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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
Prokaryotes do not have
membrane bound organelles
26
Eukaryotes have
membrane bound organelles
27
where is Archaea found?
Harsh environments; such as, hot springs... etc..
28
autotrophs?
Convert simple molecules into complex organic compounds
29
Heterotrophs?
obtain their energy form other organisms
30
Mixotrophs?
Switch between being producers and consumers
31
Scavengers?
Consume dead animals
32
Detritivores?
Breakdown dead animals
33
Decomposers?
Breakdown detritus further for recycling | EX: fungi and bacteria
34
Categorize as a PRODUCER OR CONSUMER?
``` Autotrophs Heterotroph Mixotroph Scavengers Detritivores Decomposers ```
35
What is PREDATION?
an organism kills and consumes an individual
36
What is PARASITISM?
one organism lives in or on another
37
what is HERBIVORY?
an organism that consumes a producer
38
what is COMPETITION?
When two organisms that depend on the same resource | this has a negative effect for both parties
39
What is MUTUALISM?
two species benefit from each other
40
what is COMMENSALISM?
When two species live in close association and one receives a benefit and the other is unaffected Ex: sharks and remoras
41
Habitat?
Place, or physical setting, where and organism live.
42
Niches
Range of abiotic and biotic conditions an organism can tolerate
43
No two species have the same niche. Why?
To reduce competition
44
What are the two general approaches that ecologists use to learn about nature?
Descriptive science and Hypothesis testing
45
What is Descriptive science (2)?
1) record observations about a pattern or process | 2) inductive reasoning (make a conclusion about a pattern)
46
What is Hypothesis testing (3)?
1) develop an explanatory hypothesis 2) design an experiment to test the hypothesis 3) employs deductive reasoning
47
Variables
an attribute that varies and can be measured or characterized
48
What are two types of variables ecologist use?
Independent (predictor) and dependent ( response)
49
What are independent (predictor) variables?
presumed to cause other variables to change
50
What are dependent ( response) variables?
Factors that are being changed
51
What is the scientific method (associated with Hypothesis testing)
1. observe 2. question 3. develop a hypothesis 4. test predictions 5. devise experiments 6. execute
52
What is APOSEMATIC coloration
Warning coloration
53
What are natural experiments?
Employs natural variation in the environment to test a hypothesis impractical to do manipulative experiments
54
What is a proximate hypotheses
Addresses the CAUSE of IMMEDIATE CHANGES in an individual phenotypes or interactions Asks "HOW" questions
55
What is an ultimate hypothesis
Addresses the FITNESS COSTS and BENEFITS of a response Asks "WHY" questions
56
What are advantages with Hypothesis testing?
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
what is the CLASSIC ISLAND BIOGEOGRAPHY THEORY?
Large - near Island = greatest species diversity | Small - far Island = low species diversity
58
What is the Human influence on Ecological systems?
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
What are some adaptions (in aquatic animals) to water density?
more dense bone and muscle less dense body fats swim bladders
60
what is a swim bladder?
a gas filled organ that allows a fish to control where it is at in the water
61
dissolved inorganic nutrients
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
what is saturation
every mineral has an upper limit of solubility above saturation, minerals precipitate out
63
what are acids
H+ ions in solution acidic solutions have higher concentrations of H+ ions
64
what are bases
OH- ions in solution basic solutions have higher concentrations of -OH ions in solution
65
what affect does acidic water have on metals
it dissolves them
66
what does the burning of fossil fuels add to the environment
sulfuric acid H2SO4
67
what do car emissions add to the environment
nitric acid HNO3
68
Rain is naturally slightly acidic. why?
rain dissolves carbon dioxide (CO2) to form carbonic acid H2CO3 (a weak acid) giving rain a natural ph of 6
69
how does the addition of H2SO4 AND HNO3 affect our environment
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
solutes
dissolved substances in water
71
osmosis
movement of water across a semipermeable membrane
72
osmotic potential
force with which a solution attracts water
73
osmoregulation
mechanisms that organisms use to maintain a proper solute balance
74
Hyperosmotic
tissue solute concentrations HIGHER than surrounding H2O
75
Hyposmotic
Tissue solute concentrations LOWER than surrounding H2O
76
Boundary layer
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
What are some adaptations to water viscosity
streamlined bodies some, small marine animals have evolved long, filamentous appendages that increase drag
78
what is counter circulation
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
deep ocean adaptation (for oxygen)
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
diffusion of oxygen adaptation in zooplankton
Zooplankton increase the amount of hemoglobin in their bodies, enabling them to store more O2
81
diffusion of oxygen adaptation in spotted salamander | Eggs of the spotted salamander have a mutualistic relationship with algae
Eggs provide CO2 to the algae, and the algae provide O2 to the eggs Eggs with algae hatch faster and larger
82
anaerobic
environment becomes completely devoid of oxygen
83
many microbes live in anaerobic environments by using other sources of metabolic energy (aerobic respiration)
pneumatophores
84
what is q value
ratio of a physiological process rate at one temp compared to the rate of that process when the temp is 10 degrees cooler
85
what is thermal pollution
Increasing the temperature of an environment via human discharges (e.g., effluent from power plants)
86
glycerol
prevents hydrogen bonds from forming; lowers freezing point 2.3 degrees c
87
glycoproteins
coat any forming ice crystal in blood and prevents further hydrogen bond formation
88
thermal optima
range of temperatures in which an organism best preforms
89
isozymes
different forms of an enzyme that catalyze a reaction

Principles of Ecology (1 decks)

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