Topic 1

Question 1

Compare R-Selected to K-Selected species

Answer 1

R-Selected Species have a:
Large number of offspring
Little to no parental investment
Low survivorship
Unstable environments
Small
Reach maturity early
Reproduce only once
Short life expectancy
Type III (Rather than I or II) Survivorship pattern

Question 2

What is the binomial naming system?

Answer 2

The universal naming system of species which is separated into two parts, the Genus and the Species.
For example:
Homo (Genus) Sapien (Species)

Question 3

What can classification be based on?

Answer 3

Similarity of physical features (Wings, scales)
Methods of reproduction (Asexual, sexual)
Molecular sequences (Similarity of DNA)

Question 4

What is the main definition of a species?

Answer 4

A group of organisms that can potentially interbreed (Mate) with one another to produce healthy (viable), fertile offspring.

Question 5

What is phylogeny?

Answer 5

Comparing genetic sequences and molecular structures between species.
It is the study of cladistics.

Question 6

What are the 4 different species interactions when classifying?

Answer 6

Predation - Whether or not an organism is prey or predator. (Prey typically have higher populations)

Competition - When organisms in an ecosystem use the same resources and negatively affects both participants.

Symbiosis - Relationships between species with at least one organism benefits.

Disease - Interaction between a pathogen and host.

Question 7

What are the three symbiosis types?

Answer 7

Mutualism - Both benefit.
Bees spread the pollen of flowers which they use for food.

Commensalism - One benefits, the other is unaffected.
Sucker fish/remoraids attaching to sharks for protection.

Parasitism - One benefits, the other is harmed.
The parasite that attaches to a fish’s tongue and eats food entering the fish’s mouth.

Question 8

What is a clade?

Answer 8

A group of organisms that includes a common ancestor and all of its descendents.

Question 9

What are the common assumptions of cladistics?

Answer 9

Common ancestry - Assume that organisms within a group are descended from a common ancestor.

Bifurcation - Assumes that each branch divides into 2.

Physical change - Assumes that a physical change occurs of time.

Question 10

What are the levels of ecosystem organisation? (Also define them)

Answer 10

Ecosystem - Multiple different species interacting with each other and any abiotic factors affecting them in an environment.

Community - Multiple different species (Flora and Fauna) in an area.

Population - The group of a certain species in an area.

Individual - A single instance of a species.

Question 11

What are microhabitats and ecoregions?

Answer 11

Microhabitats - Very small habitats such as bacteria inhabiting a sweat gland pore.
Ecoregions - Ecosystems covering a large bio-geographical area.

Question 12

How can classifying organisms be effective to ecosystem management and conservation?

Answer 12

By understanding the interaction of organisms with one another can help determine the efforts needed to conserve and manage an ecosystem.

Question 13

What are old growth forests? And what is one conservation effort?

Answer 13

Rare, ecologically mature forests that provide important habitats for many threatened species. They have a diverse mix of species and often contain old trees with hollows.

Logging is not permitted as re-growing the trees takes too long and can re-release carbon stored inside.

Question 14

What are the attributes of productive soils?

Answer 14

High biodiversity including bacteria, fungi, earthworms and termites.
Healthy soil that promote the health of plants, animals and humans.
Can assist in nutrient cycling through decomposition and the nitrogen cycle.

Question 15

What main 3 points does the Specht classification system use?

Answer 15

1. Identification of lifeforms of the tallest layer of plants.
2. Determination of the height and or type of vegetation.
3. Percentage area covered by foliage.

Question 16

What is stratified sampling and what is its purpose?

Answer 16

The act of breaking down a large population into similar subgroups (Strata) and then collecting random samples as a representation of the population. (In a vertical space)
Its purpose is to make estimates about the population as a whole for density, and distribution in different zones and strata.

Example: In a forest ecosystem, some strata could include the canopy, trunk and leaf litter, each with sampled populations.

Question 17

How can bias or errors be avoided in stratification?

Answer 17

Randomisation methods
- Law of large numbers (Greater number of samples)
- Random number generators, a grid overlay which randomly selects what areas to test.
- Counting criteria, establishing clear parameters.
- Calibration of equipment, ensuring equipment is precise.

Sites should have fairly homogeneous strata which is representative of the larger population

Adequate number of samples.

Sites are clearly marked for future surveys to determine change over time.

Question 18

What are the choices of ecological surveying techniques?

Answer 18

Transects - Measure changes in distribution and abiotic factors across an area.
They are lines or belts set out through the site where species and abiotic factors can be measured along.

Quadrats - Measure density.
It is a square frame of an appropriate size used to mark out an area.
They can be located randomly over the sampling area or at random intervals along a grid or transect line.

Question 19

How can collected stratification data be analysed?

Answer 19

Classifying the ecosystem

Identifying relationships between organisms

Identifying relationships between organisms and the abiotic environment

Analyse preferred habitats of endangered species.

Question 20

What is biodiversity? And what are the three different levels?

Answer 20

The variety of organisms living within an ecosystem, it also includes the diversity of ecosystems.

Genetic - Variety of gene variations in the gene pool.

Species - Variety of species in an ecosystem.

Ecosystem - Variety of ecosystems and habitats in a given region/biome.

Question 21

What is tolerance range? And how does it limit a species

Answer 21

A set of environmental conditions which are required for an individual species’ survival.

These environmental conditions limit the distribution and abundance of species.

Question 22

What are 3 main environmental factors limiting distribution?

Answer 22

Climate - Precipitation, temperature, wind direction, cloud cover and sunshine. Harsher climates support fewer species.

Soil - Determines the type of plant which can grow in the area, affecting what kind of animals can live there.
Soil quality includes the pH, thickness, structure, porosity, salinity, and nutrient content.

Water quality - Marine and fresh-water ecosystems depend on water quality.
Measurable factors of aquatic environments include, light, depth, water clarity, amount of oxygen, temperature, pH, and water flow.

Question 23

What are the different ways to determine diversity? (Not calculate)

Answer 23

Percentage cover - Measuring the proportion of an area covered by an organism to estimate abundance.

Percentage frequency - Measures the amount of appearances of plant species in sample quadrats.

Species richness - A measure of the number of species within an area.

Species abundance and evenness - Measures if there is an balanced spread of species and the number of individual species.

Question 24

What are the 4 ways to measure percentage cover of plants using quadrats?

Answer 24

Basal - Cross-sectional area of the stem or stems at soil level.

Ground cover - area of the soil covered by plants, litter, rocks etc.

Leaf/foliage cover - Canopy coverage determined by area of shadow cast when sun is directly above sample site.

Canopy cover - Total area covered by the plant.