Ecology Ch 1

studies focus on interactions between species, such as competition and predation

community ecology

chemical substance required for the development, maintenance, and reproduction or organisms

nutrient

focuses on how the environment influences the form and function of an organism

physiological ecology

study of a group of individuals of a single species

population ecology

analysis of the relative concentrations of stable isotopes, such as 13C and 12C, in materials; used in ecology to study the flow of energy and materials through ecosystems

stable isotope analysis

T/F: critical habitat protection for endangered species brings together the studies of adaptations of species, community though geographic levels of ecology, and global ecology

true

T/F: even though ecologists would like to study isolated levels of the environment, that would be difficult since all levels are interconnected.

true

T/F: stable isotope analysis uses variation in element masses to better understand ecological phenomena

true

T/F: temperate and tropical rain forest trees extract nutrients from epiphytic mats

true

the study of urban areas as complex, dynamic ecological systems, influenced by interconnected, biological, physical, and social components

urban ecology

knowledge of one level of ecological organization can help guide research at other levels or organization. Nalini Nadkarni's research spanned many levels of ecological organization to study the rain forest canopy. match the statements with the correct level of ecological organization it represents 1. epiphyte mats contain quantities of nutrients equal to almost half the mass found in leave of rainforest trees 2. rainforest trees have the ability to grow aerial roots in high branches and trunks 3. epiphyte mats of orchids, ferns, and organic matter provide nutrient stores for rainforest trees and habitat for animals A. ecosystem B. community C. organism

1. A 2. C 3. B

identify the potential changes that could occur in the warbler populations if all of the black-throated green warblers were eliminated from the forest

1. the cape may warbler population will increase slightly as a result of a moderate increase in feeding opportunities 2. the population of the blackburnian warblers will increase due to the greater availability of resources with the elimination of the black throated warblers 3. the population of yellow-rumped warblers would increase due to to the elimination of the black-throated warblers

classify the following levels of biological organization 1. an individual 2. interacting populations 3. all regions of earth 4. community and physical surroundings 5. individuals of the same species in the same area A. organism B. population C. Community D. ecosystem E. biosphere

A. 1 B. 5 C. 2 D. 4 E. 3

a population can be defined as A. a group of individuals of a single species inhabiting a defined area B. an association of interacting species C. a group of individuals of a single species and all of the physical and chemical factors influencing them D. all of the organisms in a defined area E. none of the choices are correct

A. a group of individuals of a single species inhabiting a defined area

what is ecology? A. the study of relationships between organisms and the environment B. the study of animal and plant population interactions C. the study of the abiotic portion of the environment D. the study of the biosphere E. the study of environmental change

A. the study of relationships between organisms and the environment

which of the following levels of organization is/are correctly ordered? A. population, ecosystem, landscape, individual, interaction B. individual, population, interaction, community, ecosystem C. biosphere, landscape, individual, community, interaction D. ecosystem, landscape, region, interaction, population E. none of the choices are correct

B. individual, population, interaction, community, ecosystem

the highest level of ecological organization focuses on: A. the gene B. the biosphere C. warbler use of trees D. forests E. none of the choices are correct

B. the biosphere

Which U.S. law protects endangered species? A. convention on international trade in endangered species B. the endangered species act C. the species protection act D. protection and care of species act

B. the endangered species act

which of the following statements below demonstrates the interactions between ecological areas and processes? A. the smallest level, the biosphere, is where we can see exchanges of materials, energy, and organisms B. Landscape ecology, the largest level of organization, has all of the areas on Earth that support life. C. Exchanges between ecosystems leads to the level of landscape ecology D. Geographic ecology includes the exchanges between ecosystems leading to the level of landscape ecology.

C. Exchanges between ecosystems leads to the level of landscape ecology

Aeroecology is an interdisciplinary study of the ecology of organisms that function in which environment for their existence? A. marine environment B. turbulent water boundary layer C. earth-atmosphere boundary layer D. soil environment E. Cave environment

C. earth-atmosphere boundary layer

population ecologist do NOT study A. reproductive ecology B. distribution and abundance C. energy flow D. extinction E. adaptation

C. energy flow

Nalini Nadkarni's study of tropical and temperate rain forests determines that A. rainforests have nutrient rich soils B. the herbaceous layer determines the nutrient balance C. epiphyte mats contain a significant source of nutrients D. as one moves up the canopy, species richness decreases E. none of the choices are correct

C. epiphyte mats contain a significant source of nutrients

Physiological ecologists study: A. nutrient cycling and energy flow through ecosystems B. exchanges of materials, energy, and organisms between communities C. physiological and anatomical mechanisms by which organisms deal with variation in their physical and chemical environment D. physiological and anatomical mechanisms by which organisms deal with variation in their social environment E. none of the choices are correct

C. physiological and anatomical mechanisms by which organisms deal with variation in their physical and chemical environment

an ecosystem is defined as: A. all of the organisms that live in an area B. the physical environment with which organisms interact C. an association of interacting species D. all of the organisms that live in an area and the physical environment with which they interact E. all of the individuals of a single species that live in an area and the physical environment with which they interact

D. all of the organisms that live in an area and the physical environment with which they interact

Robert MacArthur's observations on the warblers of North America indicate that they A. are fiercely competitive B. cannot coexist C. reduce competition by feeding during different times of the day D. reduce competition by feeding in different zones E. both are fiercely competitive and cannot coexist

D. reduce competition by feeding in different zones

the pioneering work of Nalini Nadkarni in rain forest ecology revealed that A. epiphyte mats in some tropical forests contain nutrient quantities equal to the nutrient content of the canopy foliage B. the epiphyte mass in temperate rain forests may be four times the mass of leaves on their host tree C. in both temperate and tropical rain forests, trees obtain nutrients by extending roots into epiphyte mats D. the epiphyte mats in temperate rain forests may be four times the mass of leaves on their host tree and in both temperate and tropical rain forests, trees obtain nutrients by extending roots into epiphyte mats E. all of the choices are correct

D. the epiphyte mats in temperate rain forests may be four times the mass of leaves on their host tree and in both temperate and tropical rain forests, trees obtain nutrients by extending roots into epiphyte mats

Ecologists study: A. communities B. ecosystems C. individual organisms D. Populations E. all of the choices are correct

E. all of the choices are correct

an evolutionary process that changes anatomy, physiology or behavior, resulting in an increased ability of a population to live in a particular environment. The term is also applied to the anatomical, physiological, or behavioral characteristics produced by this process

adaptation

the interdisciplinary study of ecology of the earth's atmospheric boundary layer and the myriad airborne organisms that depend on this environment for their existence. Relevant disciplines include atmospheric science, animal behavior, ecology, evolution, earth science, computational biology, and engineering

aeroecology

the portions of earth that support life; also refers to the total global ecosystem

biosphere

a biological community plus all of the abiotic factors influencing that community

ecosystem

studies mainly focus on the interactions between the environment and multi species systems

ecosystem ecology

a plant, such as an orchid, that grows on the surface of another plant but is not parasitic

epiphyte

_____ are aerial plants that obtain nutrients from trapped organic matter

epiphytes

a process that changes populations of organisms over time. since it ultimately involves changes in the frequency of heritable traits in a population, we can define it more precisely as a change in gene frequencies in a population

evolution

T/F: Margaret Davis' studies on lake pollen sediments indicate that the forests of eastern North America did not change with the changing climate

false

T/F: ecology is a modern science of which ancient man had no knowledge

false

studies large-scale and long-term regional processes

geographic ecology