Topic 2 - Migration

Question 1

Give two examples of species where the migration takes longer than their life cycle.

Answer 1

Locust

Monarch Butterfly

Question 2

What is telemetry?

Answer 2

Using satellite transmitters that encode position data on a radio signal, eg. to track bird migrations

Question 3

What is migration?

Answer 3

Movement from one habitat to another.
This may be regular movement by the same individuals between certain places.
Or may be triggered by crowding and lack of food.

Question 4

Give three reasons for migration, with example species.

Answer 4

1. migration to warmer areas to breed (humpbacks)
2. migration to warmer areas to avoid colder winter (monarchs)
3. search for sources of food (godwits).

Question 5

What are two types of drag in water?

Answer 5

Pressure drag - acts on front as move forwards

Skin friction drag - acts on whole surface area

Question 6

What are the three main global flyways?

Answer 6

o Americas
o Africa-Eurasian
o East Asia- Australia

Question 7

What are the two main categories of migration - give examples where these go and a bird species.

Answer 7

Short-distance migrants - usually fly overland, within continents, eg. across several states in the USA and Canada or within Europe, eg. Waxwings

Long-distance migrants - cross continents and their journeys often involve substantial sea crossings, eg. cuckoo

Question 8

For (natural selection) to occur, what needs to be present in a population?

Answer 8

There needs to be variation in the population.

Question 9

What is an adaptation?

Answer 9

A morphological, physiological, biochemical, developmental, or behavioural trait that gives an organism a greater ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.

Question 10

What is natural selection?

Answer 10

The differential survival and/or reproduction of organisms due to their physical attributes or phenotype.

Question 11

** What THREE criteria are needed for natural selection to occur in a population?

Answer 11

1. there must be variation in a trait
2. the trait must be genetic, ie. inherited
3. the trait must provide differential in survival and/or reproduction

Question 12

What are the 3 types of natural selection?

Answer 12

Directional
Stabilising
Disruptive

Question 13

What does polyphyletic mean?

Answer 13

It has evolved separately in different lineages

Question 14

Name a key cost of migration in birds

Answer 14

The journey itself can be fatal, due to storms and other extreme weather events

Question 15

What is zug-unruhe?

Answer 15

It is migration restlessness - a behaviour demonstrated in captive birds when they try to migrate but can’t

Question 16

What is homeostatis?

Answer 16

A suite of physiological processes that allow an organism to regulate its internal environment, even when external factors fluctuate

Question 17

What type of feedback system maintains a stable state?

Answer 17

Negative feedback will restore to the original position and maintain a stable state

Question 18

What is the difference between an endotherm and an ectotherm?

Answer 18

Endotherms (mammals and birds) can regulate their body temperature internally to keep it constant. All other animals (ectotherms) need an external heat source and can tolerate fluctuating body temperatures.

Question 19

What is the basal metabolic rate?

Answer 19

The minimal metabolic rate needed to keep basic cell and body functions working

Question 20

What is the metabolism and give two ways it might be measured

Answer 20

Metabolism is a measure of the body’s energy use per unit of time. It can be determed by the amount of oxygen used OR carbon dioxide produced in cellular respiration

Question 21

What is the thermoneutral zone?

Answer 21

In an endotherm, its the range of temperatures where the basal metabolic rate occurs, with no need for thermal regulation as the temperature is within comfortable limits (not too hot and not too cold)

Question 22

What is osmoregulation?

Answer 22

It is the regulation / conservation of water within the body

Question 23

What THREE types of compass can birds use?

Answer 23

Magnet
Sun
Stars

Question 24

How do birds navigate by the stars?

Answer 24

They respond to a star pattern that rotates around a single conspicuous star

Question 25

Give TWO ways in which the Sun is used by birds as a navigation aid

Answer 25

The position of the Sun helps with direction

The appearance of the Sun each morning helps reset the internal body clock needed to assess direction as the Sun moves across the sky

Question 26

What is morphology?

Answer 26

The study of the form and structure of organisms

Question 27

What is physiology?

Answer 27

The study of function in living things