BIO 105 Lecture Notes: Life, Ecology, Evolution, Population Dynamics, Biogeography (Pages 1-11)

A comprehensive set of Q&A flashcards covering key concepts from Life, Ecology, Evolution, Population Dynamics, and Biogeography as presented in the notes (Pages 1–11).

What is biology as defined in the notes?

The scientific study of organisms, living and dead, with the goal of understanding unity and diversity of life processes.

What is the hallmark of life?

Single cells.

Name three large, separate groups of life.

Fungi, animals, and plants.

How is ecology described in these notes?

The largest aspect of biology; the study of the relationships between organisms and their environment.

Which elements are found in organic molecules?

Carbon; organic molecules include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

How is evolution defined in the notes?

Changes in the genetic makeup of populations through time.

What is metabolism described as?

An energy need.

What is a population?

A group of individuals of the same species that interbreed.

Ecosystem

A community of organisms in which the physical environment is explicitly taken into account.

Biome.

A large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat.

Biosphere.

Life interacting with the abiotic environment.

Do all organisms display all major characteristics of life?

No; some forms (e.g., viruses) do not display all characteristics.

What are the basic chemical building blocks common to life?

Carbohydrates, fatty acids, nucleic acids, and amino acids.

What is the basic unit that makes up life?

Cells.

What enables cells to develop, maintain, function, and reproduce?

Genetic information—genomes.

Do organisms use a universal code to build proteins?

Yes; a universal genetic code uses genomic information to build proteins.

Where is genetic information stored in organisms?

In the genome within the cells.

What are the early categories of life?

Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

What organelle gives eukaryotic cells their name?

The nucleus.

What process transformed sunlight into chemical energy and affected atmospheric composition?

Photosynthesis; led to oxygen production enabling aerobic metabolism.

What developmental progression did multicellularity enable?

Tissues → Organs → Organ systems (e.g., the digestive system) via cellular specialization.

What are the three main jobs of cells mentioned?

Mechanical (movement of molecules), Biochemical (synthesis of new molecules), Electrical (information processing in nervous systems).

What surrounds cells and provides nutrients and waste removal?

Extracellular fluid (internal environment).

What information mechanisms must organisms possess?

Sensory, effector, and signaling mechanisms.

What are the major ecosystems in ecology?

Biomes, which compose the biosphere.

What does DNA specify?

The appearance and function of an organism; DNA is stored in the organism’s genome.

What is the role of RNA?

Serves as a template for the synthesis of proteins that govern cellular reactions.

What does natural selection produce?

Evolutionary change.

What does Natural Selection lead to in populations?

Adaptations.

What can geographic isolation lead to in evolution?

Speciation and divergence of populations.

What information do phylogenetic trees convey?

The evolutionary histories of different groups of organisms.

What is binomial nomenclature?

Genus name followed by species name (e.g., Homo sapiens).

What is the Scientific Method built on?

Observation and quantification.

List the steps of the Scientific Method as presented.

Observations; asking questions; forming hypotheses; making predictions; testing predictions.

What are two main types of experiments?

Controlled experiments (manipulate one factor with control group) and comparative experiments (compare populations with controlled variables).

What is a null hypothesis?

A default hypothesis that is rejected if there is sufficient evidence against it.

What does a p-value represent?

The probability of obtaining the observed results (or more extreme) if the null hypothesis is true.

What is the order of increasing complexity from atoms to organisms?

Atoms → small molecules → large molecules → cells → cell specialization → tissues → organs → organ systems → multicellular organism → populations → communities → ecosystems → biome → biosphere.

What is ecology's multi-scale focus?

Individuals, populations, communities, ecosystems, landscapes, and the global biosphere.

What does abiotic mean in ecology?

Non-living physical and chemical components of the environment.

What does ecosystem ecology focus on?

The movement of energy and nutrients through a group of organisms.

How does weather differ from climate?

Weather is short-term atmospheric conditions; climate is the long-term average and variation.

What is the Coriolis effect?

Deflection of moving air or water due to Earth's rotation.

What is topography?

The shape and surface features of Earth's terrain.

What are the major climate-influencing cycles and patterns mentioned?

Global air circulation, prevailing winds, and ocean currents driven by solar energy and Earth's rotation.

What is the photic zone?

The ocean layer that receives enough light for photosynthesis (about 90% of aquatic life resides here).

What is upwelling?

The process of bringing colder, nutrient-rich bottom water to the surface.

What defines a biome’s distribution?

Climate (temperature and rainfall) and topography; influenced by uneven solar heating.

What is a rain shadow?

A drier area on the leeward side of mountains due to orographic rainfall patterns.

What are indicator species?

Species restricted to specific biomes; generalists are observed broadly.

Provide examples of indicator species for tropical biomes.

Tigers or lions for tropical dry forest; orchids for tropical rainforest.

What are the different types of biomes?

Tropical rainforest, temperate forest, tundra, desert, grassland, savanna, and aquatic biomes.

What are gamma, beta, and alpha diversity?

Gamma: regional species pool; Beta: change in species across landscapes; Alpha: diversity within a single community.

What is a metapopulation?

A set of geographically isolated populations linked by dispersal.

What is endemism?

Endemic species occur in one specific location and nowhere else.

What is carrying capacity (K)?

The maximum population size the environment can sustain indefinitely.

What is the logistic growth equation?

dN/dt = rN (K − N)/K (growth slows as N approaches K).

What is the population growth rate equation?

ΔN=(B-D)+(I-E)

What is capital growth rate?

the difference between birth and death rate: ΔN=rN0 

What is carry capacity= K?

the number of individuals that any particular enviroment can sustain indefinitely.

What are density dependent factors?

• Limiting resources 

• Predators 

• Pathogens 

What are the three Survivorship Curves?

There are three main types of survivorship curves: Type I, Type II, and Type III. Type I curves show high survival rates for most of the lifespan, Type II curves depict a constant death rate regardless of age, and Type III curves illustrate high mortality rates for the young.

What is life history?

Life history refers to the series of changes undergone by an organism during its lifetime, including reproductive strategies, growth patterns, and survival rates.

What are K-strategists?

Species whose life history strategies allow them to live at near carrying capacity of their environment.

What are R-strategists?

Species that produce large numbers of offspring with low parental investment, allowing for rapid population growth. Uncertain environments are where they are typically found.