Week 1 Learning objectives Flashcards
What is the definition of Ecology?
The study of biotic and abiotic interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms
What is the Ecological hierachy?
Because Literally Every Company Specifically Produces Oranges
Biosphere, Landscapes, Environment, Communities, Species, Populations, Organisms
What are the 10 broad steps in conducting Ecological studies?
Observation - The question - Hypothesis - Prediction - Design experiment - Collection/Analysis of data - Comparing prediction to data - Answer - Further testing
What is the definition of a biological hot spot
A bio-geographical region with significant levels of biodiversity that is under threat by humans.
Examples, Southwest Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Madagascar
What are some of the factors that influence local ecology
The climate, Isolation, and the stability (Natural - eg Volcanoes, floods) of the landscape, and also the level of disturbance via grazing herbivorie, Humans, fires.
What are the global influences on global ecosystems
Temperature and moisture are the two key features that have influence over the global ecosystems, mainly in terrestrial habitats
Why is there few rules and laws in the ecological field
Due to there nearly always being an exception to rules and laws that are put in place
What is the definition of a geographic range size
The area in which types of species will be found. These can be between a narrow or widespread geographical range.
What is a narrow geographical range, and what can it tell us about an organism?
A restricted location in which an organism can be found, due to these organisms typically being specialists.
What is a widespread geographical range, and what can it tell us about an organism?
Organisms that can be found in a large range of locations, tending to be common at any one place. Generalists
What is Rapoport’s rule?
That organisms geographical range sizes correlates with latitude. Typically high species richness include species with small latitudinal ranges.
What latitudes are more affected by the climates influence.
Higher latitudes (temperate, polar) greater influence. Lower latitudes (tropics) Less influence.
What are the factors in order that limit distribution?
Dispersal - Behaviour - Biotic - Abiotic
What is jump dispersal? Risks and Benefits?
Organisms like rats that can “jump” large areas to reach new suitable habitats (island jumping).
What is diffusion dispersal? Risk and Benefits?
Organisms that spread out from the original source at a steady rate. (Some plants)
