Ecology exam (Lock in gang omg)

Ecology

The scientific study of interactions between organisms and their biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) environment:

Relies on systematic observation and empirical testing

How does science work?:

Trial and Error

Unstructed experimentation without a guiding model:

Intuition

Personal belief or gut feeling without empirical evidence:

Divine Revelation

Truth derived from spiritual or religious authority rather than observable evidence:

Observation, Hypothesis, Experimentation, Conclusion, Generalization

What are the five steps to The Scientific Method?:

Observation

Noticing patterns or phenomena in nature:

Working & Experimental

What are the two types of Hypothesis’?:

Working Hypothesis

Conceptual framework explaining why a pattern occurs:

Experimental hypothesis

A specific, testable prediction derived from the model:

Variables, Design, Type

What are the parts of an experiment?:

Independent, Dependent, Confounding

What are the types of variables?:

Independent

Variable manipulated by the experimenter (X - axis):

Dependent

Response variable measured by the experimenter (Y-axis):

Confounding

Uncontrolled variable that corrolates with the independent variable, distorting the results:

Sample size & Independence

What are the two parts of design consideration in experimentation?:

Sample size

Must be sufficiently large t minimize rnadom sampling error:

Independence

Individual samples must not influence on another:

Observational & Controlled Manipulative

What are the types of experiments?:

Observational

Quantifies patterns without direct manipulation:

Controlled Manipulative

Manipulates independent variables directly with randomly assigned treatments:

Conclusion

The experimental hypothesis is support or rejected:

Generalization

Extending conclusions to broader texa r geographic areas (only valid if conditions and biological mechanisms are comparable):

DNA

Double-helix molecule carrying genetic information:

Guanine(G) & Cytosine(C), Adenine(A) & Thymine(T)

What are the base pairs and there pairings?:

Codon

Three-base nucleotide sequence coding for a specific amino acid:

Gene

Functional sequence of DNA coding for a polypeptide or functional RNA:

Chromosome

Threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein carrying genetic information:

Diploid and Haploid

What are the two types of ploidy?:

Diploid

(2n) Two copies of each chromosome (somatic cells):

Haploid

(n) Single copy of each chromosome (gametes/sex cells):

Locus

Specific physical location of a gene on a chromosome:

Allele

Alternative form of a gene found at a specific locus:

Homo and Heterozygous

What are the two forms of Zygosity?:

Homozygous

Possessing identical alleles at a locus (AA or aa):

Heterozygous

Possessing two different alleles at a locus (Aa):

Genotype

Complete genetic makeup of an individual:

Phenotype

Observable physical or physiological traits resulting from genotype-environment interaction:

Gene pool

Sum of all alleles across individuals within a population:

Discontinuous and Continuous variation

What are the two types of genetic variation?:

Discontinuous variation

Categorical traits controlled by one or few genes (e.g., Mendel’s smooth vs. wrinkled peas; ABO blood types):

Continuous variation

Quantitative traits controlled by multiple polygenic locus interactions and environment, displaying a bell curve distribution (e.g., plant height, body mass):

Nonsexual & Sexual Sources

What are the two sources of variation?:

Mutations (Micro-mutation. Macro-mutation, Chromosome copying errors)

What are the types of nonsexual sources?:

Micromutation

Point mutation affecting a single nucleotide base pair:

Macromutation

Large-scale alteration in chromosome structure or number:

Inversion, Translocation, Duplication, Deletion

What are the types of chromosome copying errors?:

Inversion

180° reversal of a chromosome segment:

Translocation

Movement of a chromosome segment to a non-homologous chromosome:

Duplication

Extra copy of a chromosome segment produced:

Deletion

Loss of a chromosome segment:

Recombination, Crossover, Meiotic Drive, and Gene flow

What are the types of sexual sources?:

Recombination

Novel combinations of existing alleles produced during gamete formation:

Crossover

Physical exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis:

Meiotic drive

Preferential inheritance of a specific allele during gametes production:

Gene flow

Transfer of alleles between populations via migration:

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

Acts as a null model in population genetics. If allele frequencies are designated as p and q ($p + q = 1$), genotypic frequencies remain constant across generations according to:

p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1:

Panmictic population, Infinitely large population size, Closed population, No mutations, No natural selection

What are the five HWE assumptions?:

Evolution, Fitness, Natural selection

What are the three violations of HWE?:

Evolution

A change in the allele or genotypic frequencies of a population over time:

Fitness

Relative contribution of a phenotype/genotype to the gene pool of subsequent generations:

Natural selection

Differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype:

Stabilizing, Directional, Disruptive selection

What are the three modes of selection?:

Stabilizing selection

Favors intermediate phenotypes; reduces variance (e.g., human birth weight):

Directional selection

Favors one extreme phenotype; shifts population mean over time (e.g., antibiotic resistance):

Disruptive selection

Favors both extreme phenotypes over intermediate types; creates bimodal distribution:

Organism

An individual living system capable of carrying out life processes:

Acclimation

Reversible physiological adjustment to a single environmental factor in a controlled laboratory setting:

Acclimatization

Reversible physiological adjustment to multiple natural environmental factors under field conditions:

Heat

Thermal energy transferred between systems (measured in Joules or Calories):

Temperature

Measure of the average kinetic energy of molecules in a system (°C or K):

Van’t Hoff’s Rule

Rate of biological chemical processes roughly doubles or triples for every 10°C rise in temperature ($Q_{10} \approx 2\text{--}3$):

Radiation, Conduction, Convection, Evapotranspiration

What are the four modes of heat transfer?:

Radiation

Heat transfer via electromagnetic waves (sunlight, thermal infrared emission):

Conduction

Direct heat transfer between physical objects in contact:

Convection

Heat transfer between an object and a moving fluid (air or water):

Evapotranspiration

(Latent Heat) → Heat lost during liquid-to-gas phase change of water.

Heat gain

Insolation + Ambient Conduction + Minor Metabolic Heat —>

Heat gain or Heat loss?:

Heat loss (Poikilotherms)

Radiation + Conduction + Convection + Evapotranspiration (Latent Heat) →

Heat gain r Heat loss?:

Evapotranspiration & Stomata

Opening stomata releases latent heat through transpiration; closing stomata conserves water but increases heat burden:

Leaf curling, Hardening, Metabolism shifts

What are the three morphological adaptations?:

Leaf curling

Reduces exposed surface area to minimize radiative heat load:

Hardening

Biochemical adjustments (e.g., producing heat-shock proteins, altering membrane lipids) to endure extreme temperatures or freezing:

Metabolism shifts

Alternative photosynthetic pathways (C4, CAM) optimize water and heat management:

Poikilotherm & Homeotherm

Body temperature pertains to what two thermal adaptations?:

Homeotherm (Endotherms)

Constant body temperature maintained internally:

Primary heat sources

High metabolic rate supplemented by ambient heating:

Poikilotherm (Ectoderms)

Variable body temperature driven by environment:

Behavioral, Physiological, Metabolic/Dormancy

What are specific adaptations for Poikilotherms? (Endotherms):

Behavioral

Heliothermic posturing (orienting toward sun), burrowing, nocturnal activity:

Physiological

Panting, color change (darkening to absorb thermal radiation):

Shivering

Brief muscle contractions to generate localized heat → Metabolic/Dormancy:

Diapause/Dormancy

Programmed metabolic suppression to endure extreme weather conditions → Metabolic:

Small animals

High SA/V ratio. They gain/lose heat rapidly to the environment and have high mass-specific metabolic rates:

Large animals

Low SA/V ratio. They retain heat efficient due to reduced proportional surface area exposed to ambient gradients:

Bergmann’s Rule

Within a broadly distributed taxonomic clade, body size increases in colder environments (lower SA/V conserves heat):

Allen’s Rule

Animals in colder climates have shorter, stockier limbs and appendages to minimize surface area and heat loss, whereas warm-climate relatives have elongated limbs: