Functional Diversity Study Questions

Study Questions: Functional Diversity

Here are some detailed study questions for lectures and discussions that cover lectures 2 through 6 on the syllabus. These questions will guide you on important topics to focus on for the first exam, serving as a supplement to your lecture notes.

Overall Guidance for Exam Preparation

These questions are supplementary; do not rely solely on them for studying.
Collaboration with peers is encouraged but ensure that you can independently write out answers and understand the underlying concepts from the lectures.
Multiple choice questions are included as practice for potential exam formats, but the understanding of answers is essential.

Key Questions and Concepts

Predator-Prey Dynamics in Intertidal Habitats
    - Scenario: In a rocky intertidal habitat on the Aleutian Islands, glaucous-winged Gulls eat chitons and mussels.
    - Data:
      - Handling time for mussel: 5 seconds, Energy Gain: 20 kJ
      - Handling time for chiton: 1 second, Energy Gain: 5 kJ
    - Profitability Calculation:
      - Profitability of mussel: $rac{20}{5} = 4$
      - Profitability of chiton: $rac{5}{1} = 5$
    - Prediction: If prey are common, gulls should prefer chitons due to higher profitability. If prey are rare, both types may be consumed.
The Principle of Allocation
- Definition: The principle of allocation states that organisms have limited energy resources that must be divided among competing needs such as growth, reproduction, and maintenance.
Trade-offs in Plants, Mammals, and Birds
- Plants Example: Waxy leaves reduce heat load at the expense of lower photosynthetic rates.
- Mammals and Birds Example: Penguin morphology allows survival in cold environments and efficient swimming, but they sacrifice the ability to fly.
Root:Shoot Ratios in Biomes
    - Observation: Highest root:shoot ratios are found in tundra and grasslands.
    - Reason: Nutrients and water are limiting factors belowground, prompting plants to allocate more biomass to develop extensive root systems, especially in tundra due to cold temperatures slowing decomposition.
    - Contrast: In forests, investment is greater in shoot biomass due to light limitation.
Root Mass to Shoot Mass Ratio in Nutrient Availability
- Expectation: The ratio of root mass to shoot mass in nutrient-poor soils would be higher than in nutrient-rich soils.
- Reason: This stems from the trade-off between root and shoot production (Answer: a).
Factors Influencing Prey Selection
- Examples: Predation risks, finding mates, temperature stress, and water stress.
Adaptation vs. Acclimation
    - Adaptation Definition: Involves long-term genetic changes across generations that enhance survival in a specific environment.
    - Example: Development of thicker fur in mammals in colder climates.
    - Acclimation Definition: Short-term physiological changes within an individual due to environmental stressors.
    - Example: Increase in red blood cell count in humans at high altitudes.
Optimal Temperature for Enzymatic Reactions
- Explanation: Reaction rates increase with temperature due to increased molecular kinetic energy, leading to more frequent and forceful collisions until the enzymes begin to denature at high temperatures, decreasing catalytic activity.
- Outcome: An optimal temperature exists for enzymatic activities that balances increased reaction rates with enzyme stability.
Photosynthetic Performance in temperature variances
- Study Reference: In a study (2006 by Rafael Ribeiro), sweet orange plants' photosynthetic performance was observed under varying temperature conditions.
- Implication: Photosynthetic rate is affected by temperature acclimation versus adaptation; expected answer involves understanding the influence of temperature on plant performance.
Drought Survival in Plant Species
    - Comparison of species A and B:
      - Species A: Large, horizontal leaves and high stomatal density.
      - Species B: Small, vertical leaves, waxy coating, and deep tap roots.
    - Expectation: Species B is likely to endure prolonged drought better due to reduced heat absorption, lower water loss, and increased water access from deeper roots.
Resource Allocation in Caribbean Reef Sponges
- Implication: The principle of allocation indicates a trade-off between resource use for defensive metabolite production versus growth and reproduction (Answer: a).
Fundamental vs. Realized Niche in Fish Species
- Scenario: A species of fish can survive in water from 5°C to 25°C but is only found below 12°C due to competition.
- Conclusion: The fish's realized niche is smaller than its fundamental niche due to biotic factors (Answer: c).
Scaling of Surface Area and Body Mass in Organisms
- Observation: For cubical organisms, surface area scales as $length^2$ and mass scales as $length^3$ .
- Additional Scaling Note: Surface area scales approximately as $mass^{2/3}$ .
Seed Production in Prairie Wildflowers
    - Measurable Resources:
      - Nitrogen: enough for 6 seeds/day.
      - Phosphorus: enough for 4 seeds/day.
      - Water: enough for 5 seeds/day.
    - Limiting Resource Consequence: Actual production will be 4 seeds per day; phosphorus is the limiting resource that should be added to increase production.
Impact of Egg Size on Oxygen Supply
    - Mass Calculation: Increasing egg radius increases mass by factor of 2³ = 8.
    - Oxygen Supply Calculation: Surface area increases by factor of 2² = 4.
    - Consequences for Egg Size: The oxygen available per unit mass decreases by factor of $rac{4}{8} = rac{1}{2}$ , which constrains maximum egg sizes to ensure adequate oxygen for chick development.
Home Range vs. Body Weight Relationship
    - Definition of Home Range: Area covered by an organism during normal activities (foraging, mating, caring for young).
    - Log-log Plot Findings: Linear relationship between home range and body weight with a slope of $rac{3}{4}$ .
    - Home Range Scaling: Increase in body size by factor of 2 raises home range by factor of $2^{3/4} hickapprox 1.68$ .
    - Kleiber's Law Context: Potential reason for slope: metabolic demands scale as $mass^{3/4}$ , linking home range to metabolic needs.
Iteroparity vs. Semelparity
    - Definitions:
      - Iteroparity: Multiple breeding cycles over a lifetime; favored under high adult survival.
      - Semelparity: Single massive reproductive event; favored when survival chances for reproductive attempts are uncertain.
    - Examples:
      - Semelparity: Agave, bamboo, salmon, annual plants.
      - Iteroparity: Most mammals (e.g., elephants, humans), perennial plants, and virtually all bird species.
Natural Selection in Monocarpic Species Across Environments
    - Environment A:
      - Survival Rate: 10% of seeds until first year.
      - Annuals produce 100 seeds; biennials produce 300 seeds with survival of 50%.
    - Natural Selection Favoring: In A, it favors annuals; in B, favoring option depends on survival rates (Answer: d if survival is higher).

These questions and explanations cover the key concepts from the lectures and provide a comprehensive study guide for understanding the functional diversity in biological systems. Ensure to engage with each concept thoroughly for exam preparation.