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Principles of Ecology > Principles of Ecology Exam 1 > Flashcards

Principles of Ecology Exam 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What is Ecology (textbook definition)

A

Study of abundance and distribution of organisms in relation to other organisms and environmental conditions

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2
Q

What is Ecology (Dr. Bednarz likes this one)

A

Study of interactions of organisms with other organisms and the environment; the processes of interactions and the patterns they produce

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3
Q

INTERspecific

A

Relationship between other groups

Example: lion and gazel

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4
Q

INTRAspecific

A

Relationship within the same groups

Example: lion and lion

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5
Q

Hierarchy of Organizations (5)

A 
A living individual
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biosphere
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6
Q

Examples of A living individual

A

Hawk/ Tree

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7
Q

Define Population and give an example

A

All individuals of a particular (same) species living in the same area.
Example: lemurs

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8
Q

Define Community and give an example

A

Group of interacting species (different) living in the same place
Example: the serengeti

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9
Q

Define Ecosystem and give an example

A

All organisms living in a particular area and the physical components with which
Example: a pond

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10
Q

Define Biosphere and give an example

A

All environments on Earth that support life

Example: Earth

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11
Q

Ecological systems

A

Biological entities that have their own internal processes and interact with their surrounding

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12
Q

What are the different levels of studying Ecology (5)

A 
Individual approach
Population approach
Community approach
Ecosystem approach
Biosphere approach
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13
Q

What is the Individual approach

A

Understands how adaptations, or characteristics and an individuals morphology, physiology, and behavior enable it to survive in an environment.
(for example a Zebra and its stripes)

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14
Q

What is the Population approach

A

Examines variation in the number, density, and composition of individuals over time and space

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15
Q

What is the Community approach

A

Understands the diversity and interactions of organisms living together in the same space

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16
Q

What is the Ecosystem approach

A

Describes the storage and transfer of energy and matter

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17
Q

What is the Biosphere approach

A

Examines movements of energy and chemicals over the Earths surface

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18
Q

What is the first law of thermodynamics

A

Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but can be converted

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19
Q

What is Phenotype

A

an attribute of an organism (physical characteristics)

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20
Q

What is Genotype

A

the set of genes an organism carries determines organisms phenotype

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21
Q

What is Evolution

A

Change in genetic composition

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22
Q

What is Natural selection

A

Change in frequency of genes in a population through differential survival and reproduction of individuals that possess certain phenotypes

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23
Q

What are the 3 requirements of Natural selection

A
  1. Individuals vary in traits
  2. traits are heritable
  3. variation in traits causes some individuals to experience higher fitness ( survival/ reproduction)
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24
Q

First organisms were?

A

Prokaryotes

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25
Q

Prokaryotes do not have

A

membrane bound organelles

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26
Q

Eukaryotes have

A

membrane bound organelles

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27
Q

where is Archaea found?

A

Harsh environments; such as, hot springs… etc..

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28
Q

autotrophs?

A

Convert simple molecules into complex organic compounds

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29
Q

Heterotrophs?

A

obtain their energy form other organisms

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30
Q

Mixotrophs?

A

Switch between being producers and consumers

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31
Q

Scavengers?

A

Consume dead animals

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32
Q

Detritivores?

A

Breakdown dead animals

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33
Q

Decomposers?

A

Breakdown detritus further for recycling

EX: fungi and bacteria

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34
Q

Categorize as a PRODUCER OR CONSUMER?

A 
Autotrophs
Heterotroph
Mixotroph
Scavengers
Detritivores
Decomposers
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35
Q

What is PREDATION?

A

an organism kills and consumes an individual

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36
Q

What is PARASITISM?

A

one organism lives in or on another

37
Q

what is HERBIVORY?

A

an organism that consumes a producer

38
Q

what is COMPETITION?

A

When two organisms that depend on the same resource

this has a negative effect for both parties

39
Q

What is MUTUALISM?

A

two species benefit from each other

40
Q

what is COMMENSALISM?

A

When two species live in close association and one receives a benefit and the other is unaffected
Ex: sharks and remoras

41
Q

Habitat?

A

Place, or physical setting, where and organism live.

42
Q

Niches

A

Range of abiotic and biotic conditions an organism can tolerate

43
Q

No two species have the same niche. Why?

A

To reduce competition

44
Q

What are the two general approaches that ecologists use to learn about nature?

A

Descriptive science and Hypothesis testing

45
Q

What is Descriptive science (2)?

A

1) record observations about a pattern or process

2) inductive reasoning (make a conclusion about a pattern)

46
Q

What is Hypothesis testing (3)?

A

1) develop an explanatory hypothesis
2) design an experiment to test the hypothesis
3) employs deductive reasoning

47
Q

Variables

A

an attribute that varies and can be measured or characterized

48
Q

What are two types of variables ecologist use?

A

Independent (predictor) and dependent ( response)

49
Q

What are independent (predictor) variables?

A

presumed to cause other variables to change

50
Q

What are dependent ( response) variables?

A

Factors that are being changed

51
Q

What is the scientific method (associated with Hypothesis testing)

A
  1. observe
  2. question
  3. develop a hypothesis
  4. test predictions
  5. devise experiments
  6. execute
52
Q

What is APOSEMATIC coloration

A

Warning coloration

53
Q

What are natural experiments?

A

Employs natural variation in the environment to test a hypothesis

impractical to do manipulative experiments

54
Q

What is a proximate hypotheses

A

Addresses the CAUSE of IMMEDIATE CHANGES in an individual phenotypes or interactions

Asks “HOW” questions

55
Q

What is an ultimate hypothesis

A

Addresses the FITNESS COSTS and BENEFITS of a response

Asks “WHY” questions

56
Q

What are advantages with Hypothesis testing?

A
  1. identifies important data to collect
  2. leads to scientific progress by rejecting hypothesis that are not supported by data
  3. best approach is to do manipulative experiment
57
Q

what is the CLASSIC ISLAND BIOGEOGRAPHY THEORY?

A

Large - near Island = greatest species diversity

Small - far Island = low species diversity

58
Q

What is the Human influence on Ecological systems?

A
  1. environments dominated by humans
  2. humans depend on the proper functioning of these systems
  3. humans consume massive amounts of energy and resources, and produce large amounts of waste
  4. Thanks to ecological studies, we have mitigated some of the damage to the ecosystems caused by the growing human population- Conservation success stories
59
Q

What are some adaptions (in aquatic animals) to water density?

A

more dense bone and muscle
less dense body fats
swim bladders

60
Q

what is a swim bladder?

A

a gas filled organ that allows a fish to control where it is at in the water

61
Q

dissolved inorganic nutrients

A

Precipitation dissolves minerals in rocks and sold and carried by surface water to the ocean

Oceans have a higher concentration of dissolved mineral than freshwater

62
Q

what is saturation

A

every mineral has an upper limit of solubility

above saturation, minerals precipitate out

63
Q

what are acids

A

H+ ions in solution

acidic solutions have higher concentrations of H+ ions

64
Q

what are bases

A

OH- ions in solution

basic solutions have higher concentrations of -OH ions in solution

65
Q

what affect does acidic water have on metals

A

it dissolves them

66
Q

what does the burning of fossil fuels add to the environment

A

sulfuric acid H2SO4

67
Q

what do car emissions add to the environment

A

nitric acid HNO3

68
Q

Rain is naturally slightly acidic. why?

A

rain dissolves carbon dioxide (CO2) to form carbonic acid H2CO3 (a weak acid) giving rain a natural ph of 6

69
Q

how does the addition of H2SO4 AND HNO3 affect our environment

A

Leaches calcium out of conifer needles

Causes increased leaching of soil nutrients (unavailable to plants)

Dissolves aluminum (this interferes with ability to take up nutrients)

Water became toxic to many aquatic organisms

70
Q

solutes

A

dissolved substances in water

71
Q

osmosis

A

movement of water across a semipermeable membrane

72
Q

osmotic potential

A

force with which a solution attracts water

73
Q

osmoregulation

A

mechanisms that organisms use to maintain a proper solute balance

74
Q

Hyperosmotic

A

tissue solute concentrations HIGHER than surrounding H2O

75
Q

Hyposmotic

A

Tissue solute concentrations LOWER than surrounding H2O

76
Q

Boundary layer

A

Region of stable air or water that surrounds the surface of an object

Removed gasses from this region are slow to be replaced, further limits carbon availability

77
Q

What are some adaptations to water viscosity

A

streamlined bodies

some, small marine animals have evolved long, filamentous appendages that increase drag

78
Q

what is counter circulation

A

An adaptation where blood and water flow in opposite directions so that the concentration of O2 in water is always greater than the concentration in blood

79
Q

deep ocean adaptation (for oxygen)

A

An adaptation where blood and water flow in opposite directions so that the concentration of O2 in water is always greater than the concentration in blood

80
Q

diffusion of oxygen adaptation in zooplankton

A

Zooplankton increase the amount of hemoglobin in their bodies, enabling them to store more O2

81
Q

diffusion of oxygen adaptation in spotted salamander

Eggs of the spotted salamander have a mutualistic relationship with algae

A

Eggs provide CO2 to the algae,
and the algae provide O2 to the eggs

Eggs with algae hatch faster and larger

82
Q

anaerobic

A

environment becomes completely devoid of oxygen

83
Q

many microbes live in anaerobic environments by using other sources of metabolic energy (aerobic respiration)

A

pneumatophores

84
Q

what is q value

A

ratio of a physiological process rate at one temp compared to the rate of that process when the temp is 10 degrees cooler

85
Q

what is thermal pollution

A

Increasing the temperature of an environment via human discharges (e.g., effluent from power plants)

86
Q

glycerol

A

prevents hydrogen bonds from forming; lowers freezing point 2.3 degrees c

87
Q

glycoproteins

A

coat any forming ice crystal in blood and prevents further hydrogen bond formation

88
Q

thermal optima

A

range of temperatures in which an organism best preforms

89
Q

isozymes

A

different forms of an enzyme that catalyze a reaction

Principles of Ecology (1 decks)

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