Topic 14- Biosphere, ecology and conservation biology

Question 1

What is ecology?

Answer 1

The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environnment

Question 2

What do the interaction in ecology depend on? define them

Answer 2

Biotic factors- other organisms in the evironnment
Abiotic factors- physical and chemical properties of the environnement

Question 3

Define biosphere

Answer 3

gobal ecosystem = sum of all ecosystems and landscapes

Question 4

What causes upwelling in lakes? What is the consequence?

Answer 4

Cause: strong winds displace the surface water and bring the nutrient- rich water at the bottom to the surface.

Consequence: the nutrient-rich water stimulates the growth of primary producers like algal bloom

Question 5

What is species richness?

Answer 5

Number of species in a biological community

Question 6

What are the 3 hypotheses based on climate/evolutionary history that can explain the latitudinal gradient in species richness:

Answer 6

1. Tropical latitudes receive more solar energy than temperate zones –> enough energy for everyone
2. Increased competition leads to small niche which leads to increased specialization and ressource partionning which increases diversity
3. Lower extinction rates in the tropics because the temperate zones were distrubed because of the vulnerability to glaciation

Question 7

Are speciation rates increased in temperate or tropical latitiudes?

Answer 7

Increased in tropical latitudes

Question 8

What is a generalist?

Answer 8

Species that thrive in a wide variety of envrionmental conditons and have a varied diet
Ex- raccoon, bear

Question 9

What is a specialist?

Answer 9

Species that thrive only in a specific range of environmental conditions and use specific ressources.
Ex-koala only feed on eucalyptus

Question 10

Define acclimatization

Answer 10

Short term and reversible physiological adjustment to environmental stresses to lessen their effect

Question 11

Why do we observe more animal species near the tropics comparate to temperate zones?

Answer 11

Because the tropics are undisturbed for a longer period of time resulting in reduced extinction rates and increased speciation rates.
Also the tropics receive more solar energy

Question 12

Difference between adaptation and acclimatization?

Answer 12

Adaptation: Occurs over generations and is a group of organisms

Acclimatization: Occurs temporarly to one organism