Ecology and Adaptations: Predator-Prey, Symbiosis, and Carnivorous Plants

What is predation?

The consuming of one organism by another.

Who is the predator in the relationship between Didinium and Paramecium?

Didinium

What happens to the prey population when there is no refuge?

The predator will exterminate the prey population and then become extinct itself.

How does refuge for prey affect predator populations?

Low prey levels will cause the predator population to decrease; prey levels will recover.

What is coevolution in predator-prey relationships?

Prey develops improved defenses and predators develop adaptations to overcome them.

What are some physical defenses plants evolve against herbivory?

Thorns, prickers, hairs, trichomes, and spines.

What is the role of silica in plant defenses?

Silica strengthens leaves, making them too difficult to mechanically break down.

What are secondary chemical compounds in plants?

Toxic chemicals that disrupt an insect's metabolism or development.

How do monarch butterflies defend against predators?

They concentrate cardiac glycosides from milkweed plants in their fat tissues.

What is mimicry in animal adaptations?

Resembling distasteful or poisonous species that exhibit warning coloration.

What is Batesian mimicry?

When a harmless species mimics the appearance of a harmful one.

What is Müllerian mimicry?

When several unrelated but poisonous species evolve to resemble one another.

Define symbiosis.

The living interactions between two organisms of different species.

What is mutualism?

A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit.

Give an example of commensalism.

Demodex folliculorum living on human skin, benefiting from feeding on sebum.

What is amensalism?

A relationship where one species is harmed while the other is unaffected.

What is parasitism?

A relationship where one species benefits at the expense of another.

What is primary succession?

Gradual change in species composition after events like glacier retreat.

What is secondary succession?

Occurs in areas where an existing community has been disturbed but some organisms remain.

What are pioneer species?

Species that colonize previously disrupted or damaged ecosystems.

Define community in ecological terms.

All the populations of different species that live together in the same area and interact.

What is primary productivity?

The amount of energy produced in a community.

What is species richness?

The number of different species in a community.

What is species evenness?

How evenly species are distributed in a community.

What is an ecotone?

A place where an environment changes abruptly.

What is an ecological niche?

All the ways an organism uses the resources of its environment.

What is interspecific competition?

Competition that occurs when two species compete for the same limited resource.

What is interference competition?

Physical interactions over access to resources.

What is exploitative competition?

Competition that occurs when species consume the same resources.

What is a fundamental niche?

The entire niche a species is capable of in the absence of competition or other biotic limitations.

What is a realized niche?

The portion of the fundamental niche a species actually occupies due to competition and other interactions with organisms.

Give an example of a species that demonstrates competition in its niche.

Chthamalus stallatus and Semibalanus balanoides.

What happens to C. stallatus when S. balanoides is removed?

C. stallatus grows deeper in the water.

What is competitive exclusion?

If two species are competing for the exact same limiting resource, the species that uses the resource more efficiently will eliminate the other species.

What occurred when P. caudatum was grown with P. aurelia?

P. caudatum always declined to extinction because P. aurelia grew much faster and used limited resources more effectively.

How do P. caudatum and P. bursaria coexist?

They reduce competition through resource partitioning.

What is resource partitioning?

When similar species coexist by utilizing different resources or habitats to reduce competition.

What is character displacement?

Natural selection favors individuals that use resources not used by other species, leading to greater fitness.

What is the primary habitat of carnivorous plants?

Swamps and bogs of both tropical and temperate environments.

Why do carnivorous plants trap insects?

To obtain nitrogen and phosphorus from the insects, as their native soil is nutrient-poor.

What percentage of nitrogen do insects contain by mass?

About 10% nitrogen.

Describe the structure of pitcher plants.

They have leaves with flattened blades and cone or vase-shaped pitcher cups.

What attracts insects to pitcher plants?

Nectar-secreting glands that produce a distinctive odor.

What prevents insects from escaping once they fall into a pitcher plant?

Waxy crystals on the walls and downward-pointing hairs.

How do sundews trap insects?

They have glandular hairs coated with a sticky substance that traps insects upon contact.

What is thigmotropism in sundews?

The contraction of glandular hairs in response to pressure, which traps the insect.

What are bladderworts and how do they trap prey?

Small plants with bladders that trap aquatic insects using a trap door mechanism.

What triggers the trap door of bladderworts to snap shut?

Four curled hairs that activate when touched by an insect.

What is the Venus flytrap's mechanism for trapping insects?

Two hairs on the blade must be touched simultaneously to trigger the snapping shut of the blades.

What happens to the insect once trapped in a Venus flytrap?

Digestive enzymes are secreted to break down the soft parts of the insect.

How does the speed of closing in a Venus flytrap vary?

It depends on the weight of the insect and the humidity in the air.

What is the role of nitrifying bacteria in carnivorous plant habitats?

They convert ammonia (NH3) to nitrites, which plants can use.

What is the significance of nitrogen-fixing bacteria for carnivorous plants?

They convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) to ammonia (NH3), a more usable form for plants.

What is the main nutritional source for carnivorous plants?

Insects provide both nitrogen and phosphorus.

What adaptations do carnivorous plants have for photosynthesis?

They contain chlorophyll and can produce their own sugar through photosynthesis.

What is the ecological significance of carnivorous plants?

They adapt to nutrient-poor environments by supplementing their nutrient intake through insect digestion.

What is the primary reproductive organ in flowers?

Stamen (male) and Pistil (female)

What is the function of sepals in a flower?

They serve as protective or photosynthetic structures.

What is the term for a cluster of flowers emerging from the peduncle?

Inflorescence

What is the swollen tip of the pedicel called?

Receptacle

What do petals collectively form in a flower?

Corolla

What is the significance of UV markings on petals?

They attract pollinators like bees.

What are the two major classes of flowering plants?

Magnoliopsida (dicots) and Liliopsida (monocots)

What is the main difference in flower parts between dicots and monocots?

Dicots have flower parts in multiples of 4 or 5, while monocots have them in multiples of 3.

What type of plants complete their life cycle in one growing season?

Annual plants

What type of plants complete their life cycle in two growing seasons?

Biennial plants

What type of plants can persist for many growing seasons?

Perennial plants

What is the arrangement of leaves called when they are attached in pairs?

Opposite arrangement

What is the function of the axillary bud?

It may develop into a flower or branch.

What is the primary distinguishing feature of dicot stems?

Vascular tissue arranged in a ring

What is the role of the vascular cambium?

It creates xylem and phloem through secondary growth.

What type of cells do cork cambium produce?

Cork cells that form bark.

What is the difference between superior and inferior ovaries?

Superior ovaries have sepals and petals attached at the base, while inferior ovaries have them attached at the top.

What do ovules develop into after fertilization?

Seeds

What is the primary characteristic of monocots regarding leaf venation?

They have parallel primary veins.

What is a major characteristic of woody stems during growth?

Growth occurs primarily in spring and summer.

What type of tissue is produced more by the vascular cambium?

Xylem tissue

What is the function of the petiole in a leaf?

It connects the leaf blade to the stem.

What is the angle between the petiole and stem called?

Axil

What is the term for the flat portion of a leaf?

Blade

What do the terms 'tracheids' and 'vessel elements' refer to?

Types of xylem conducting cells.

What is the major component of a tree trunk?

Xylem tissue

What is the term for the region between nodes in a stem?

Internode

What is the primary function of cork cells?

To protect the plant and reduce water loss.

What is the significance of annual rings in woody stems?

They indicate growth conditions and seasons.

What does above average rainfall indicate about annual rings?

Larger than normal annual ring

What does below average rainfall indicate about annual rings?

Smaller than normal annual ring

What effect does insect infestation have on annual rings?

Smaller than normal annual ring

What is the visible effect of a forest fire on annual rings?

Visible scarring in the annual ring

What are rhizomes?

Horizontal stems that grow in soil and are very close to the surface, serving as food storage.

Give examples of plants that have rhizomes.

Turmeric, Ginger, and Bamboos

What are runners in plant anatomy?

Horizontal stems that grow above ground on the surface of soil.

What are stolons?

Horizontal stems that grow below ground.

What is a tuber?

A swollen tip of a stolon that serves as nutrient storage for the next growing season.

What is the function of the 'eye' of a potato?

It is a node from which stems and roots can grow.

What is a bulb in plant anatomy?

A node on a stem surrounded by several layers of fleshy leaves that serves as nutrient storage.

What are cladophylls?

Flattened stems that do not produce any leaves and are fully photosynthetic.

What are the three regions of a leaf?

Epidermis, Mesophyll (Ground Tissue), and Veins (Vascular)

What is the role of guard cells in leaves?

They regulate gas exchange and evaporation of water.

What are the two types of mesophyll in dicot leaves?

Palisade Mesophyll and Spongy Mesophyll