BIO 001: Introduction to Biology: Evolution and Ecology - Allocation and Trade Offs

Flashcards based on lecture notes covering the principle of allocation, trade-offs, reproductive strategies, and survivorship curves in the context of biology.

What is the principle of allocation in biology?

It states that each organism has limited resources that can be distributed among various life functions such as reproduction, growth, and metabolic functions.

What are trade-offs in ecological terms?

Trade-offs occur when resources allocated to one function cannot be applied to another, resulting in choices that benefit one aspect of an organism's life at the expense of another.

What is semelparity?

Semelparous organisms are those that reproduce once and then die.

What is iteroparity?

Iteroparous organisms are those that reproduce multiple times throughout their lives.

What factors do organisms consider for trade-offs in life history strategies?

They consider factors such as growth size, timing of reproduction, number and size of offspring, and parental investment.

What does r-selection refer to in ecology?

R-selection refers to a strategy where organisms produce many offspring with low parental care, typically in unpredictable environments.

What does K-selection refer to in ecology?

K-selection refers to a strategy where organisms produce few offspring but invest heavily in their care, typically in stable environments.

What are survivorship curves?

Survivorship curves represent the number of individuals surviving at each age, showing patterns in life expectancy and mortality.

How does the number of days since watering affect root:shoot ratio in plants?

As the number of days since watering increases, unwatered plants will invest more resources in roots, which will increase the root:shoot ratio.

Which type of survivorship curve describes species that have most individuals survive to old age?

Type I survivorship curve.