Shared Flashcard Set

Details

BIO 110.4
Ecology and Populations
56
Biology
Undergraduate 1
12/10/2009

Additional Biology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Define Ecology
Definition
The study of interactions between biotic organisms and between organisms and their abiotic environment.
Term
Define biotic
Definition
Living
Term
Define abiotic
Definition
Non-living
Term
What defines an organismal interaction?
Definition
The organism's physiology, anatomy, and behavior.
Term
Define population.
Definition
A group of members of the same species in the same area capable of interacting.
Term
Define Community.
Definition
All the populations of a given area that are able to interact.
Term
Define ecosystem.
Definition
Community along with all the abiotic factors.
Term
Define landscape ecology.
Definition
A mosaic of interconnected ecosystems where there is an exchange of nutrients, energy, and organisms.
Term
Define biome.
Definition

Major type of ecosystem that covers a wide geographic area that is classified by the predominant plant life.

 

Examples: Rainforest, Coral Reef, Desert, Boreal Forest...

Term
Define biosphere.
Definition
The entire planet's ecosystem combined.
Term
Define herbivory and discuss the benefits and/ or harm caused to each organism.
Definition

Plants being fed upon. The herbivore benefits while the plant is harmed.

 

[image]

Term
Define predation and discuss the benefits and/ or harm caused to each organism.
Definition

One or more prey being killed and consumed. The predator benefits and the prey is harmed.

 

[image]

Term
Define parasitism and discuss the benefits and/ or harm caused to each organism.
Definition

The host is fed upon, but is not usually killed. The parasite gains the benefit and the host is harmed.

 

[image]

Term
Define parasitoidism and discuss the benefits and/ or harm caused to each organism.
Definition

One host is killed and consumed in the development of the parasitoids. The parasitoid gains the benefit, and the host is harmed.

 

[image]

 

Term
Define endoparasite.
Definition

A parasite which feeds from the inside.

 

[image]

Term
Define ectoparasite.
Definition

A parasite which feeds from the outside.

 

[image]

Term
Define competition and discuss the benefits and/ or harm caused to each organism.
Definition

Interaction that occurs between 2 organisms when a required resource is in limited supply. Both organisms are harmed.

 

[image]

Term
Define mutualism and discuss the benefits and/ or harm caused to each organism.
Definition

An interaction in which both species gain a benefit.

 

[image]

 

 

Term
Define commensalism and discuss the benefits and/ or harm caused to each organism.
Definition

An interaction in which one party benefits, and the other party is not harmed, but does not gain any benefits either.

 

[image]

Term
Define symbiosis.
Definition

An intimate interaction between 2 species that live in direct contact with one another.

 

[image]

Term
What are some herbavore adaptations to reduce predation?
Definition
Spines/ Claws/ Teeth, Cryptic Coloration (Camouflage), Startle Response colors, incorporating toxins from plants, aposomatic (warning) coloration, mimicry.
Term
What are some plant adaptations to reduce herbivory?
Definition
Thorns/ Spines, and Chemicals
Term
What is batesian mimicry?
Definition
Well-protected model and harmless mimic.
Term
What is Mullerian mimicry?
Definition
Both parties protected and mimic each other.
Term
Define intraspecific competition
Definition
Competition between individuals of the same species.
Term
Define interspecific competition
Definition
Competition which occurs between members of 2 different species.
Term
Define habitat
Definition
Set of environmental conditions that characterize where an organism is found.
Term
Define niche
Definition
Functional role of an organism in its ecosystem
Term
Define competitive exclusion
Definition
When competition is so severe that the more efficient species drives the other to localized extinction.
Term
Define resource partitioning
Definition
The splitting of a niche to reduce competition.
Term
Define keystone species
Definition
A species which exerts a very strong control on community structure despite not being very abundant.
Term
Define ecological sucession
Definition
Species compsition of a community changes over time.
Term
What are the two types of ecological sucession?
Definition
Primary: No organisms and no soil exists.

Secondary: Ecosystem is not completely destroyed, the soil is left in tact.
Term
What are the two rules of an ecosystem?
Definition
An ecosystem is open to energy, but closed to matter.
Term
Define biomass
Definition
Mass of the biologically important molecules (AKA no water).
Term
What is a calorie?
Definition
The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one ml of water one degree C.
Term
Define production efficiency
Definition
The percentage of energy assimilated into new tissue rather than being given off as waste or being used for cellular respiration.
Term
What is the equation for finding the production efficiency?
Definition
Amount of new tissue / New tissue + Cellular respiration
Term
Define biological magnification
Definition
Movement of toxins up the food chain becoming more concentrated at each suceeding trophic level.
Term
What are the biogeochemical cycles?
Definition
Circuit of molecules that move between the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem.

Examples: The water cycle, nitrogen cycle, carbon cycle, and phosphorus cycle.
Term
Define evapotranspiration
Definition
The loss of water through a leaf's stomata.
Term
Define exponential growth.
Definition
The growth of a population where there are absolutely no limits.
Term
What is the equation for exponential growth?
Definition
N x Rmax
Term
What is Rmax?
Definition
The intrinsic rate of growth (maximum births - minimum deaths).
Term
What are the life history characteristics?
Definition
1. Age of 1st reproduction
2. Number of offspring per event
3. Number of times organism reproduces
4. Parental Investment
Term
Define semelparity
Definition
Reproduce once right before you die.
Term
Define iteroparity
Definition
Multiple reproductive events during a lifetime.
Term
Define carrying capacity. What is the variable used to symbolize this?
Definition
Maximum stable population size an ecosystem can support for an extended period of time without any degradtion. Denoted with the variable K.
Term
What are the density dependent population regulating factors?
Definition
Predation, Competition, Parasitism, Parasitiodism, Disease, and Pollution.
Term
What is the equation for the percentage of space available in an ecosystem?
Definition
(K-N)/K
Term
What is the equation for logistic growth?
Definition
Rmax x N x [(K-N)/K]
Term
What are the 3 possible outcomes for a population which exceeds K?
Definition
1. The population will decrease until steady along the old K. (No damage to environment, it can support the same number of individuals).

2. The population will drop and level off at a new K value. (Damage to the enviroment, it can no longer support as many organisms.)

3. Localized extinction. (Environment was destroyed).
Term
What are the r-selected adaptations?
Definition
1. Little parental investment
2. Lots of offspring
3. Semelparous
4. Type III survivorship curve (most young die)
5. Lower competitive ability
6. Exist in a new/ disturbed environment.
Term
What are the K-selected adaptations?
Definition
1. Lots of parental investment.
2. Lower number of offspring.
3. Iteroparous
4. Type I survivorship (Most live to old age).
5. Higher comptetitive ability.
6. Exist in stable/ established environments.
Term
What are the density independent population regulating factors?
Definition
Weather and natural disasters, these determine the K value for a population.
Term
What are some examples of inverse density dependent population regulating factors?
Definition
The higher the density, the more likely the population is to survive. Fish schools, wolf packs, etc.
Supporting users have an ad free experience!