent caterpillars?

A

They defoliate entire stands of aspen trees. If early enough in the summer, might not survive until next growing season.

339
Q

What is the host species of tent caterpillars?

A

Trembling aspen trees

340
Q

Do the increase in aspen trees increase tent caterpillar outbreak?

A

Nope

341
Q

What areas lead to tent caterpillars irruption?

A

Areas with more fragmentation (large, continuous habitat is divided into smaller isolated fragments due to human activities).

342
Q

How did they study the environment for tent capterpillars?

A

They measure fragmentation as an amount of forest edge per km2 of habitat and plotted it to irruption.

343
Q

Why did tent caterpillars prefer fragmentation?

A

Because caterpillar mobility is limited, the patch is limited, so once they hit the edge, they go back to original area. In a continuous forest, they would move and move and then would be off the particular landscape.

344
Q

Patch

A

Contiguous (touching) area of similar habitat

ex. natural areas and how big they are

345
Q

Edge

A

Steep transition between patches

ex. human spaces

346
Q

Ecotone

A

Gradual transition between patches

ex. coniferous to a field (vegetation gets lower)

347
Q

Interior

A

Central patch bounded by edge or ecotone

348
Q

Corridor

A

Linear feature that differs from the area on either side

ex. road or river

349
Q

Network

A

Interconnected linear elements (corrdiors put together).

ex. road and river put together

350
Q

Mosaic

A

An integrated complex of patches, corridors, and networks.

ex. praire pothole ponds and lakes in Saskatchewan

351
Q

How does patch shape influence ecology?

A
  • increasing interior relative to area (more useful for species)
  • increasing edge relative to area (elongated patches) = suboptimal, as no undisturbed area
352
Q

Metapopulations

A

Populations in different patches connected by corridors

353
Q

How to study chipmunks using corridors?

A
  1. Sherman traps (one door propped open with a stick)
  2. Ear tag on chipmunk when found in one
  3. Mark recapture study: How often you catch them again in the traps or how often you see them?
354
Q

What was found in the chipmunk corridor study?

A

Sherman traps placed in the hedgerows that connected different patches were used more often. Strong evidence of moving between forest patches (meta population).

355
Q

How can a linear feature be beneficial and an obstacle?

A

River can serve as a corridor for muskrats and a barrier for snowshoe hares.

356
Q

Are linear features corridors or obstacles for a grizzly bear?

A

Kept moving back to the road and then going back out into the landscape, thus the road is a sharp ecotone/obstacle for the bear.

357
Q

What is the purpose of research on corridors?

A

Lead to innovative experiments in Western Canada like wildlife overpasses and underpasses.

358
Q

Why do organisms on opposite sides of a road become genetically distinct?

A

It serves as a barrier for dispersal. Their mates are restricted and lowering gene flow.

359
Q

What are anthropogenic networks?

A

Hedgerows

360
Q

What are natural networks?

A

Ice-wedge ecosystem

361
Q

How can human-made corridors be beneficial?

A

For invasive species.

ex. phragmites spread though Canada in roadways as dispersal methods; a very dense plant that is salt tolerant

362
Q

How to use aerial photographs and satellite images?

A

Quantify landscapes as information is reflected in different wavelengths.

363
Q

How do the sides of Algonquin Park differ?

A

West side = Sugar Maple dominated with orange hue of fall colour change
East side = Pine dominated with green hue of conifers

364
Q

How do geographic information system work (GIS)?

A
  1. Computer software that overlays map information and photographic image
  2. Layer of each map
  3. Comparisons across layers may identify critical habitats and how different parts influences other areas

Ecology (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions