Animal Ecology Slides Exam 1 Study Guide (2/13/25)

Ecology

the scientific study of the abundance and distribution of organisms in relation to other organisms and environmental conditions

Biotic environment

includes other living things

Abiotic environment

includes nonliving components (temperature, precipitation, pressure, chemical, etc.)

Types of field Ecologists/ Research Ecologists

Basic Research

Agricultural Research

Types Agriculture and Food Production

Crop rotation

Nutrient management

Cover Cropping

Pest management through natural predators

Forestry

Range Management

Pest management through predator

Beer

Cheers

Explain Crop rotation

Explain Nutrient management

Explain Cover Cropping

Explain Pest management through natural predators

Explain Foresty

Explain Range Management

Explain Pest management through predator

Explain Food production: Beer

Explain Food production: Cheese

Types of Natural Resource Management

Water Resource Management

Wetland Regulation and Mitigation

Habitat management

Fisheries biology and aquaculture

Wildlife Management

Landscape architecture

Explain Resource Management

Explain Wetland Regulation and Mitigation

Explain Habitat management

Explain Fisheries biology and aquaculture

Explain Wildlife Management

Explain Landscape architecture

Does Epidemic management have anything to with ecology?

Yes:

In terms of disease ecology explain enzoonotic disease prediction

How does human health relate to ecology

microbiome

Organizational Schemes for Ecology do what?

1. Outline a hierarchical organization of ecological systems

2. Describe how organisms vary in energy acquisition relationships with other organisms

Examples of hierarchical organization

Individual -> Ecosystems -> Biosphere

Describe how organisms vary in energy acquisition relationships with others organisms

1. Autotrophic, Mixotrophic, Heterotrophic

2. Predation, Parasitism, etc.

What is the most fundamental unit of ecology?

The individual

population

Individuals of the same species living in a particular area.

Community

All populations of species living together in a particular area

Ecosystem

One or more communities of living organisms interacting with their nonliving physical and chemical environments.

Landscape

Multiple ecosystems that are connected by the movement of individuals, populations, matter, and energy

The Biosphere

All the ecosystems on Earth.

Organisms can be classified based on their sources of _____________.

Organisms can be classified based on their sources of energy

Producers (autotrophs)

an organism that uses photosynthesis to convert solar energy into organic compounds or uses chemosynthesis to convert chemical energy into organic compounds

Mixotrophs

an organism that obtains its energy from more than one source

Consumers (heterotrophs)

an organism that obtains its energy from other organisms; also known as a heterotroph

Organisms can also be classified based on how they interact with other _________________in addition to energy source

Organisms can be classified based on how they interact with other organisms.

Predator

an organism that kills and partially or entirely consumes another individual

Herbivore

an organism that consumes producers such as plants and algae

Parasites

organisms that live and feed in or on another organism, while rarely killing their hosts

Parasitoid

an organism that lives within and consumes the tissues of a living host, eventually killing it

Scavenger

an organism that consumes dead animals

Detritivore

an organism that feeds on dead organic matter and waste products that are collectively known as detritus

Decomposer

organisms that break down dead organic material into simpler elements and compounds that can be recycled through the ecosystem

Competition

an interaction resulting in negative effects between two species that depend on the same limiting resource to survive, grow, and reproduce

Commensalism

an interaction in which two species live in close association and one species receives a benefit, while the other experiences neither a benefit nor a cost

Mutualism

an interaction between two species in which each species receives benefits from the other

Symbiotic relationship

when two different types of organisms live in a close physical relationship

+ and - interactions for Predation/parasitoids

+ / -

+ and - interactions for

Parasitism

+ / -

+ and - interactions for

Herbivory

+ / -

+ and - interactions for

Competition

- / -

+ and - interactions for

Mutualism

+ / +

+ and - interactions for

Commensalism

+ / 0

Are symbiotic relationships static?

No

Can species manage costs from some symbiotic relationships?

when you heat up the ocean around coral reefs, something happens.

These dinoflagellates start to. I think it's like free radicals or something. They start to give off this stress response that's actually injurious to the body of the coral.

And so, the coral manages this cost and will eject the dinoflagellates from its tissue, resulting in coral bleaching.

Explain the studies on Red-billed oxpeckers.

A classic mutualism: Feeding on ticks benefits the mammal "host".

However, they also feed on blood and open wounds...

At the end of this chapter do you know all these terms?

• Ecology• Biotic• Abiotic• Individual• Population• Community• Ecosystem• Landscape• Biosphere• Autotroph• Heterotroph• Mixotroph• Mutualism• Commensalism• Detritivore• Competition• Predation• Parasitism

Understand this summary from chapter 1

Ecological concepts and insights are widely applied from endangered species management to cheese production. Ecological systems are organized hierarchically, from individuals to the biosphere.

Organisms gain energy in diverse ways. Biotic interactions range from mutually antagonistic to mutually beneficial. Biotic interactions are not fixed

What are terrestrial biomes categorized by?

Terrestrial biomes are categorized by major plant growth forms

Biome

a geographic region containing communities composed of organisms with similar adaptations

Tundra

the coldest biome characterized by a tree less expanse above permanently frozen soil

Boreal forest

densely populated by ever green needle-leaved trees, with a short growing season and severe winters.

Temperate rainforest

known for mild temperatures and abundant precipitation, dominated by evergreen forests.

Temperate seasonal forest

a biome with moderate temperature and precipitation conditions, dominated by deciduous trees

Woodland/shrubland

characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, a combination that favors the growth of drought-tolerant grasses and shrubs

Temperate grassland

characterized by hot, dry summers and cold, harsh winters. Dominated by grasses, nonwoody flowering plants, and drought-adapted shrubs

Tropical rainforest

a warm and rainy biome characterized by multiple layers of lush vegetation

Tropical seasonal forest

warm temperatures and pronounced wet and dry seasons dominated by trees that shed their leaves during the dry season

Subtropical desert

hot temperatures, scarce rainfall, long growing seasons, and sparse vegetation

Climate

the typical atmospheric conditions that occur through out the year, measured over many years

True or False: There is an unequal heating of Earth by the Sun.

True

Albedo

the fraction of solar energy reflected by an object

Explain seasonal heating of Earth

tilt generates seasonal variation in that solar radiation flows.

Solar Equator

The latitude receiving the most direct rays of the Sun

equator is a fixed latitude. But in terms of the area where the Earth's light density is the most intense, that area is shifting north and south over the years depending upon the tilt of the Earth's relative to the Sun.

True or False: Uneven heating of Earth fully explains biome diversity and distribution.

False: Alone, uneven heating fails to explain biome diversity and distribution.

Does Earths uneven heating relate to air currents at all?

Yes, the unequal heating of Earth drives air currents in the atmosphere.

What are two important atmospheric currents?

Polar cells

Hadley cells

Polar cells

the atmospheric convection currents that move air between 60° and 90° latitudes in the Northern and Southern hemispheres

Hadley cells

the two circulation cells of air between the equator and 30° N and 30° S latitudes

Coriolis Effect

The (apparent) deflection of an object's path due to Earth's rotation

Do smaller-scale geographic features affect regional and local climates?

Yes, smaller-scale geographic features can affect regional and local climates.

Rain Shadow

A region with dry conditions found on the leeward side of a mountain range.

Explain the Lake effect

So basically, the lake effect happens in a similar way that the rain shadow effect happens.

We have open water that's relatively warm, sending moisture up into the atmosphere.

As that air mass moves across the lake, it picks up that moisture.

As it hits the land, it starts to lift that humid air mass and lifts and we get precipitation.

Explain ocean currents

What characteristics are aquatic biomes categorized by?

flow, depth, and salinity

Freshwater wetlands

aquatic biomes that contain standing fresh water, or soils saturated with fresh water for at least part of the year and are shallow enough to have emergent vegetation throughout all depths

What are streams and rivers characterized by?

characterized by flowing fresh water.

(Picture) Lotic systems branch

What is Strahler's stream order?

Headwater stream (1st order)

detritivores

high oxygen

low light

low productivity

2-3rd order

algae

invertebrate herbivores

shallow

moderate productivity

6-7th order

vascular plants

invertebrate herbivores

high light

high productivity

10th Order

planktonic

filter feeders

low oxygen

low light

ponds and lakes

characterized by nonflowing fresh water with at least some area of water that is too deep for plants to rise above the water's surface

Littoral zone

the shallow area around the edge of a lake or pond containing rooted vegetation

Limnetic zone

he open water beyond the littoral zone, where the dominant photosynthetic organisms are floating algae; also known as Pelagic zone

Profundal zone

the area in a lake that is too deep to receive sunlight

Benthic zone

the area consisting of the sediments at the bottoms of lakes, ponds, and oceans