Study Guide 1 Flashcards
Kingdom
Animals (broad term; refers to all animals)
Phylum
Chordates (animals with a notochord) (broad term; refers to many different species)
Class
Mammals (broad term; refers to all mammals, like whales, bats, humans)
Order
Primates (monkeys, apes, and humans)
Family
Hominidae (specific term; refers to organisms that are closely related/more similar)
Genus
Specific term; groups closely related species that share similar characteristics (Ex. Panthera includes lions, tigers, panthers.
Species
Most specific term; group of individuals that can interbreed (ex. humans)
Define species richness
the number of different species present in an area
Give and example of species richness
A tropical rainforest would have more species diversity than a desert because its more favorable to popular species
Define Species Evenness
refers to how evenly individuals are distributed among the different species; if the amount of individuals per species is close in number compared with others
Give an example of species evenness
If a pond has 5 species of fish and each species has roughly equally numbers, it has high species evenness compared to one species making up 90% of the individuals.
Explain the rain shadow effect from western to eastern side
After the air has lost much of its moisture on the western side, it descends on the eastern slope, where it warms and becomes drier. This results in significantly less rainfall and a more arid climate.
What are the characteristics of western slopes?
Characterized by lush, dense forests and diverse vegetation due to higher precipitation.
What are the characteristics of eastern slopes?
Typically drier, featuring sagebrush, grasslands, and sparse vegetation.
How does the tilt of the earth’s axis drive seasons?
The tilt causes different parts of the earth to receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year. This results in warmer temperatures during summer when a hemisphere is tilted toward the sun and cooler temperatures during winter when it is titled away.
How do current greenhouse gas levels compare to historic levels?
Current CO2 is over 400 ppm (up from 280 ppm), methane is around 1,900 ppb (up from 700 ppb), and nitrous oxide is about 330 ppb (up from 270 ppb)
Define the principle of allocation
states that each organism has a limited amount of energy that can be used for all life purposes and that energy allocated to one function cannot be applied to another function
What are tradeoffs in resource allocation for organisms?
Tradeoffs occur when organisms must balance resource investment between life functions, like growth and reproduction. Increasing investment in one area (ex. reproduction) often means reducing investment in another (ex. growth), resulting in benefits and costs for each decision.
Give an example of a tradeoff for resource acquisition
Investing more resources in deep root systems allows a plant to access water and nutrients from the soil, but it may reduce the investment in leaves, limiting photosynthesis and overall energy capture.
Give an example of a tradeoff for reproduction
larger species may have a higher survival rate but require more parental investment and resources. A fish may choose to produce fewer, larger eggs to enhance survival rates, sacrificing the quantity of offspring.
Define evolution
focuses on the changes in species over time due to processes like natural selection, mutation, and genetic drift. It explains how species adapt to their environments and develop new traits.
Define ecology
studies the interactions between organisms and their environments, including their relationships with each other and with abiotic factors (like climate and soil)
Compare ecology and evolution
both fields examine how organisms respond to their environments and contribute to understanding biodiversity and the dynamics of life on earth.
Explain the contrast between ecology and evolution
evolution occurs over long time scales (millions of years), while ecology often studies interactions over shorter time scales (days to years). evolution is concerned with species changes and adaptations, while ecology focuses on ecosystems, populations, and interactions among organisms.
