ENWC201 Exam 1

Wildlife

Non-domesticated animals

Fish are sometimes not included

Definitions may vary

Conservation

“together guard”

Using our natural resources in a manner that is sustainable

Gifford Pinchot

Coined the term conservation

Ecology

“home study”

(oikos-logos)

Study of distributions, abundance and relations of organisms and their interactions with the environment

Ernst Haeckel

Coined the term ecology

Vertebrates

Those that have skeletal structures

Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish

Mammals

Have hair, mammary glands, and three ear bones

Rodents = 40%

Bats = 20%

\~5500 (965 NA)

\~1000 or 1/5 are endangered

Birds

Feathers

Passeriformes = 50%

\~9900 (2000 NA)

\~1200 or 1/8 are endangered

Reptiles

\~8200

Amphibians

\~6500

Ecosystem

A biological environment consisting all of the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving, physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water, and sunlight

Nutrients Cycle

The process by which nutrients are recycled in the environment, involving the movement and transformation of elements like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. It includes the steps of absorption, assimilation, release, and decomposition, ensuring that essential elements are continuously available for living organisms.

Carbon Cycle

Process by which carbon atoms are cycled between the atmosphere, plants, animals, and the Earth's surface. In photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) and convert it into glucose. Animals eat plants, incorporating carbon into their bodies. Respiration releases CO2 back into the atmosphere. Decomposition of dead organisms also releases CO2. Combustion of fossil fuels adds CO2 to the atmosphere.

Nitrogen Cycle

Process that describes the movement and transformation of nitrogen in the environment, involving various steps such as nitrogen fixation, nitrification, assimilation, ammonification, and denitrification.

Energy

Can never capture is or hold onto it forever

Comes from the sun

Second Law of Thermodynamics

During the transfer of heat, energy will always be lost

Energy Pyramid

A graphical representation that shows the flow of energy through different trophic levels in an ecosystem, with each level representing a different group of organisms

Energy Pyramid Levels

Apex Predators

Third Level Consumers

Secondary Consumers

Primary Consumers

Primary Producers

Community

The living part of an ecosystem

Biotic Community

Plants and animal community

Biomes

Large-scale ecosystems characterized by distinct climate, vegetation, and animal life

(deserts, temperate broadleaf)

Succession

Reset of the biome

Pioneer Community

First step in succession

Small plants

Climax Community

Final step in succession

Massive trees

Primary Succession

Occurs where no community previously existed

ex: volcanic island

Secondary Succession

Occurs where there are remnants of a previous community

Range of Tolerance

Tolerance for temperature and water availability

Generalist

have a greater range of optimal conditions than specialist

Stenothermal

narrow range of tolerance

Eurythermal

wide range of tolerance

Niche

the functional role of an organism considered in the environment in which it lives

its “job”

time of hunting, location of prey, size of prey

Competitive Exclusion Theory

No two organisms can occupy the same niche at the same time in the same place

The more similar organisms are, the more intense the competition between them

The less-fit species will have to evolve into a different niche, move to a different area, or become extinct

Natural Selection

The process that determines which individuals will pass on their genes to the next generation

Evolution

The changes that we see in the genes and characteristics displayed by successive generations of a population

Natural Selection Steps

Individuals within a species show genetic variation

Organisms reproduce many more offspring than are needed to replace the parents

Excess numbers of individuals result in a shortage of resources

Individual variation allows some a greater chance of obtaining resources, and therefore a greater chance of reproducing than others

Over time, each generation is subjected to natural selection. The percentage of individuals showing favorable variations will thus increase and those having unfavorable variations will decrease

Speciation

the production of a new species from a previously existing species

Allopatric Speciation

when organisms are separated in space, and then genetic mutation happens

Galapagos turtles

Sympatric Speciation

when new species develop in the same area, and aren’t separated by space

Extinction

the loss of an entire species

a result of natural selection, but increased by human influence

Predation

predator kills and eats another organism

Competition

two organisms strive to obtain the same limited resource

Intraspecific Competition

competition between members of the same species

Interspecific Competition

competition between members of different species

Symbiotic Relationships

Parasitism

Commensalism

Mutualism

Parasitism

one organism lives on/in another organism from which it derives nutrients to the detriment of the host

Ectoparasite

lives on surface of host

Endoparasite

lives inside the host

Commensalism

a relationship between organisms where one benefits and the other is not affected

Mutualism

both species involved in the relationship benefit, usually obligatory

Habitat

the physical and biological resources required by an organism for its survival and reproduction

food, shelter, water, and space

Food component

the energy the provides metabolic fuel for all processes, but its worth nothin you die

Shelter component

provides protection from the elements and predators

Habitat Selection

choice of setting that favor survival and reproduction

Specialist

Feeds on one certain type of food and is easy to go extinct

Generalist

Can eat about anything

Population

A group of individuals of the same species that inhabit a defined area at a specific time

Natality

The term that refers to the number of births in a population within a specific time period.

Fertility

Capability of producing offspring

Fecundity

Potential number of offspring produced by an individual over time

Production

Actual number of offspring produced in a given time

Mortality

The term that refers to the number of deaths over time in a population

Compensatory Mortality

mortality rate of a population increases to compensate for reduced numbers due to factors such as predation, disease, or resource scarcity.

Additive Mortality

The additional number of deaths caused by a specific factor, added to the baseline mortality rate. It helps measure the impact of a particular risk factor on mortality in a population.

Sex Ratio

Relative number of males and females

Polygynous

1 male for many females

Monogamous

1 male for 1 female

Age Distribution

Number of individuals of each age in a population

Dispersal

Movement to a new area

Emigration

Move out of a population

Can be due to overcrowding

Immigration

Move into a population

r - strategist

small organisms

short-lived

many offspring

limited parental care

high juvenile mortality

exploit unstable environment

K - strategist

large organisms

long lived

produce few offspring

extensive parental care

low juvenile death rate

occupy stable environments

Limiting Factors

factors that prevent unlimited population growth

Density Defendant Factors

causes higher mortality or decreased birth rate as population increases

Carrying Capacity (K)

maximum sustainable population

Irruption

an abrupt invasion of a species

Behavior

the actions or reactions of an organism in response to external or internal stimuli

Learned Behavior

Behavior that is acquired through experience

Innate Behavior

Behavior that is acquired through instinct

Circadian Rhythms

daily activity patterns of animals with a regular pattern of about 24 hours

Nocturnal

active at night

Diurnal

ative at day

Crepuscular

active at dawn and dusk

Circannual Cycles

seasonal behavioral patterns (molting, breeding, hibernation)

Migration

periodic movement from one location to another, usually in response to changing resources

Courtship

physical characteristics along with ritualized displays and behaviors to increase intraspecific recognition

Polyandry

females accosted with many males

Social Behavior

behavior directed towards, or taking place between, members of the same species

Altruism

benefiting other individuals, even to the potential detriment of themselves

Habitat Selection

choosing a habitat offering the best success

Territorial Behavior

defending an area against intrusion by others

Kin Selection Behavior

natural selection operating on the interaction between closely related cooperating individuals

Territoriality Behavior

defending land to use its resources

Thermoregulation Behavior

bundling with other animals to conserve heat

Predator Avoidance Behavior

can confuse predators to be able to flee or being in large numbers

Predator Detection

being in groups makes it easier to spot prey/predators because there are more species to locate

Biodiversity

the diversity of genes, species, and ecosystems in a region

Genetic Diversity

the number of different kinds of genes in a population or species

Species Diversity

the measure of different species present in an area

Ecosystem Diversity

the number of kinds of ecosystems present in an area