module 5 - ecology Flashcards
define ecology
the study of interactions among and between organisms & their environment
the equator has _____ (direct/indirect) sun exposure
direct
the northern hemisphere tilts towards the sun during which months?
april - september
the southern hemisphere tilts towards the sun during which months?
september - april
at high altitudes, air is _____ (more/less) dense, holds _____ (more/less) water, and is _____ (warmer/cooler)
less dense, less water, cooler
rotation of air is _____ (faster/slower) at the equator than at the poles
faster
define prevailing winds
winds that move ocean currents
water has a _____ (high/low) specific heat
high
what happens to cells when it is too cold?
ice crystals in the cells disrupt membranes
what happens to cells when it is too hot?
proteins lose structure & enzymes cannot function
define adaptations
specialized traits that allow an organism to survive otherwise unfavorable conditions
define behavioral adaptation
altering behavior to survive unfavorable conditions
give 3 examples of behavioral adaptations
hibernation, burrowing, migration
define a biome
a regional land area defined by climate and geography and characterized by ecologically similar organisms
what is the primary character of a biome?
vegetation
what 5 things does vegetation in a biome provide?
food, habitat, shelter, protection, nesting sites
give the 7 biome types
tropical rain forest
desert (hot or cold)
temperate hardwood wetlands
temperate grasslands
chaparral
temperate evergreen forest
taiga & tundra
what shaped the landscape of tallgrass prairie? explain
fire - most trees killed by fires, herbaceous perennials dominate
grassland is _____ (drier/wetter) than woodlands
drier
life zones in aquatic environments are defined by what?
illumination (shallow, intermediate, deep water)
define estuaries
where fresh and saltwater meet
what defines biogeographical areas?
barriers that prevent dispersal of species
wallace’s line is an example of what?
a biogeographical barrier where species do not disperse
define an area phylogeny
a phylogenetic tree created in relation to where species are found, not just what the species is
what is the purpose of an area phylogeny?
to see the current geographical distribution of species in relation to other related species to uncover the history of speciation
define populations
interacting groups of members of a species
define range
the geographical area where a species is likely to be found
define an endemic population range
a species limited to a defined location
give an example of an endemic species
devil’s hole pupfish live in a very tiny geographical area compared to all other species
define a cosmopolitan population range
a widely distributed population
what are the 3 types of population dispersion?
clumped, regular, and random
why would a population have clumped dispersal?
give a species example
when being together is beneficial and the environment is not uniform
ex. killer whales
why would a population have regular dispersal?
give a species example
when being together is harmful
ex. ducks in a large group build their nests in a close proximity, but as far away from each other as possible
why would a population have random dispersal?
give a species example
when proximity is not important
ex. weeds
define a full census
a counted measure of a population size
what are 2 ways population size can be measured?
full census
estimation by representative examples
what is the purpose of a life table?
it predicts the future for a population - how long is an individual of a given age likely to live?
what is the purpose of a fecundity table?
shows how likely an individual of a given age is to produce offspring
what characterizes a type 1 survivorship curve?
give a species example
most individuals survive to reproduction
few offspring & long lives
ex. humans
what characterizes a type 2 survivorship curve?
give a species example
constant risk of mortality at all ages
ex. most birds
what characterizes a type 3 survivorship curve?
give a species example
most individuals die as juveniles
many offspring, low parental care
ex. mollusks & insects
what is r=b-d?
the Rate of population growth = the rate of Births - the rate of Deaths
does exponential growth of a species exist in real life?
a population can experience a period of exponential growth, but a certain circumstance (like overpopulation & lack of resources) will typically stop it
define carrying capacity
the number of organisms in a population that a region can support without environmental degradation
as the population size reaches the carrying capacity (K), population growth ______ (speeds up/slows down)
slows down
what are the 2 types of population regulation factors?
density dependent (biotic)
density independent (abiotic)
what characterizes density dependent (biotic) population regulation (3)
scarce food = slowed birth rate & faster death rate
large pops attract predators
dense populations pass disease quicker
what characterizes density independent (abiotic) population regulation (2)
natural disturbances (extreme weather)
reduction of population regardless of density
give 4 reasons why a species may be more or less abundant in their habitat
preference of food source
body size
social vs solitary behavior
native vs introduced species
define an antagonistic species interaction
one species benefits, one is harmed
define a mutualism species interaction
both species benefit
define a competition species interaction
neither species benefits
define a commensalism species interaction
one species benefits, the other is unaffected
define an amensalism species interaction
one species is harmed, the other is unaffected
what are 3 types of antagonistic interactions?
predation (predator-prey)
herbivory (herbivore-plant)
parasitism (parasite/pathogen-host)
define a species’ niche
the set of physical and biological conditions a species requires for survival, growth, and reproduction
two species _____ (can/cannot) permanently coexist if their niches are identical
cannot
define resource partitioning
a situation in which competing organisms (usually of different species) differ in their use of resources in order to coexist
define coevolution
the influence of closely associated species on each other in their evolution - results in an evolutionary “arms race”
give 4 characteristics of a predator
fast
strong
sharp claws
teeth