Biology Lecture Review: Core Concepts, Lyme Disease, Ecology & Homeostasis

Flashcards covering core biology ideas, ecological concepts, Lyme disease transmission, population dynamics, species interactions, and homeostasis, based on lecture notes.

What are the four big ideas in Biology, as described in the lecture?

Evolution, Information, Energy & Matter, and Interactions.

How does 'Evolution' explain life's characteristics in Biology?

It explains the unity and diversity of life.

What does the 'Information' big idea encompass in Biology?

Genetic code, cell signaling, and regulatory systems.

What is the focus of the 'Energy & Matter' big idea in Biology?

All organisms need energy transformations, such as photosynthesis and metabolism.

What does the 'Interactions' big idea refer to in Biology?

Organisms interacting with each other and their environment.

How does Lyme disease illustrate the 'Interactions' big idea?

It involves interactions between the tick, host, and pathogen.

How does Lyme disease illustrate the 'Energy & Matter' big idea?

Through food webs and survival strategies of the organisms involved.

How does Lyme disease illustrate the 'Information' big idea?

Through the transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi.

How does Lyme disease illustrate the 'Evolution' big idea?

Ticks are adapting to climate change.

Define 'host' in the context of disease transmission.

An organism that harbors a pathogen.

Define 'vector' in the context of disease transmission.

An organism that transmits a pathogen from one host to another.

Identify the common hosts for Lyme disease.

White-footed mice, deer, and humans.

What is the vector for Lyme disease?

The black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis).

What key elements should you examine when interpreting graphs and figures?

Title, axes, labels, and units.

How do you distinguish between independent and dependent variables in a graph?

The independent variable is what is tested, and the dependent variable is what is measured.

What is indicated by a graph showing Lyme disease cases versus temperature?

A positive correlation, suggesting warmer temperatures may lead to more cases.

Describe the first step of the tick/Lyme disease life cycle regarding larvae.

Tick larvae feed on small mammals, often infected mice.

What happens after ticks molt into nymphs in the Lyme disease cycle?

Nymphs feed on hosts and transmit the disease.

What is the role of adult ticks in the Lyme disease cycle?

Adults feed on larger mammals like deer.

What is the final stage of the tick reproduction cycle?

Tics reproduce and lay eggs.

What role do humans play in the tick/Lyme disease life cycle?

Humans are accidental hosts.

Define an 'organism'.

A single individual.

Define a 'population' in an ecological context.

A group of the same species in one area.

Define a 'community' in an ecological context.

Interacting populations of different species.

Define an 'ecosystem'.

A community plus the abiotic environment.

Define the 'biosphere'.

All ecosystems on Earth.

Provide an example of an organism.

One deer.

Provide an example of a population.

All deer in a forest.

Provide an example of a community.

Deer, ticks, mice, and plants.

Provide an example of an ecosystem.

A forest community plus climate, soil, and water.

Define 'biotic' factors.

Living components such as plants, predators, and pathogens.

Define 'abiotic' factors.

Nonliving components such as climate, soil, water, and temperature.

What are the seven characteristics that define living things?

Made of cells, use energy, grow & develop, reproduce, respond to stimuli, maintain homeostasis, and evolve/adapt.

List examples of biotic factors affecting ecosystems.

Predators, competition, and food availability.

List examples of abiotic factors affecting ecosystems.

Temperature, water availability, pH, and sunlight.

How does the term 'organism' apply to the tick/Lyme disease system?

One tick.

How does the term 'population' apply to the tick/Lyme disease system?

All ticks in a region.

How does the term 'community' apply to the tick/Lyme disease system?

Ticks, deer, mice, and foxes.

How does the term 'ecosystem' apply to the tick/Lyme disease system?

A Northeastern forest with ticks plus abiotic climate.

How does the term 'biosphere' apply to the tick/Lyme disease system?

Earth systems supporting Lyme ecology.

List biotic factors affecting the tick/Lyme disease system.

Deer (adult tick hosts), white-footed mice (reservoir hosts for Lyme), and predators (foxes, owls that control mouse populations).

List abiotic factors affecting the tick/Lyme disease system.

Temperature (cold winters kill ticks), humidity (ticks dry out easily), and forest cover (provides shade & habitat).

Why is Lyme disease considered a zoonotic disease?

It is transmitted from animals to humans via a vector (ticks carrying Borrelia burgdorferi).

Define 'zoonosis'.

An infectious disease that originates in non-human animals but can be transmitted to humans.

What abiotic factors influence tick survival and the spread of Lyme disease?

Temperature, humidity, precipitation, and seasonal change.

How does temperature specifically affect tick survival and Lyme disease spread?

Warmer temperatures generally lead to more tick survival.

How does humidity specifically affect tick survival?

Low humidity can lead to tick death as they dry out easily.

Distinguish between 'weather' and 'climate'.

Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate refers to long-term patterns.

Define 'biome' and give examples.

A large ecological region characterized by specific climate, flora, and fauna. Examples include Tundra, Desert, Temperate Forest, Tropical Rainforest, Savanna, and Taiga.

What factors contribute to the spread of Lyme disease?

Expanding tick ranges due to climate change, deforestation & suburbanization, and a decline in predators.

How does human outdoor activity influence the risk of Lyme disease?

It increases the risk of exposure to ticks.

What patterns do maps often reveal about tick range expansion?

Expansion from the Northeast to the Midwest and South.

How do abiotic factors determine where organisms can live?

Abiotic factors (temperature, water, sunlight) define the conditions suitable for an organism's survival and reproduction.

Provide an example of how an abiotic factor can affect a tick population and disease transmission.

Cold winters can kill ticks, which reduces tick populations and, consequently, disease transmission.

List the primary abiotic factors that affect ticks and the spread of Lyme disease.

Temperature, humidity, precipitation, seasonal variation, and forest cover.

In which biome would a tick most likely live?

Temperate forests, as they provide moist, shaded conditions.

How does the concept of biomes apply to humans versus ticks?

Humans can live across multiple biomes due to technology and culture, while ticks are restricted to moist temperate biomes.

Where is Lyme disease primarily concentrated in terms of biomes?

Temperate deciduous forests, such as those in the Northeast US.

Define the 'greenhouse effect'.

Greenhouse gases trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere, keeping Earth warmer than it would otherwise be.

Define 'global climate change'.

Long-term shifts in temperature, precipitation, and weather patterns due to rising greenhouse gases.

List key pieces of evidence for global climate change.

Rising global average temperatures, melting glaciers & polar ice, rising sea levels, shifts in plant/animal ranges, and increased frequency of extreme weather events.

What types of patterns should you look for when analyzing data?

Correlations, long-term trends, and seasonal fluctuations.

What can be predicted if atmospheric CO₂ levels continue to rise?

Global temperatures will continue to rise.

What are some significant impacts of climate change?

Species migration & extinction, ocean acidification, melting ice sheets leading to sea level rise, and the increased spread of diseases like Lyme and malaria.

How did the Industrial Revolution affect global atmospheric CO₂ concentration?

It led to a dramatic rise in atmospheric CO₂ (from ~280 ppm to >420 ppm today) due to large-scale burning of fossil fuels.

Name two significant greenhouse gases and explain how they are released.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is released from burning fossil fuels and deforestation; Methane (CH₄) is released from agriculture, landfills, and natural gas leaks.

How do greenhouse gases like CO₂ and CH₄ contribute to the greenhouse effect?

Both trap heat by absorbing infrared radiation.

How can the argument 'Climate always changes naturally' be refuted with data?

Current changes are demonstrably faster and directly linked to human CO₂ emissions.

How can the argument 'It was cold this winter, so no warming' be refuted?

Weather is short-term; climate is long-term, and global averages are steadily rising despite localized variations.

Define 'population' in ecology.

A group of individuals of the same species living in the same place at the same time.

How does the tick population relate to Lyme disease transmission risk?

The size of the tick population in a forest directly determines the transmission risk.

What is 'density' in ecological terms?

The number of individuals per unit area (e.g., 50 ticks per square meter).

Provide an example of how density affects a biotic system.

High deer density provides more food for ticks, which can lead to an increase in the tick population.

What are the key steps to interpreting figures in scientific data?

Identify axes, variables, patterns, and trends.

What prevents populations from growing indefinitely?

They are limited by resources such as food, space, water, and mates.

How do increased resources impact population growth?

More resources generally lead to population growth.

How do decreased resources impact populations?

Fewer resources lead to competition, population decline, and potentially extinction.

Describe the 'clumped' population distribution pattern.

Resources are clustered, or organisms gain safety in numbers (e.g., ticks on hosts).

Describe the 'uniform' population distribution pattern.

Organisms exhibit territorial spacing due to competition (e.g., penguins nesting).

Describe the 'random' population distribution pattern.

There is no clear pattern, often due to abundant resources or little competition (e.g., dandelions).

What are the three common patterns of population distribution?

Clumped, uniform, and random.

What are common reasons for a clumped distribution pattern?

Uneven distribution of resources or safety in groups.

What are common reasons for a uniform distribution pattern?

Competition or territoriality among individuals.

What are some methods to determine the drivers of population distribution patterns?

Field observations, resource mapping, and experiments (e.g., removing resources or competitors).

Describe a Type I survivorship curve.

Low death rates until old age (e.g., humans).

Describe a Type II survivorship curve.

A steady death rate throughout life (e.g., birds).

Describe a Type III survivorship curve.

High early death rates, with few survivors reaching old age (e.g., oysters, insects).

What life history characteristics are associated with a Type I survivorship curve?

Few offspring and high parental care (K-selected species).

What life history characteristics are associated with a Type III survivorship curve?

Many offspring and little parental care (r-selected species).

Which survivorship curve is linked to K-selected species?

Type I.

Which survivorship curve is linked to r-selected species?

Type III.

Define 'r' in population ecology.

The intrinsic rate of increase (per capita growth rate).

Define 'K' in population ecology.

Carrying capacity, which is the maximum population size an environment can support.

What is carrying capacity?

The resource-limited maximum population size that an environment can sustain.

How do r-selected species differ from K-selected species?

r-selected species produce many offspring, have short lives, and exhibit exponential growth, while K-selected species produce few offspring, have long lives, and exhibit logistic growth near carrying capacity.

What does it mean for a species to be r-selected?

It is adapted to unstable environments.

What does it mean for a species to be K-selected?

It is adapted to stable environments.

In population growth equations, what do r, K, N, and t stand for?

r = growth rate, K = carrying capacity, N = population size, and t = time.

Which population growth equation is linked to exponential growth?

dN/dt = rN.

Which population growth equation is linked to logistic growth?

dN/dt = rN((K−N)/K).