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Bio 2 Final Ecology Notes
General Ecology, Behavior, Pop. Bio, Comm. Eco., Conserv. Eco., Ecosystems
174
Biology
Undergraduate 2
12/08/2008

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Term
Ecology
Definition
Study of the interactions between organisms and the environment
Term
Biotic Factors
Definition
All organisms in the environment. Prey, Competitors, Predators.
Term
Abiotic Factors
Definition
Physical, Chemical & Geo. factors. I.E Temp. Water, Salinity, Sunlight, Rocks and Soil
Term
Introduced Species
Definition
Species which break dispersal barriers and invades other ecosystems.
Term
Habitat Selection
Definition
When individuals avoid certain habitats even when habitable and accessible.
Term
Climate
Definition
Long-term prevailing weather conditions in a particular area. Major components: Temp., Precip., Sun, and Wind.
Term
Macroclimate
Definition
Patterns on the global, regional and local level.
Term
Microclimate
Definition
Very fine patterns, such as those encountered by the community of organisms that live beneath a log (very small).
Term
Incidence of Solar Radiation
Definition
Drives global climate - temp., precip., wind & seasonality.
Term
Seasons
Definition
Earth at constant tilt (23.5)
June Solstice - North tilt towards sun
December Solstice - North tilt away from sun
Equinox - No tilt. 12 hours day night. March = September.
Term
Precipitation Patterns
Definition
Ascending moist air releases moisture (tropics).
Descending dry air absorbs moisture (arid zone).
Driven by latitude and resulting sun radiation.
Term
Topography
Definition
Study of earth's surface features. Often affects local climate.
Term
Biome
Definition
"Major" ecosystem characterized by dominant flora fauna.
Term
Aquatic Biomes
Definition
Lakes, Wetlands, Streams & Rivers, Estuaries (Sea -> river), Intertidal, Reef (Coral), Pelagic (Ocean) and Benthic (Sea/ocean floor).
Term
Abyssal
Definition
Very deep benthic. continuous cold and high pressure.
Term
Littoral Zone
Definition
Area where rooted and floating aquatic plants occur. (Lakes)
Term
Limnetic Zone
Definition
Deep waters inhabited by a variety of phytoplankton and cyanobacteria. (Lakes)
Term
Terrestrial Biomes
Definition
Tropical Forest, Savanna, Desert, Chaparral (Midlatitude coastal regions), Temperate Grassland, Temperate Broadleaf Forest, Northern Coniferous Forest (Largest), Tundra, High Mountains, Polar Ice.
Term
Classification of Terrestrial Biomes
Definition
Determined by temperature and rainfall.
Term
Population Ecology
Definition
Study of environmental influences on a population's distribution, density (size), dynamics & demography
Term
Population
Definition
Group of individuals of a single species living in the same general area
Term
Patterns of Dispersion - Influence of
Definition
Clumped - Resource availability and behavior

Uniform - Social Interactions (territoriality)

Random - Position independent of others.
Term
Dispersion
Definition
Patterns of spacing among individuals in a population
Term
Density
Definition
Number of organisms per are or per volume
Term
Obtaining Density
Definition
Census - The counting of individuals
Sample - Estimate through the gathering of small samples
Mark-recapture Method - Estimate through the recapturing of previously marked individuals.
Term
Immigration
Definition
The influx of new individuals from other areas
Term
Emigration
Definition
Movement of individuals out of a population.
Term
R-max
Definition
Intrinsic rate of increase. R-max = b - m
b = birth rate
m = death rate

Used in the equations dN/dT = R-max*N
Term
Exponential Population Growth
Definition
Assumption: Infinite resources and no environmental change. Cannot stay this way.
Term
Carrying Capacity
Definition
Symbolized as K, the maximum population size that a particular environment can sustain.
Term
Zero population growth (ZPG)
Definition
Occurs when the per capita birth and death rates are equal (rMax = 0)
Term
Logistic Population Growth Model
Definition
Per Capita rate of increase approaches zero as the carrying capacity (K) is reached.
Term
Population Dynamics
Definition
Variation in the size of populations based on biotic and abiotic factors. Very different from exponential and Logistic growth models
Term
K-selection
Definition
Associated with density-dependent selection
Term
r-Selection
Definition
Associated with density-independent selection
Term
Age Structure
Definition
Commonly graphed as "pyramids". The relative number of individuals of each age in the population.
Term
Survivorship Curve
Definition
Shows rate of survivorship for a cohort/population. (Logistic Curve)
Term
Life Histories
Definition
Traits that directly influence reproduction and survival.
Term
Semelparity
Definition
Single reproduction even prior to death. A reproductive strategy.
Term
Iteroparity
Definition
Reproduce several times during life A reproductive strategy.
Term
Trade-offs
Definition
Consequence of finite resources. Ex. Survival vs. Reproduction
Offspring # vs. offspring size - Both the size and number of offspring affect survival.
Term
Community
Definition
Assemblage of population of interacting species
Term
Fitness
Definition
Interspecific interactions affect survival and reproduction
Term
Ecologica Niche
Definition
Sum of a species' use of the biotic and abiotic resources in its environment. "Job description".
Term
Fundamental Niche
Definition
What a species would do without limits by others
Term
Realized Niche
Definition
What a species actually does (versus fundamental niche)
Term
Resource partitioning
Definition
The differentiation of niches that enables similar species to coexist. "The ghost of competition past".

("Fine, since you keep taking my food I'll go live in this tree")
Term
Character Displacement
Definition
Evolutionary divergence in some trait due to competition
Term
Competitive Exclusion Principle
Definition
Two species competing for the same limiting resources cannot coexist.
Term
Basic Resources in community ecology
Definition
Space
Food
Water
Term
Interspecific Competition
Definition
Includes competition, predation, herbivory, and symbiosis (parasitism, mutualism and commensalism)
Term
Niche Overlaps
Definition
Leads to competitive exclusion. Attempt to reach fundamental niche.
Term
Predation
Definition
# of prey versus predator is inversely related.

Predators up, prey down
Prey down, predators down
Predators down, prey up
Prey up, predators up
and so on.
Term
Cryptic Coloration
Definition
AKA Camouflage.
Term
Aposematic Coloration
Definition
Warning coloration, such as a poison dart frog. Animals with effective chemical defenses exhibit this.
Term
Batesian mimicry
Definition
A palatable or harmless species mimics an unpalatable or harmful model.
Term
Mullerian mimicry
Definition
Two or more unpalatable species resemble each other.
Term
Herbivory
Definition
Predation on plants. (OH NO!)
Term
Plant Adaptations to Herbivory
Definition
Mechanical - Such as thorns
Allelochemicals - Toxins and polymers
Semiochemicals - Attract predators of herbivores.
Term
Parasitism
Definition
A form of symbiosis where the parasite acts of a predator which derives nourishment from its host. Host is harmed in the process.
Term
Endoparasites
Definition
Parasites that live within the body of their host such as tapeworms.
Term
Ectoparasites
Definition
Parasites that feed on the external surface of a host, such as ticks and lice.
Term
Mutualism
Definition
An interspecific interaction that benefits both species (+/+)
Term
Commensalism
Definition
Interaction where one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped (+/0).

May not actually exist in nature as the other species may benefit, even if slightly.
Term
Species diversity
Definition
Function of species richness and relative abundance.
Term
Species Richness
Definition
# of different species.
Term
Trophic Structure
Definition
Feeding relationships between organisms
Term
Energetic Hypothesis
Definition
Suggests that the length of a food chain is limited by the inefficiency of energy transfer along the chain.
Term
Biomass
Definition
Total mass of all individuals in a population
Term
Dynamic stability hypothesis
Definition
Proposes that long food chains are less stable than short food chains.
Term
Dominant Species
Definition
Most abundant or have highest biomass.
Term
Keystone Species
Definition
Exert strong community control by their ecological roles. Not necessarily abundant or dominating in community.
Term
Otters as a Keystone species
Definition
Without sea otters community became a urchin barren.
Term
Disturbance
Definition
An event, such as a storm, fire, flood, drought, overgrazing or human activity that changes a community by removing organisms from it or altering resource availability.

Disturbance-adapted species have an opportunity to prosper.
Term
Ecological Succession
Definition
Sequence of community changes after disturbance. Species gradually replacing each other.
Term
Primary Succession
Definition
Ecological succession in a virtually lifeless area where soil has not yet formed, such as new volcanic islands or on rubble (moraine) left by a retreating glacier.
Term
Secondary Succession
Definition
Ecological succession in an area with intact soil, usually the aftermath of an existing community being cleared by some disturbance.
Term
Evapotranspiration
Definition
The evaporation of water from landscape plus the transpiration of water from plants.
Term
Species-area curve
Definition
The larger the geographic area of a community, the more species it has.

Assumption: All other factors (except geographic size) is "equal" between the communities being compared.
Term
Island Equilibrium Model
Definition
Island species richness depends on size, distance from mainland, immigration and extinction.

Will eventually reach equilibrium where the rate of species immigration equals the rate of species extinction.
Term
Zoonotic Pathogens
Definition
Pathogens that are transferred from other animals to humans, either through direct contact with infected animal or a vector
Term
Vector
Definition
An intermediate species which carry the pathogens from an infected animal to humans (mosquitoes).
Term
Conservation Biology
Definition
Integrates ecology, physiology, molecular biology, genetics, and evolutionary biology to conserve biological diversity at all levels.
Term
Genetic Diversity
Definition
Genetic variation within/between populations
Term
Species Diversity (Conserv. Eco.)
Definition
Variety of species in an ecosystem.
Term
Threatened Species
Definition
Species that are considered likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.
Term
Ecosystem Diversity
Definition
The variety of ecosystems in the biosphere.
Term
Endangered Species
Definition
High probability of extinction.
Term
Major Threats to Biodiversity
Definition
Habitat Degradation
Introduced Species
Overexploitation
Disruption of "interaction networks"
Term
Habitat Loss (Causes of)
Definition
Agricultural and urban development, forestry, mining and pollution.
Term
Overexploitation
Definition
The human harvesting of wild organisms at rates exceeding the ability of populations of those species to rebound.
Term
Disruption of "interaction networks"
Definition
The removal of keystone species, pollinators and/or ecosystem engineers (beavers).
Term
Minimum Viable Population (MVP)
Definition
Minimal population size at which a species is able to sustain its numbers and survive.
Term
Effective Population Size
Definition
Based on the breeding potential of a population. Required for an estimate of the minimum viable population (MVP).
Term
Steps to Conserve Biodiversity
Definition
1. Assess population status and trends
2. Study natural history
3. Develop Hypothesis
4. Experiment to find solutions
5. Apply results to management.
Term
Restoration Ecology
Definition
Attempts to restore degraded ecosystems to a more natural state.

The larger the disturbance the longer it'll take to recover.

Human activity is most devastating.
Term
Zoned reserve
Definition
An extensive region that includes areas relatively undisturbed by human activity and are used for economic gain.
Term
Biodiversity hot spot
Definition
Relatively small area with an exceptional concentration of endemic species and a large number of endangered and threatened species.
Term
Bioremediation
Definition
Use of organisms, usually prokaryotes, or fungi to detoxify polluted ecosystems.
Term
Phytoremediation
Definition
Use of plants to detoxify polluted ecosystems.
Term
Biological Augmentation
Definition
Use of organisms to add essential materials to a degraded ecosystem.
Term
Sustainable Development
Definition
Development that meets the needs of people today without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Term
Ecosystem
Definition
Biotic community and all abiotic factors with which community interacts.
Term
Ecosystem Ecology
Definition
Study of energy flow and nutrient cycling through communities and ecosystems
Term
Primary Producers
Definition
The trophic level that ultimately supports all others consisting of autotrophs.
Term
Primary Consumers
Definition
Herbivores whom consume the primary producers.
Term
Secondary Consumers
Definition
Carnivores who eat herbivores or primary consumers
Term
Tertiary Consumers
Definition
Carnivores who eat other carnivores and secondary consumers.
Term
Detritivores
Definition
AKA Decomposers. Consumers that get their energy form detritus.
Term
Detritus
Definition
Nonliving organic material, such as the remains of dead organisms, feces, fallen leaves and wood.
Term
Energy & Nutrient Dynamics
Definition
Energy is conserved but degraded to heat. Energy is lost as heat in every level of the foot chain.
Term
Primary Production
Definition
Amount of light energy converted into chemical energy by autotrophs. Sets upper limit on ecosystem complexity.

Much lost in respiration.
Term
NPP = GPP - R (Define terms used)
Definition
GPP = Gross Pimary Production
R = Autotrophic Respiration
NPP = Net Primary Production

Analogy:
GPP = Paycheck
R = Bills
NPP = Net earnings

*Only NPP is available to consumers*
Term
Gross Primary Production (GPP)
Definition
Amount of light energy that is converted to chemical energy by photosynthesis per unit time.
Term
Limiting Nutrient
Definition
The element that must be added for production to increase.
Term
Production Efficiency
Definition
The percentage of energy stored in assimilated food not used for respiration.

Production Efficiency = (Net Secondary Production) / (Assimilation of primary production) X 100%.
Term
Energy Transfer
Definition
Energy transfer between trophic level is typically only 10% efficient. Many lost in feces, heat, respiration etc.

Energy is said to flow through, not cycle within, ecosystems.
Term
Terrestrial Vs. Marine NPP
Definition
Terrestrial contribute ~2/3 of global NPP.

Marine contribute ~1/3
Term
Light Limitation
Definition
Depth of light penetration affects primary production throughout the photic zone of a ocean or lake.
Term
Aphotic Zone
Definition
Area of ocean or zone with no light penetration.
Term
Limiting Nutrient
Definition
Element, when added, increases NPP (often Nitrogen and/or Phosphorus)
Term
Eutrophication
Definition
Rapid growth of organisms (such as Cyanobacteria and Algae) with the accumulation of the limiting nutrient.

Produces many ecological impacts.
Term
Secondary Production
Definition
Amount of chemical energy in consumers' food that is converted to their own new biomass during a given time period.

Much like Primary Production but for animals

Most energy lost in feces and cellular respiration
Term
Net Secondary Production (NSP)
Definition
Amount of energy added to new biomass (In secondary productivity)
Term
Assimilation of NNP
Definition
Net Secondary Production (NSP) + Energy lost in respiration. (Does not include energy lost in feces)
Term
Trophic Efficiency
Definition
% of production transferred to next tophic level (5% - 20%)
Term
Biogeochemical Cycles (Define)
Definition
Nutrient cycles which involved both biotic and abiotic components.
Term
Biogeochemical Cycle - Water
Definition
Importance: Essential to many biochemical reactions and lifestyles.

Reservoirs: Ocean (97%)
Forms: Liquid
Key Process: Solar Radiation
Term
Biogeochemical Cycles - Carbon
Definition
Importance: Integral to all organic molecules

Reservoirs: Biomass, Atmosphere, Oceans and Fossils.
Forms: CO2
Key Processes: Photosynthesis, Respiration
Term
Biogeochemical Cycle - Nitrogen
Definition
Importance: Amino Acids, Proteins

Reservoirs: Atmosphere (N2)
Forms: NH4+, NO3-
Key Processes: Nitrogen Fixation
Term
Biogeochemical Cycle - Phosphorus
Definition
Importance: Nucleic acids, ATP, Cell membranes

Reservoirs: Sedimentary Rocks
Forms: PO4 3-
Key Processes: Erosion
Term
Behavior
Definition
Everything animal does and how it does it (e.g. learning, chemical actions, muscular action, etc.)
Term
Behavioral Ecology
Definition
Study of ecological and evolutionary basis for animal behavior
Term
Proximate Causation
Definition
"How" a behavior occurs or is modified. Generally encompasses innate behaviors and learned behaviors.
Term
Ultimate Causation
Definition
"Why" a behavior occurs in the context of natural selection. Generally encompasses foraging, mating, inclusive fitness and social learning.
Term
Fixed Action Pattern
Definition
Sequence of unlearned, innate behaviors (unchangeable)
Term
Innate Behavior
Definition
Developmentally fixed actions under strong genetic influence

Proximate Causation
Term
Kinesis
Definition
A change in activity or turning rate in response to a stimulus.
Term
Taxis
Definition
An oriented movement towards (positive taxis) or away (negative taxis) from a stimulus.
Term
Migration
Definition
A regular, long-distance change in location.
Term
Circannual Rhythms
Definition
Behavioral rhythms linked to the yearly cycle of seasons.
Term
Circadian clock
Definition
An internal mechanism that maintains a 24-hour activity rhythm or cycle.
Term
Signal
Definition
A stimulus transmitted from one animal to another.
Term
Communication
Definition
Transmission and reception of signals.
Term
Orienting (Fruit Fly)
Definition
Female releases chemicals detected by the male's sense of smell.

Male visually recognizes female.
Term
Tapping (Fruit Fly)
Definition
Male taps female's abdomen with a foreleg.
Term
"Singing" (Fruit Flies)
Definition
male extends and vibrates wings, produced a courtship song.
Term
Genetic Basis of Behavior (Presented examples of)
Definition
Social or Solitary - Roundworm
Promiscuous or Faithful - Meadow Voles
Fruitful or Fruitless - Fruit Flies
Submissive or Regressive - Rhesus Macaque
Term
Pheromones
Definition
The chemical released by communication through odors
Term
Learning
Definition
Modification of behavior based on specific experiences.
Term
Habituation
Definition
A loss of responsiveness to stimuli that convey little or no new information.
Term
Imprinting
Definition
Critical period of learning that is generally irreversible (IE Geese and their mother)
Term
Sensitive Period
Definition
A limited developmental phase when certain behaviors can be learned.
Term
Spatial Learning
Definition
The establishment of a memory that reflects the environment's spatial structure.
Term
Operant Conditioning
Definition
"Trial-and-Error" learning. Associates a behavior with a reward or punishment and either repeats or avoids that behavior.
Term
Associative Learning
Definition
The ability to associate one environmental feature (such as color) with another (such as taste)
Term
Classical Conditioning
Definition
An arbitrary stimulus becomes associated with a particular outcome.
Term
Cognition
Definition
The process of knowing represented by awareness, reasoning, recollection and judgment.
Term
Sexual Selection
Definition
Selection in relation to sex
Term
Problem Solving
Definition
Cognitive activity of devising a method to proceed form one state to another in the face of real or apparent obstacles.
Term
Promiscuous
Definition
No strong pair-bonds or lasting relationships
Term
Monogamous
Definition
One male mating with one female
Term
Polygyny
Definition
One male with many females
Term
Polyandry
Definition
One female and many males.
Term
Dimorphic
Definition
Systematic difference in form between individuals of different sexes in the same species.
Term
Agonistic Behavior
Definition
Often ritualized contest that determines which competitor gains access to a resource, such as food or mates.
Term
Intrasexual Selection
Definition
Competition between members of one sex for mates (almost always male).
Term
Intersexual Selection
Definition
Members of one sex choose mates on the basis of particular characteristics of the other sex.
Term
Frequency Dependent Selection
Definition
Fitness for each morph depends on the frequency of other morphs
Term
Altruism
Definition
Some behaviors reduce individual fitness but increase fitness of others.
Term
Inclusive Fitness
Definition
The total effect an individual has on proliferating its genes by producing its own offspring and by providing aid that enables other close relatives, who share many of those genes, to produce offspring.
Term
Kin Selection
Definition
Natural Selection that favors altruistic behavior by enhancing reproductive success in relatives.
Term
Hamilton's Rules
Definition
R * B > C

R = Degree of relatedness
B = Benefit of behavior to relatives
C = Cost of behavior
Term
Reciprocal Altruism
Definition
Altruistic behavior toward unrelated individuals.

Can also be adaptive if they return the favor.
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