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Ecology (BSC 385) > Test 1 > Flashcards

Test 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Teleology

A

the explanation of phenomena by the purpose they serve rather than by postulated cause

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2
Q

Fitness

A

relative ability to survive and reproduce

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3
Q

Adaptation

A

trait that improves the fitness of an organism

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4
Q

Natural Selection

A

the increase in the frequency of individuals with inherited traits that increase their fitness relative to other individuals

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5
Q

Phenotype

A

the characteristic morphology, physiology, and behavior of the organism

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6
Q

Genotype

A

the sum total of an organism’s genes. Determines the phenotype

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7
Q

Genes

A

a sequence of DNA that codes for the amino acid sequence that constructs a specific protein

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8
Q

Mutation

A

a random change in the DNA sequence of a gene

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9
Q

Population Genetics

A

a field of genetics that analyzes the dynamics of genes in an entire population

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10
Q

Gene Pool

A

the sum total of alleles in a population

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11
Q

Allele Frequencies

A

the proportion each allele represents in the gene pool

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12
Q

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

A

a mathematical representation of the genotype frequencies of a population in which the allele and genotype frequencies are not changing (i.e.: Not evolving)

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13
Q

Genetic Drift

A

random changes in allele frequencies

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14
Q

Gene Flow

A

the net loss or gain of certain alleles by movement of individuals

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15
Q

Mutation Pressure

A

change in allele frequency due to the origin of new alleles in the population

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16
Q

Selection Coefficient

A

the proportion of a genotype that is not represented in the next generation due to death or reproductive failure

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17
Q

Directional Selection

A

a form of selection in which one tail of the bell curve is favored

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18
Q

Stabilizing Selection

A

the form of selection in which the central portion of the phenotypic bell curve is favored

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19
Q

Evolutionary Trade-Offs

A

the idea that many traits that confer a fitness advantage with respect to one aspect of the environment can also have a fitness cost relative to another

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20
Q

Disruptive Selection

A

a form of selection in which the two tails of the phenotypic bell curve are favored

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21
Q

Non-Darwinian Evolution

A

genetic drift

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22
Q

Effective Population Size

A

the subset of the total population that mates at random

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23
Q

Phenotypic Plasticity

A

the ability of an organism to produce different phenotypes in different environments

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24
Q

Heritability

A

a measure of the proportion of the phenotypic variation for a trait that is determined by additive effects of its gene

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25
Q

Ecotype

A

a genetically distinct population that is adapted to local environmental conditions

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26
Q

Red Queen Hypothesis

A

the idea that the environment changes faster than adaptations can arise by natural selection

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27
Q

Adaptive Landscape

A

a graphical representation of the fitness associated with different genotypes in a population

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28
Q

What did Darwin observe?

A
  • variability of life forms

- similarities between life forms that were not located near each other

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29
Q

What were Darwin’s logical arguments?

A
  • heritable variation within species
  • prodigious reproductive potential of organisms
  • intense competition and high mortality
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30
Q

Natural selection states that

A

individuals with inherited traits that increase their fitness will increase in frequency in the population relative to other competing individuals

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31
Q

What are some drawbacks in Darwin’s theory?

A
  • mechanisms of inheritance were not fully understood
  • the concept of the gene was not yet developed
  • flaw of believing in blended inheritance
  • other mechanisms of evolution not yet appreciated
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32
Q

Evolution

A

genetic change in a population, specifically a change in allele frequency

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33
Q

What is population genetics based on?

A

the concept of a gene pool (the sum of all alleles in a population)

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34
Q

What is the equation for Hardy-Weinberg?

A

p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1

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35
Q

Genetic drift is more pronounced in

A

smaller populations

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36
Q

Genetic drift can cause alleles to

A

become fixed or lost over time

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37
Q

Gene flow can reinforce or counteract

A

selection and genetic drift

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38
Q

Most mutation rates are ___ and most mutations are ___

A

low; deleterious

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39
Q

High mutation rate + high population size + low generation time =

A

rapid evolution of a serious pathogen (flu virus)

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40
Q

Selection increases

A

Darwinian fitness

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41
Q

Darwinian fitness

A

the ability of an individual genotype or phenotype to both survive and reproduce

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42
Q

What is the frequency before selection of AA, Aa, and aa?

A

AA- p^2
Aa- 2pq
aa- q^2

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43
Q

What is the fitness of AA, Aa, and aa?

A

AA- 1
Aa- 1
aa- 1-s

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44
Q

What is the frequency after selection of AA, Aa, and aa?

A

AA- p^2
Aa- 2pq
aa- q^2x(1-s)

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45
Q

A selection coefficient of 1 is

A

lethal

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46
Q

What does the idea of uniformitarianism say?

A

that modern landforms arose slowly by gradual processes rather than rapid, cataclysmic events

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47
Q

How can gene flow enhance or slow evolution by natural selection?

A

A genotype may be selected against in a population, causing their deaths. However, gene flow can enhance or slow evolution by selection. For ex., aa may be selected against, but organisms with the aa genotype can choose to leave the population to avoid death. This enhances evolution by natural selection. However, when other organisms of the aa genotype enter the population, it provides a longer period of the aa allele being present in the population. This slows evolution by natural selection.

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48
Q

What is the relationship between “effective population size” and random meeting?

A

The effective population size is the subset of the total population that mates randomly. *anything that reduces random mating reduces effective population size

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49
Q

Can evolution occur without a change in fitness?

A

yes

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50
Q

What is the relationship between the selection coefficient (s) and fitness?

A

Fitness of a genotype selected against = 1-s; this means that the frequency of the genotype is decreased by s each generation

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51
Q

Thermophile

A

organism that tolerates high temperatures

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52
Q

Poikilotherms

A

organisms whose internal temperature varies, often in response to external temperatures

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53
Q

Ectotherm

A

organism whose body temperature is determined by the external environment

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54
Q

Homeotherm

A

organism whose body temperature is regulated within narrow limits

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55
Q

Endotherm

A

organism whose internal temperature is maintained by metabolic activity

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56
Q

Physical (abiotic) factors

A

physical conditions that affect an organism’s growth and survival

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57
Q

Physical resources

A

the energy and inorganic material an organism requires

58
Q

Law of tolerance

A

the concept that there are upper and lower bounds to the physical factors within which an organism can survive

59
Q

Principle of allocation

A

the concept that an adaptation to one selective factor may preclude or reduce adaptations to others

60
Q

Torpor

A

a state of decreased physiological function during periods of harsh conditions

61
Q

Hibernation

A

an extended form of torpor

62
Q

Aestivation

A

a period of torpor or hibernation to avoid heat and water stress

63
Q

Obligate hibernator

A

an organism that must seasonally hibernate

64
Q

Facultative hibernator

A

an organism that doesn’t have to become torpid but does so during harsh conditions and can arouse quickly if conditions change

65
Q

Migration

A

seasonal movement from one region to another and back

66
Q

Behavioral thermoregulation

A

behaviors that allow the organism to seek and use external factors such as sunlight or warm rocks to change their internal temp

67
Q

Acclimation

A

an individual’s physiological adjustment to challenging abiotic conditions

68
Q

Heat shock proteins (HSPs)

A

proteins that protect the organism from sudden increases in temp

69
Q

Cold acclimation proteins (CAPs)

A

proteins that protect the organism from sudden decrease in temp

70
Q

Heat

A

thermal energy that can be transferred from one body to another

71
Q

Calorie

A

the amount of heat required to raise one gram of water 1*C

72
Q

Specific heat capacity

A

the amount of heat a substance requires to raise one gram 1*C

73
Q

Conduction

A

the transfer of heat between two bodies in physical contact

74
Q

Radiation

A

the transfer of heat between two objects not in physical contact

75
Q

Convection

A

the physical movement of a heated fluid (gas or liquid)

76
Q

Heat of vaporization

A

the decrease in an object’s heat content by the evaporation of water

77
Q

Emissivity

A

the tendency of an object to emit radiation

78
Q

Absorptivity

A

the tendency of an object to absorb radiation

79
Q

Critical temp

A

the max and min temp an organism can experience without expending energy to maintain a constant internal temp

80
Q

Thermal neutral zone

A

range of temp between the upper and lower critical temp

81
Q

Non shivering Thermogenesis

A

the use of brown fat to increase heat production

82
Q

Countercurrent heat exchange

A

an arrangement of vessels such that the flow is in opposite directions, maximizing the temp differential between the fluids and thus maximizing heat exchange between them

83
Q

Thermogenic

A

describes plants that can raise their internal temp above ambient

84
Q

Gular fluttering

A

rapid throat movement in birds to lose heat by evaporative cooling

85
Q

Water potential

A

energy gradient between two systems caused by their relative water and solute concentration. water flows from high energy to low energy

86
Q

Pressure potential

A

the water energy due to pressure exerted as water is forced from one place to another

87
Q

Turgor pressure

A

pressure potential caused by the influx of water to a cell with a rigid cell wall

88
Q

Matric pressure

A

the attraction and adhesion of water on surfaces

89
Q

Metabolic water

A

water is produced by oxidative metabolism

90
Q

Xerophyte

A

a plant that tolerates hot, dry environments

91
Q

Field capacity

A

the amount of water held in the soil

92
Q

Permanent wilting point

A

when the water potential of the soil is so low that the water cannot be extracted by the roots

93
Q

C4 pathway

A

alternate photosynthetic pathway in which carbon is fixed as a 4-carbon molecule by an enzyme with high efficiency for CO2

94
Q

C3 pathway

A

a photosynthetic pathway in which carbon is fixed as a 3-carbon molecule by RuBP carboxylase

95
Q

Photorespiration

A

pathway that occurs in C3 plants when the CO2 levels fall so low that RuBP carboxylase picks up O2 instead of CO2

96
Q

Adventitious roots

A

roots produced at or above the soil surface

97
Q

Shelford’s Law of Tolerance

A

species differ in the factors that limit their growth and in their ranges of tolerance

98
Q

Beyond tolerance limits, an organisms fitness is

A

compromised

99
Q

Principle of Allocation

A

adaptations and specialization have evolutionary trade offs (costs and benefits in every situation)

100
Q

What are examples of small scale behavioral avoidance?

A
  • thermoregulations
    • moving to spots of more favorable temp
    • basking
    • modifying posture
  • local stress and predator
    • burrowing
    • nocturnal behavior
101
Q

What are examples of large scale behavioral avoidance?

A

migration

102
Q

What are examples of metabolic avoidance?

A
  • metabolic arrest (periods of torpor)
  • aestivation (torpor to avoid heat and water stress)
  • hibernation
103
Q

What does high temp do to organisms?

A

causes denaturation of proteins and DNA

104
Q

Low temperature can cause

A

freezing of intracellular water

105
Q

Heat can be gained or lost by

A
  • conduction
  • radiation
  • convection
106
Q

Heat can only be lost by

A

evaporation of water

107
Q

Heat can only be gained by

A

metabolism

108
Q

H(total) = H(m) +/- H(c) +/- H(cv) +/- H(r) - H(e)

A 
H(m) = metabolic heat produced
H(c) = condensation heat gain/loss
H(cv) =convection heat gain/loss
H(r) = radiation heat gain/loss
H(e) = evaporative heat loss
109
Q

Plants are generally ectothermic but can influence air flow by

A

leaf size, shape, and orientation

110
Q

What’s the difference between laminar and turbulent flow?

A
  • laminar- moves air straight across leaf surface (inc heat loss)
  • turbulent- keeps air on leaf surface, allowing for less heat loss
111
Q

All biological reactions occur in

A

aqueous phases

112
Q

Water potential =

A

osmotic potential + pressure potential + matric potential

113
Q

The bottom of the plant has ___ water potential, water potential becomes more and more ___ up the plant to the exit

A

0; negative

114
Q

C4 plants are only advantageous in what type of environment?

A

high light, high temp

115
Q

Examples of osmoconformers

A

marine invertebrates

116
Q

Examples of osmoregulators

A

vertebrates, freshwater invertebrates, marine crustacean

117
Q

Marine fish have to deal with

A

high solute concentration in water compared to low internal concentration

118
Q

Freshwater fish have to deal with

A

low solute concentration in water compared to high internal concentration

119
Q

Desert animals must employ

A

oxidative metabolism (make their own water from sugar and oxygen)

120
Q

The amount of sunlight and temperature are ___ related

A

directly

121
Q

Vegetation

A

the form of the plant life in a region

122
Q

Life zone

A

a band of vegetation associated with a specific altitude on a mountain

123
Q

Geographic range

A

the region in which a particular species is found

124
Q

Adiabatic cooling

A

the dec in all temperature that occur at higher elevation or altitude

125
Q

Maritime climate

A

the climate near a large body of water usually characterized by a narrow range of temp

126
Q

Continual climate

A

the climate in regions far from large bodies of water, usually characterized by large temp fluctuations

127
Q

Mid-latitude desertification

A

a phenomenon in which warm, dry air is found at approximately 30N and 30S resulting in a desert climate

128
Q

Rain shadow

A

the tendency of the lee side of mountain ranges to be drier than the windward side

129
Q

Aspect

A

the direction a mountain slope faces

130
Q

Parent material

A

the rock and mineral substrate underlying a region

131
Q

Tree line

A

the altitude or latitude at which trees can no longer survive

132
Q

Krumholz Growth Form

A

growth form of trees at high elevation characterized by a mat of branches near the ground and a single, often bare, shoot at snow level

133
Q

Biogeographical realms

A

regions that share species and geographical history

134
Q

Biome

A

the basic plant community types, characterized by specific vegetation, that occur in a particular region

135
Q

Flora

A

the plant species of a region

136
Q

Temperature decreases with ___ air pressure

A

decreased (temp decreased with altitude)

137
Q

Latitude affects

A

the length of days, temperature, weather, etc.

138
Q

Common limiting factors on the potential geographic range

A
  • types of plants
  • temp
  • moisture
139
Q

Actual geographic range affected by

A
  • disturbances like fire
  • biotic interactions like
    • pollination
    • grazing
    • competition
140
Q

How do tolerance limits and dispersal interact to set a species’ range limit?

A

tolerance limits are the primary ecological filters when it comes to range limits. They determine where an organism can and cannot live, before we factor in biotic interactions

141
Q

Relationship between life zones and biomes

A

biomes are regions defined by specific vegetation while life zones are bands of vegetation that exist in the biomes. Therefore, biomes are determined by life zones

142
Q

What are important diff. between the Gleasonian and Clementsian concepts of plant communities?

A
  • Gleason- plant communities are random assemblages of species that happen to be in the same tolerance limits
  • Clement- species of plants in areas evolved together over large periods of time

Ecology (BSC 385) (5 decks)

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