Acadec 2026-2027 SCIENCE: Section 4 (Crammable)
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101 Terms
What is migration?
Act of animals moving from one region to another
How often do migrating animals travel?
Specific seasons, multiple times a year, or once per lifetime
What distinguishes migration from dispersal?
Migrating animals move in predictable ways and make return journeys
What is dispersal?
Animals leaving to find new territory away from where born
Why do many animals disperse?
Avoid inbreeding and competition for food or mates
When did migratory behavior evolve in bird species?
Over 250,000 years ago
Why did migratory behavior evolve?
Evolved slowly due to climate change and increased competition
Is migratory behavior genetic?
Partially genetic, driven by biological clocks
Where is migration rare?
Near the equator
What environments favor migration evolution?
Environments with dramatic seasonal changes
What is an obligate migrator?
Animal that must migrate as part of its life cycle
What happens if an obligate migrator cannot migrate?
It will die or fail to reproduce
What dictates the timing of obligate migration?
Strong genetic predispositions
What is a facultative migrator?
Animal that chooses to migrate depending on local conditions
Where do facultative migrators usually travel?
Temperate regions with favorable year-round temperatures
What do facultative migrators rely on for migration decisions?
Current environmental conditions rather than instincts
What did Aristotle believe about the barnacle goose?
Spawned from gooseneck barnacles
Why did Aristotle form his theory on barnacle geese?
Geese lacked visible local nests and bred far north
How did terrestrial species migration shape human history?
Guided human migration paths prior to animal domestication
What method helps plot modern migration patterns?
Satellite tracking and catch-and-release recording
What is partial migration?
Individuals choose to travel partial distance or avoid migrating entirely
Why is partial migration common?
Ensures population survival if migratory individuals die
What is a resident animal?
Animal choosing not to migrate despite species tendencies
What factors influence resident behavior?
Age, health, current resources, and weather
How does the arctic tern save energy during migration?
Effortlessly glides between North and South Poles
Why do migratory birds travel to warmer climates?
Access protein and calcium-rich insects for egg laying
How does migration benefit plant life in home habitats?
Exploits seasonal resources, allowing plant life to replenish
How do large groups benefit migrating animals?
Large group numbers intimidate potential predators
What social benefit does migration provide?
Increases opportunities for social learning
Where does the northern elephant seal migrate to mate?
US West Coast beaches
Why do northern elephant seals give birth on beaches?
Beaches are devoid of predators for young
How do migrating animals benefit local ecosystems?
Provide key food sources and fertilize soil
How do bats and birds increase plant biodiversity during migration?
Carry pollen and seeds across regions
How do hooved animals alter soil during migration?
Fertilize soil with droppings and clear brush
What physical cost does migration require?
Significant energy and higher cognitive or physical strength
How do male garden warblers conserve energy during migration?
Shrink organs including testes
By how much do male garden warbler testes grow at breeding sites?
Over 300%
What risk do obligate migrators face from harsh weather?
Must migrate regardless of poor conditions
Why do facultative migrators handle unpredictable weather better?
Can choose to stay if weather is harsh
What happens if crowned sparrows migrate too early?
Lose mating opportunities and fat stores
What happens if crowned sparrows migrate too late?
Get caught in severe snowstorms
Where do crowned sparrows breed?
Sierra Nevada Mountains and Alaska
Where do Chinook salmon return to breed?
Original freshwater river where born
What triggers reproductive organ maturation in migrating animals?
Hormone cycles
What environmental cue indicates seasonal change?
Shortening daylength
What is the most stable directional cue for migrating animals?
Earth's magnetic field
How do solar flares impact bird migration?
Disrupt magnetic fields, sending birds temporarily off course
What is magnetoreception?
Hypothesis that animals perceive magnetic fields through organs or neurons
What material in bird beaks aids magnetoreception?
Iron-containing material
What is a quorum response?
Probability of behaving based on numbers already acting
How does a quorum response benefit migrating groups?
Allows assessment of environment and cohesive movement
What is an olfactory cue?
Odor molecule representing something of specific importance
How do olfactory cues help migrating animals?
Locate food, rest stops, mates, and offspring
Do any animal species migrate underground?
No
Why do pronghorns travel south during winter?
Avoid deep snow
What is the pronghorn's main predator evasion strategy?
Running
What is the largest overland animal migration?
Great Nile migration of six million antelopes
Where does the great Nile migration occur?
South Sudan
How do antelope droppings benefit soil during overland migration?
Fertilize soil for new plant growth
What is the shortest land migration species?
Dusky grouse
How far do dusky grouse travel during spring migration?
About 30 miles
What do dusky grouse feed on during high-elevation winters?
Fir needles
Where do adult American eels travel to reproduce?
Sargasso Sea
Who discovered the American eel breeding location in 1921?
Johannes Schmidt
What did Johannes Schmidt identify as the eel spawning ground?
Sargasso Sea
How long can American eels live before returning to spawn?
More than 50 years
What happens to adult American eels after spawning in the Sargasso Sea?
They die
What are glass eels?
Larval stage of eels traveling to coasts
What is diel vertical migration?
Nightly migration of aquatic animals to the surface
Why do small aquatic animals hide in deep water during daylight?
Avoid surface predators in open ocean
What is the biological carbon pump?
Process trapping atmospheric carbon deep underwater
Where do humpback whales travel during summer months?
North and South Poles to feed
How far can migrating humpback whales travel per day?
100 miles
Where is the resident non-migratory population of humpback whales?
Arabian Sea
What extinct bird migrated in sun-blocking flocks in the late 1800s?
Passenger pigeon
How far does the ruby-throated hummingbird fly nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico?
Over 500 miles
How long is the ruby-throated hummingbird's nonstop flight?
20 hours
How do ruby-throated hummingbirds prepare for long flights?
Double their body mass
What causes desert locusts to transform into swarming form?
Scarce resources and physical bumping against each other
In what year did desert locusts cross the Atlantic Ocean on wind currents?
1988
Why do Canada geese fly in a V-shaped formation?
Conserve energy during seasonal flight
Why have some Canada geese stopped migrating?
Human alterations of environment provide year-round resources
Which species is studied for genetic links to migratory behavior?
Eurasian blackcap
What biological functions do migration genes regulate in Eurasian blackcaps?
Circadian rhythms and immune system responses
What body characteristic distinguishes long-distance bird migrants?
Larger bodies
How do older adult animals differ from younger animals during migration?
Take more direct routes
What is HIREC?
Human-Induced Rapid Environmental Change
How does ocean warming impact aquatic habitats?
Plant overgrowth and reduced oxygen levels
How does light pollution harm green sea turtle hatchlings?
Artificial lights disorient hatchlings moving toward ocean
Where do female green sea turtles return to lay eggs?
Exact beach location where born
How do fences affect terrestrial animal migration?
Block pathways and trap migrating wildlife
How do animal bypasses aid migrating species?
Provide land bridges over highways
Why are ports reducing ship speeds near coastlines?
Prevent collisions with migrating whales
What is an invasive species?
Artificially moved animal that thrives without returning
Why do invasive species outcompete native wildlife?
Lack natural predators in new habitat
Where is the Burmese python an invasive threat to migratory birds?
Florida
When were feral hogs introduced to North America?
1500s
How many diseases can feral hogs pass on?
30 different diseases
What is the average human death toll from feral hog attacks in the US?
8.6 deaths per year
How do agricultural regions prevent fruit-borne invasive species?
Ban non-commercial border transport