Lec 1 - Principles of Ecology - BIOL 208

Vocabulary flashcards testing key definitions, ecological organization levels, and course policies from BIOL 208 Lecture 1.

Ecology

The scientific study of interactions between and among organisms and the physical environment in a hierarchy of levels of organization (based on complexity)

Ecological systems

Individuals, populations, communities, ecosystems, landscapes, biosphere

Intraspecific Interaction

individuals of same species

Examples of Intraspecific Interaction

male vs female mating, male vs male competition, female vs offspring

Interspecific Interaction

individuals of different species

Examples of Interspecific Interaction

 carnivore vs herbivour, parasites

Most fundamental unit of ecological systems

Individual

Individual

genetically and physically discrete, boundaries separate internal processes from enviro (ex.lipid bilayer of bacteria)

How do individuals alter conditions of the environment (input and output)?

eats food (input) and releases waste (output)

True or False, Species influences the kinds of resources that are available

True

Population

group of individuals of same species living in a particular area in space and time

Why are spatial and temporal boundaries important for populations?

populations can change over time, defines limits that populations interact and reproduce, influences resource availability, mating opportunities, population dynamics (dynamic = changes)

Ex. pop of bison in AB will be different in 2020 vs 2026

What is the difference between boundaries in an individuals vs a population?

Boundaries in individuals are already established, boundaries in populations are set by scientists

Community

populations of multiple species living & interacting in a particular area and time

Ecosystem

communities interacting with physical and chemical environments through energy flow and cycling of matter

Landscape

ecosystems connected by the movement of individuals, populations, matter, and energy
ex. how nutrients move from 1 river to the next

Biosphere

All ecosystems and landscapes on Earth

At which level do we consider both organisms and the non-living environment?

Ecosystem

Why is there more biodiversity at the topics than at the poles?

Warmer, more consistent climate, high energy (solar), more water, more habitat diversity

Why can ecosystems support many plants and herbivores, but few large predators?

Ecosystems support few large predators because most energy is lost as heat and waste at each step of the food chain, leaving very little energy at the top (only 10% of energy from 1 level is passed to the next)

Energy ecosystem: plants —> herbivours —> carnivours

How do environments influence where species lives and how abundant they are?

Based on distribution and abundance of resources
ex. abiotic (climate, water, soil, sunlight)
biotic (food, competition, disease, predators)

How will a changing climate influence the number and distributions of various species?

Can alter which plants grow, food & water availability, which can influence migration, competition, rate of reproduction dynamics

What are the 5 main reasons for studying Ecology?

1. Protect biodiversity

2. Protect resources from ecosystems (food production, clean water, soil protection, carbon storage, human well-being

3. Mange natural resources sustainably

4. Prevent & understand disease transmission

5. Develop evidence informed policies