Organisms And Evolution Flashcards
Why do we sample
To get data and extrapolate an idea of what is going on in the population
What must we consider when taking samples
Its the sample unbiased Is it representative The number of samples Accuracy and precision Designing your sampling Equipment Quantitative and qualitative Identification in your sample
How can a sample be unbiased
It can be structured and randomised
What makes a sample representative
You can justify assumptions and use statistics to extrapolate to the whole population
Why is the number of samples important
Generally the more samples collected the more reliable the survey
However the closer you look the better the sample but that may limit the number of samples you can take
Accuracy
A sample is accurate if it is close to the truth
Precision
A sample is precise if it obtains similar results
What does designing your sampling involve?
Pilot studies and early observations so the large sampling is done on the correct things
Define quantitative
Numerical data
Define qualitative
Data based on judgment
You’re data is only as good as the —– made in a sample
Identifications
What is important in choosing equipment?
Balancing cost, complexity, accuracy, training and time
For health and safety, what must be considered about terrain
How much the land goes up and down (what is underfoot)
What you will need to traverse
How difficult it will be to work in
(Eg a cultivated field will have easy terrain
For health and safety, what must be considered about weather conditions
The effects and dangers of the prevailing weather conditions
The possible extremes and their likelihood
For health and safety, what must be considered about isolation
(Not a likely issue in urban areas)
How do you know exactly where you are (sampling has to have positional data)
How quickly could someone come to your aid
Communication?
Nearest settlement?
For health and safety, what must be considered about contact with harmful organisms
Anything that can do harm eg bacteria, insects, larger animals
Point counts
Involves the observer recording all individuals from a fixed point. This can be compared to other count locations or with data from the same location gathered at other times
Quadrat
One of the most common methods for sampling organisms that are sliw moving or stationary
The frame is laid down and a direct count of what is in the frame or a percentage can be estimated
Only the squares containing the plants you are studying can be counted
Randomised sampling
Quadrats are often thrown to try to get a random sample. This is still not a truly random sample and other methods can be used to improve the randomisation
Line transect
A line (eg rope attached to a stake at either end) is laid out. At specific points along the line or across the whole line you record what is present or the presence or absence of a particular species
Belt transects
Uses two parallel lines and records the plants at given points
Using a quadrat at each section will give more accurate data
Quadrat and transects are used for
Sessile or slow moving organisms
Pit fall traps
For mobile animals Can vary in size, access (fall triggered by size) Baited or not Result of the fall (lethal or not) Only effective for animals on ground
Sweep nets
Used for sampling in air or water
Water sweep nets
Often designed to allow water to flow out while collecting the organisms
Flight intercept traps
Fine black or white mesh that the insects fly into. Simplest design is just a screen
Malaise traps
Large tent like traps to catch flying insects
Pan traps
Can tempt flying insects. These are brightly coloured shallow dishes with a liquid that has low surface tension (eg soapy water) insects will be attracted to the colour, fly in and drown
Camera traps
For animals which are difficult to capture and where you want to avoid contact.
These cameras are activated by the animal at it approaches, normally using motion sensors or triggers like breaking a light gate
Scat sampling
Sampling the feaces can give you information such as the number, the range, the dna, the food and diet ant the health of the animal
Wjen sampeling wild organisms it is essential to….
Minimise impact on the community an habit
Especially when dealing with rare species and habitats
Some habits will also have specific legislation to protect them in place
Name 3 taxonomic groups
Nematodes
Arthropods
Chordates
How can animals be classed in the feild
Classification guides and keys
Observations and data that can be used with these later can be recorded
Expects often are able to rely on their own expertise
How can animals be classed in the lab
DNA analysis, protein markers and other cellular structures or molecules can be used
Particularly useful where visual identification is not clear or where differences between species are determined at cellular levels
Can be used in tracking species diversity and identifying individuals
Taxonomy
Taxonomy classified organisms by shared characteristics. This allows biologists to decide the name of a particular species
E.g panthera tigris
The more similar the full name the more similar the characteristics of the organisms
Phylogenetics
The use of sequence data, morphology and protein structure has allowed more detailed maps of the relationships between organisms to be produced. These are called phylogenetic trees or a phylogen
Helps map out relationships that can be obscured by divergent or convergent evolution
Divergent evolution
A shared common feature that has been adapted to serve different functions
Convergent evolution
Animals possessing similar features/ that are adapted to similar niches but come from different evolutionary paths
Model organisms
Species that have been studied extensively
How do indicator species help to monitor environmental impact
Either by presence or abundance
Understanding the tolerances of a particular species can mean you can use them as indicators for the environment or the community
A species that is absent/present shows they are susceptible/being favoured to some factors in the environment and
How can population size be determined
Sampling
A direct count of the population within a particular area can be used to give a whole population
Mark and recapture can be used
Mark and recapture
Involves capturing a sample of the population, marking and releasing the sample
After an interval of time a second sample is captured
What is the formula to estimate the total size of a population
N=MC/R
In N=MC/R, what is N
Population
In N=MC/R, what is M
Number captured and marked (1st sample)
In N=MC/R, what is C
Number captured and marked (2nd sample)
In N=MC/R, what is R
Number recaptured (mark caught in second sample)
What assumptions are made in using mark and recapture
All individuals have an equal chance of capture
No immigration or emigration in time interval between 1st and 2nd sample
Marked individuals can mix fully and randomly with the total population
Describe the marking method of banding
Bands with an individual identifier are attached to the individual
If it will not be possible or appropriate to physically recapture different colours can be used for removing identification
Describe the marking method of tagging
Tags used for remote tracking (radio transmitter)
Describe the marking method of surgical implementation
Tags can be implanted to prevent them interfering with the animal
For example so the don’t interfere with the streamlining of fush
Describe the marking method of painting
Animal is painted with non toxic biodegradable paints
Paint must not block skin surfaces for heat regulation, secretion or respiration
Impact of sent and colour must be considered
Describe the marking method of hair clipping
A clearly identifiable section of hair is removed
What is escherchia coli
A bacterium
What is caenirhabditis elegans (C. Elegans)
Nematode
What is arabidoopsis thaliana
Flowering plant
What is drosophila melanogaster
Arthropod
Name three chordates
Mouse
Rats
Zebrafish
Ethogram
A detailed list of all the behaviours in a particular species with clear descriptions of each behaviour
Describe a behaviour flow diagram
Arrows show moving from one to another
Thickness of arrow gives idea of frequency
What are the three main methods of sampling when using an ethogram
Occurrence sampling
Focal sampling
Scan sampling
Occurence sampling
Note the number of times a particular behaviour occurs by any of the animals present
Good for rare behaviours
Or when studying particular sub group
Does not give indication of the amount of time given to behaviour
Focal sampling
One particular individual is tracked through the time, noting every behaviour
Useful for allocating time budgets and pooling information from lots of individuals will give a lot of data
Very intense way of sampling
Scan sampling
At specific time intervals, noting what each animal is doing and where they are
Can be helped with te use if photographs
Anthropomorphism
A problem when studying animal behaviour
It is important to treat information in a scientific manner and not attribute human characteristics to non human species
Name three things that aid objectivity
Latency
Frequency
Duration
Latency
The time between a stimulus and response
Frequency
How often a particular behaviour occurs
Duration
The length of time a particular behaviour lasts
Tume budget
The time allocated to particular behaviours in a given time frame
Evolution
The change over time in the proportions of individuals in a population differing in one or more inherited traits
Name three ways Alleles can change in evolution
Natural selection
Sexual selection
Genetic drift
Natural selection
Non-random
Acts on genetic variation in populations when populations produce more offspring than the environment can support
Individuals with variations better suited to their environment tend to survive longer and produce more offspring passing on the advantage to the next generation
Sexual selection
Non random
The non-random process involving the selection of alleles that increase an individual’s chances of mating and producing offspring
May lead to sexual dimorphism
Can be due to male-male rivalry and female choice
Genetic drift
Random
Chance events cause unpredictable fluctuations in allele frequencies from one generation to the next.
More important in small populations as alleles are more likely to be lost from the gene pool
Describe the effects of bottleneck and founder effects on genetic drift
A gene pool is altered by genetic drift because certain alleles may be under-represented or over-represented and allele frequencies change
Where selection pressures are strong…
The rate of evolution can be rapid
Describe the hardy-Weinberg (hw) principle
In the absence of evolutionary influences, allele and genotype frequencies in a population with remain constant over the generations
Fitness
An indication of an individual’s ability to be successful at thriving and reproducing