BIO 1102 Exam 1

Sustainable development

Development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Anthropogenic

Caused by or related to human activity

Characteristics of sustainable ecosystems

• Rely on renewable energy

• Recycle matter

• Have population control

• Depend on local biodiversity

Anthropocentrism

A human centered worldview were only humans have intrinsic value and resources are here to meet humans needs and wants

• ex: hunting, farming, timber, and fishing.

Hypothesis

Testable statement that explains a phenomenon or a set of observations

Process of science

1. Observe/ask questions

2. Develop hypothesis

3. Test hypothesis

4. Analyze data

5. Conclude and communicate

Scientific theory

Well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences, and tested hypotheses

Experimental study

Manipulate conditions, comparing response in test group to response in group not manipulated

Observational studies

Collect data without manipulating conditions

Observational

What type of study was carried out to understand the white-nose syndrome disease in bats?

Independent variable

The variable in an experiment that researcher manipulates

Dependent variable

The variable in an experiment evaluated to see if it changes due to an independent variable (Cause and effect)

Control group

The group that is not manipulated with the variable of interest.

• A baseline that helps isolate other variables & hidden factors

Misinformation

Misleading information created/distributed without malicious intent

Disinformation

Dishonest information designed to confuse or manipulate

Evaluating sources

• Authority

• Purpose

• Publication format

• Relevance

• Date of publication

• Documentation

Scholarly source

Experts such as researchers and practitioners that provide specific and in-depth information

• Includes citations and peer reviewed manuscripts

Popular source

Generalist like staff writers and bloggers

• their information is broader and easier to read

Primary source

Created during or after event by participant

Secondary source

Interpret/analyzes historical event or phenomenon

Ecology

Study of how organisms interact with one another and their surrounding environment

Biotic

Living components of the environment

Abiotic

Nonliving components of the environment

Levels in organization of life

• Individual

• Population

• Community (All the population)

• Ecosystem (portion of the bio)

• Biome (Distinct climate)

• Biosphere (Earth)

Species

Group of organisms with high degree of similarity, can share genetic material through interbreeding

Sun, Energy flows in one direction while matter is an ongoing cycle

How does energy move through most ecosystems? How is the movement of matter different from the movement of energy?

Temperature and precipitation

Which two abiotic factors are used to characterize terrestrial biomes on earth?

Temperate forest

Georgia in the southeastern US in general lie within which biome type?

Piedmont and Coastal plain

Location of the two largest physiographic provinces in Georgia

Fall line

Augusta, Macon, and Columbus

Photosynthesis

Plants use sun to turn CO2 & H2O= glucose & O2

• base of food chain

• produces oxygen to breathe

Carbon cycle

trees produce carbon while decomposers & animals consume

• humans fossil fuels release stored carbon

Nitrogen cycle

moves through fixation which turns air N into usable forms

• humans use synthetic fertilizer adding more N into ecosystem

Population ecology

All individuals of a species living in the same geographic area

• range: Geographic area, where the species or population can be found

Low population

• Lack normal social behavior

• Struggle finding mates

• Less genetic diversity

High population

• Disease spreads

• Food supply decreases

• Social behaviors breakdown due to overcrowding

Exponential growth

population size become progressively larger after each breeding cycle

• curve shape (slow at first)

• few individuals start new population

Logistic growth

Initial rapid growth then slows carrying capacity (k)

• s curve

• stabilizes near the carrying capacity

R selected species

prey with little parental care that uses many habitats and adapt to unstable environments

• short life

• rapid growth

• early maturity

• many small offspring

K selected species

predators with high parental care that need specific habitats and adapt to stable environments

• long life

• Slower growth

• late maturity

• Few large offspring

Community ecology

study of all species living and interacting in an area

Food chain

simple, linear path starting from primary producer up through consumers

Food web

linkage of all food chains together; shows connections in the community

Food web Primary producers

Plants, Algae, or plankton

Food web consumers

Apple snail, red belly turtle, mice, shrimp, and insects

Tropic Pyramid

?

Keystone species

a species that has a large effect on the ecosystem

• ex:

• tortoise & alligator provide shelter by burrowing

• wolf helps elk tree growth

• sea otters eat sea urchins which protects kelp

• and beavers build dams that turn into wetlands

Reduced overgrazing, beavers and grizzly bears

How did wolf restoration in Yellowstone affect the broader ecological community in the region, including examples of two species and indirectly affected?

Disrupted the wet-dry cycle preventing the summer flooding that left food. Nests were also flooded

How does human use of water impact the Woodstork population in the Everglades?

Selective pressure

A change in the environment that favors certain heritable traits over others influencing which individual survive and reproduce

Fitness

The ability of an individual to produce viable offspring

4 postulates of natural selection

1. Individual organisms in a population vary traits

2. Some trait differences are heritable

3. More offspring are produced in a generation then can survive

4. Individuals with certain heritable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce

Level of operation

Natural selection operates at the level of the individual. evolution occurs at the level of the population.

Evolution would generally proceed faster in r-selected species since the rate of evolution depends partly on generation time and these species have shorter generation times

In general, how would we expect evolution to proceed for r-selected or k-selected species and why?

Endemic species

A species found only in a particular geographic area

• Because their range is limited, these species face higher extinction risk from habitat loss

Ordovician, Devonian, Permian, Triassic, and Cretaceous.

How many previous mass extinction events on earth have been recognized by scientists?

Human causes rather than geological ones

What is the major way current events would differ from the previous ones? (extinction)

Biodiversity

The wide variety of life on earth it has three components

• Genetic

• Species

• Ecosystem (non living environments)

Instrumental value

an object or species worth based on its usefulness to humans

Intrinsic value

Objects or species worth based on its mere existence

Ecosystem services

Benefits humans & derives from functioning ecosystems

• Provisioning

• Regulating

• Cultural

• Support

Biodiversity hotspots

Areas with a high concentration of endemic species that have lost a significant percentage of their habitat

• North America Coastal Plain (Maine, Texas, and New Mexico)

Natural forest

High biodiversity and is home to over 15% of the world’s bird, reptile, and amphibian species

• Strong ecosystem services, like water purification, erosion control, and carbon storage

Plantations

Low biodiversity with only one tree species and about half of the bird species

• Weaker and harmful ecosystem that is prone to flooding, sediment, pollution, and carbon release

Clearing forest for urban development

What are examples of activities that lead to habitat, destruction, or degradation ?

Top deforestation causes

Pastor expansion for beef counts for 41% while Cropland expansion for oil seeds (soybean & palm oil) is 18.4%