Ecology and Behavioral Ecology

Flashcards summarizing key concepts from the lecture on ecology and behavioral ecology.

What is Ecology?

The study of interrelationships of organisms and their environment (abiotic and biotic).

Who is considered the father of ecology?

Alexander von Humboldt.

What are the abiotic components of an environment?

Non-living components.

What are the biotic components of an environment?

Living components.

What is the difference between habitat and ecological niche?

Habitat is the place where an organism lives, while an ecological niche is the unique role of that species in its environment.

What is the Competitive Exclusion Hypothesis?

No two species can occupy the same niche at the same time, leading to competition where one will outcompete the other.

What is resource partitioning?

Species coexist in a habitat by utilizing different parts of a single resource.

What is the Law of Tolerance?

Each environmental factor has minimum and maximum levels (tolerance limits) beyond which a species cannot survive.

What does optimal foraging theory propose?

An animal seeks to obtain the most energy possible with the least expenditure of energy.

What is the purpose of communication in animal behavior?

It modifies the behavior of others and is used for various purposes like attracting mates or warning of danger.

Define altruism in terms of animal behavior.

A behavior that appears to benefit others at a cost to oneself.

What are the two main forms of sexual selection?

Intersexual selection (mate choice) and intrasexual selection (competition among the same sex).

What is innate behavior?

Behavior that is genetically programmed and can be performed without prior experience.

What is cognitive learning in animals?

The ability to solve problems with conscious thought and without direct environmental feedback.

What is imprinting?

A behavioral process where young follow the first moving object they see as their caregiver.

What does the term 'critical period' refer to in animal behavior?

A time when many animals develop species-specific patterns of behavior.

What is the concept of 'generalist' and 'specialist' in ecology?

A generalist has a broad niche, while a specialist has a narrow niche.