ecology notes

What does the gene pool refer to in evolutionary ecology?

The gene pool is the collection of alleles from all individuals in a population.

What is a mutation in the context of genetics?

A mutation is a random change in the sequence of nucleotides in regions of DNA that may affect a gene or control its expression.

What is recombination in genetics?

Recombination is the reshuffling of genes that occurs during DNA copying in meiosis and involves the exchange of genetic material between chromosomes.

What is genetic drift?

Genetic drift is the loss of genetic variation due to random variation.

What is the bottleneck effect?

The bottleneck effect is the reduction in genetic diversity due to a significant decrease in population size.

What is the founder effect?

The founder effect occurs when a small number of individuals colonize a new area, bringing with them low genetic variation.

What is stabilizing selection?

Stabilizing selection is when individuals with average phenotypes have a higher survival success compared to those with extreme phenotypes.

What is directional selection?

Directional selection favors one extreme phenotype over average phenotypes.

What is disruptive selection?

Disruptive selection favors extreme phenotypes at both ends, leading to potential speciation.

What does heritability refer to in evolutionary ecology?

Heritability refers to the proportion of phenotypic variation caused by genetic variation.

What is industrial melanism?

Industrial melanism is a phenomenon where industrial activities darken the environment, leading to color changes in populations.

What is fecundity in life history?

Fecundity is the number of offspring produced per reproductive cycle.

What is parental investment?

Parental investment refers to the time and energy parents devote to their offspring.

What is determinative growth?

Determinative growth is a growth pattern where an individual stops growing after reaching sexual maturity.

What is the principle of allocation?

The principle of allocation states that energy diverted to one body structure cannot be used elsewhere, leading to trade-offs.

What is sexual reproduction?

Sexual reproduction involves inheriting DNA from both parents.

What is a clone in terms of asexual reproduction?

A clone is produced asexually, sharing the same genotype as the parent.

What is the red queen hypothesis?

The red queen hypothesis posits that sexual reproduction allows hosts to evolve rapidly, potentially outpacing the evolution of parasites.

What does sexual dimorphism refer to?

Sexual dimorphism refers to the differences in physical characteristics between males and females of a species.

What is the handicap principle in sexual selection?

The handicap principle suggests that a greater handicap indicates a greater ability to offset that handicap.

What is the dilution effect in social behavior?

The dilution effect reduces the probability of predation when individuals are in a group.

What is inclusive fitness?

Inclusive fitness is the sum of direct fitness and indirect fitness benefits obtained through helping relatives.

What is a haplodiploid sex determination system?

A haplodiploid sex determination system is where one sex is haploid and the other is diploid.

What is a fundamental niche?

The fundamental niche is the range of abiotic conditions under which a species can persist.

What does the term 'endemic species' mean?

Endemic species are those that only occur in specific locations.

What is cluster dispersion?

Clustered dispersion is when individuals are grouped into high-density clusters.

What is dispersal limitation?

Dispersal limitation refers to the absence of a population due to barriers that restrict movement.