Introduction to Ecology and Ecological Disciplines

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions related to the introduction of ecology and its subdisciplines, providing a review of essential information for the exam.

What is the definition of ecology?

Ecology is the study of the relationships between organisms and the environment.

What are the hierarchical levels of ecology?

The hierarchical levels include individuals, populations, communities, ecosystems, landscapes, regions, and the biosphere.

Give an example of a subdiscipline in ecology at the individual level.

Physiological ecology or evolutionary ecology.

What is meant by 'question-driven research' in ecology?

Research designed based upon scientific questions, observations, theories, spatial/temporal scales, and research tools.

Who is Robert MacArthur and what is his contribution to ecology?

Robert MacArthur studied species coexistence and found that species utilize resources differently, allowing them to coexist.

Why are time and scale important in ecology?

They help determine how ecological processes operate and influence research outcomes.

How do species of warblers coexist in the same trees according to MacArthur's study?

They occupy different areas of trees, capture insects in different ways, and nest at different times.

What is paleoecology?

Paleoecology studies changes in ecology over geologic time, often using lake sediment to track past forest composition.

What is the significance of natural history in ecology?

Natural history informs how organisms are influenced by climate, soils, predators, competitors, and evolutionary history.

What are some proposed explanations for why zebras have stripes?

Explanations include social cohesion, thermoregulation, predation evasion, and avoidance of biting flies.

In the ecological hierarchy, what level exists between an ecosystem and a region?

A landscape, which consists of an area of land containing a mosaic of different ecosystems.

What is the primary focus of evolutionary ecology?

The study of how environmental interactions influence the evolution of populations and their adaptations.

How do paleoecologists track changes in forest composition over time?

They analyze pollen grains preserved in chronological layers of lake sediment.

Within the ecological hierarchy, which level represents the global ecosystem?

The biosphere.

Besides occupying different tree zones, how did MacArthur's warblers differentiate their niches to coexist?

They nested at different times and utilized different techniques for capturing insects.

Which subdiscipline of ecology examines the biological and physical mechanisms individuals use to survive?

Physiological ecology.