Ecology and Animal Behavior

30 flashcards covering key concepts from ecology, animal behavior, learning types, population dynamics, and human population growth.

What is ecology?

The scientific study of the interactions of organisms with their environments.

What are the two major types of factors that affect organisms?

Biotic factors (living components) and abiotic factors (nonliving components).

What does an organism's habitat include?

All biotic and abiotic factors present in its surroundings.

What is behavioral ecology?

The study of behavior in an evolutionary context.

What are fixed action patterns?

Innate behaviors that are under strong genetic control and performed in virtually the same way by all individuals of a species.

What triggers fixed action patterns?

A specific stimulus.

What is habituation?

A simple type of learning characterized by a loss of response to a stimulus after repeated exposure.

What is imprinting?

Generally irreversible learning that occurs during a sensitive period in an animal's life.

What is an example of spatial learning?

Using landmarks to learn the spatial structure of the environment.

What is associative learning?

Behavioral change based on linking a stimulus or behavior with a reward or punishment.

What is the difference between classical and operant conditioning?

Classical conditioning involves linking a stimulus to a reward, while operant conditioning associates a behavior with positive or negative effects.

What is social learning?

Learning by observing and imitating the behavior of others.

What is cognition?

The ability of an animal's nervous system to perceive, store, integrate, and use information.

What is the role of communication in animal behavior?

It is essential for various interactions including mating and social organization.

What is a tropism in plants?

A growth response that results in plant organs curving toward or away from stimuli.

What factors are tracked in a life table?

Survivorship, the chance of an individual surviving to various ages.

What is population ecology?

The study of how and why populations change.

What defines population density?

The number of individuals of a species per unit area or volume.

What are the three patterns of dispersion?

Clumped, uniform, and random.

What does the term 'r-selection' refer to in populations?

A reproductive strategy where individuals produce many offspring in uncrowded environments.

What does 'K-selection' refer to?

A reproductive strategy where individuals produce fewer offspring that are well cared for in stable environments.

What is the logistic growth model?

It describes idealized population growth that is slowed by limiting factors as the population size increases.

What is carrying capacity (K)?

The maximum population size a particular environment can sustain.

What are density-dependent factors?

Factors that affect population growth in relation to population density, such as competition and resources.

What are density-independent factors?

Factors unrelated to population density, like natural disasters.

What is an example of a boom-and-bust cycle?

Fluctuations in population density due to factors like food shortages and predator-prey interactions.

How has the human population changed in the 20th century?

It grew rapidly and currently stands at about 7 billion.

What is the age structure of a population?

The proportion of individuals in different age groups, which affects future growth.

How do abiotic factors affect biotic components?

Abiotic factors influence the conditions and availability of resources that biotic factors rely on.

What role does communication play in mating behavior?

It facilitates the identification of potential mates and assures mutual suitability for reproduction.

What is an example of cognitive mapping in animals?

The internal representation of spatial relationships among objects in the environment.