Bio 181 Unit 1: Ecology

Definition of Life

The ability of an organism to maintain homeostasis

Homeostasis

The use of energy to maintain a set of conditions inside a cell/organism different from the external environment

What does HEMP

Homeostasis, Energy, Metabolism, Proteins

What are the benefits of a high Metabolism

An organism can move, react, and grow faster

What are the harms of a high Metabolism

If there are fewer resources, an organism is more likely to die.

What are the benefits of a low Metabolism

An organism is more generalized and in general lives a longer life

What are the harms of a low Metabolism

An organism is generally less competitive

What is the normal extinction rate

100 species per year

What is the current extinction rate?

100,000 species per year

What is the current extinction event called

-The 6th Extinction

-The Anthrocene Extinction

-The Holocene Extinction

What are the early causes of the Holocene Extinction

Overhunting

What are the current causes of the Holocene Extinction

- Overhunting (#3)

- Habitat Destruction/Climate (#1)

- Introduced species and diseases (#2)

- Pollution (#4)

What is a species

A group of organisms:

- capable of interbreeding (mixing genes)

- in nature

- and producing viable and fertile offspring

What are the problems with "Capable of Breeding)

It only included breeding organisms, and means every pair would need to breed

What are the problems with "In Nature"

Very vague, as some species come into closer contact

What are the problems with "Producing Viable and Fertile Offspring"

Some members of the same species can't produce offspring.

What are the Taxonomic Levels

1. Domain

2. Kingdom

3. Phylum

4. Class

5. Order

6. Family

7. Genus

8. Species

What are the benefits of scientific names?

- Unique to each species

- Used universally

- Name does not change

What are the drawbacks of common names?

- Refers to many different species

- Different languages mean multiple names

- Some don't have names (Brown moth)

What is ecology?

The study of relationships in an environment

What is population ecology?

A subset of a species living in the same place/time

What is community ecology

All the populations in an area

What is ecosystem ecology

The community ecology with the abiotic factors

What is genetic diversity?

The variety of traits among individuals of a species

What is species diversity?

The variety of species in a habitat

What is ecosystem diversity?

The variety of habitats in an area

What is natural history?

A species description, distribution, and interaction with its environment

A species natural history is a combination of it's _____ and _____

Niche, Life History

Niche definition

How a species interacts with its environment

What is Life History

The reproductive approach of an animal

What is range?

Geographic distribution of species.

What causes a species to evolve into a new species?

When it is no longer breeding with the rest of the species

What type of species have type 1 survivorship?

K-Selected species

What type of species have type 3 survivorship

r-selected species

Mark Recapture Technique Formula

N = (M*C)/R

M= Number caught and marked

C= Number recaught

R= Number marked from second capture

Growth rate(r) equation

r = (Add-Drop)/Population

Which type of species are better at adapting?

r-selected species

What is carrying capacity?

Maximum number of individuals an environment can support indefinitely

What are density dependant factors?

Limiting factors that occur more often in high density area

What are density independent factors?

Limiting factors that can equally happen in high and low density areas

Where is the growth rate the highest?

At 1/2 of the carrying capacity

What is a community?

All the populations in a given area

What is a dominant species?

The most abundant species in a community. Usually the biomass/plants

Which species type is used to name a community?

Dominant species

What is a keystone species?

A species that has a large effect on the environment.

What types of species are usually keystone species?

Predators since they keep lower levels in check

What is an indicator species?

A species limited to a specific niche so it's presence indicates specific conditions

Succession stuff

What is intraspecific competition?

Competition between the same species

What is interspecific competition?

Competition between 2 different species

What is the competitive exclusion principle?

When 2 species are competing for the same resources one will out compete the other

What is the +/- of competition?

-/-

How to avoid competition?

Resource Partioning

Examples of resource partioning

-Feed at different times

-Feed in different locations

-Feed on different foods

What is the +/- of predation?

+/---

How much energy is lost at each trophic level?

90% is lost, 10% of energy is passed on

What are ways prey avoid predation?

-Campuflage

-Advertise Danger(Saves energy)

-Diverting Attention

-Playing Dead

-Mobbing

-Mimicking something dangerous

What is predator/prey co-evolution?

As one evolves the other will evolve as well to better match the evolution. This evolution can come with tradeoffs to the species themselves

What is an ecosystem

A community and its abiotic environment

What are deserts caused by?

Rain shadow

What is the +/- of parasitism?

+/-

What are the types of parasitism?

-Internal

-External

-Behavioral

What is the +/- of mutualism?

+/+

What is the +/- of commensalism?

+/0

What is the +/- of altruism?

-/+

What is reciprocal altruism?

Behaviors that benefit in another with the expectation to receive similar benefit in the future

What is inclusive fitness

Altruistic behavior towards a genetic relative