Biomes and Species Interactions

microclimate

Climate within a small area that differs significantly from the climate of the surrounding area

Describe organisms with clumped, uniform, and random distributions.

Clumped: individuals aggregate in patches influenced by resource availability Uniform: Individuals are evenly spaced, influenced by territoriality Random: Position of each individual is independent of others, least common dispersion pattern

temperate grassland (prairie)

Low rainfall with large temperature variances. You are sitting in one right now. Plants have different heights depending on how much rain falls. Large mammals are most predominate. Most prairie has been converted for agriculture - original grassland habitats are the rarest in the world.

tropical deciduous forest

Substantial rain (130-280cm) and warm temperatures. Unlike rain forests, this biome has a dry season. Exists in equatorial regions with dry seasons - such as India. Lots of plant life with deciduous trees and more light reaching the ground. Huge diversity of animals. Humans are being bad as usual.

What are r and K selected species?

r-selected species are not near their carrying capacity. Maximum reproductive success is favored, and they are often in disturbed habitats. They tend to be small, weak, not care for their offspring, live short lives, and reproduce in huge numbers. K-selected species are near their carrying capacity. They have strong competition between individuals and use resources efficiently. They are the complete opposite of r-selected species.

What are the limitations that affect the distribution of a species?

1. Dispersal ability (physical barriers, natural range) 2. Behavior (habitat selection) 3. Biotic factors (predation, competition, parasitism)

Why are there so many species despite competitive exclusion?

1. Resource partitioning: species use resources at different times, places, or parts of the organisms. Zebras eat stems of plants, while wildebeests eat leaves.

What are the six abiotic factors that can limit the distribution of a species?

1. Temperature 2. Sunlight 3. Water 4. Wind 5. Soil Type (Alkaline, acidic) 6. Disturbances

What are the two fundamental questions of ecology?

1. What factors limit the distribution of a species? 2. What factors determine the abundance of a species?

Hadley cell

A system of vertical and horizontal air circulation mostly in tropical and subtropical regions. They create major weather patterns.

temperate rain forest

Abundant rainfall and (often) dense coastal fog. Temperatures are in a lovely range between 0 and 27˚ C. Exists in Washington State (think Seattle). Plant life consists of large evergreen trees and epiphytes. Animal life consists of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Humans do some logging.

Describe global air circulation. How does this interact with areas of high precipitation and deserts? How do mountains affect climate?

Air is warmest at the equator and can hold the most moisture. Mountains affect climate because when air is pushed against a mountain and rises, it cools down and releases moisture. So, one side of a mountain is wet and the other is dry.

Compare and contrast Batesian and Mullerian mimicry.

Batesian: a palatable or harmless species mimics an unpalatable or harmful species. Mullerian: Two or more unpalatable species resemble each other. This makes predators change behavior more quickly.

What are some strategies that prey use to avoid predation?

Cryptic coloration (camouflage), chemical defenses, aposematic coloration (bright warning colors), mimicry, intimidation, fighting, armor, agility, masting (too many to eat at once).

life table

Data on the number of individuals alive in each particular age class. Males are usually not included.

biomes

Different regions which support various kinds of life (i.e. forest, grassland, desert, and tundra)

Describe the different between a fundamental niche and a realized niche. What are some examples of each?

Fundamental niche - where an organism could live without a competitor. Ex: one species of barnacle could take over an entire coast Realized niche - Where an organism actually lives. Ex: but different species are in different places, some up higher because they are better at resisting desiccation, and some lower.

tropical grassland (savannah)

Hot, tropical areas with low rainfall. There is an extensive dry season. (like Lion King!) Plant life is dominated by grasses with some small thorny trees. Fire is prevalent so they have good root systems. Animals are often very large mammals and termites. It's turning into a desert due to farming.

What is the hierarchy of ecological discipline, and what are the sub-disciplines of organismal ecology?

Organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, landscapes, and global. Organisms are divided into physiological ecology and behavioral ecology.

temperate deciduous forest

Plenty of rain, with defined winter and summer seasons. Temperature drops below freezing in winter. (think Vermont). Plant life is not very diverse, with a few tree species occupying most of the forest. Animals often hibernate or migrate and reptiles are scarce. Agriculture, logging, and development all threaten this biome.

survivorship curve

Plots the number of surviving individuals at each age. There are three patterns. Type I usually die when they are old, Type III usually die when they are young, and Type II are in the middle.

How do you determine the population size after doing a mark-recapture study?

Population = (Number of individuals marked in first catch)(Number of individuals caught in second catch)/ (Number of marked recaptures in second catch)

temperate coniferous forest (taiga)

Precipitation (30-70cm) is often in the form of snow. Temperature often drops below freezing for long periods of time. Very similar to Colorado pine forests. Most trees are evergreens or conifers. Soil is poor due to slow-decaying needles. Animals are either heavily furred or basically nonexistent. Insects are heavily dependent on seasons. Logging threatens this biome.

hot desert

Rainfall is less than 30cm per year. Temperatures can be freezing at night and burning hot in the day. The Sahara is an example. Only three forms of plant life survive - annuals only grow when there is rain, succulents are cactuses, and shrubs conserve water. Plants are mean to herbivores trying to eat them. Reptiles are numerous - ants, birds, and small mammals also do well. Humans have ambitious irrigation projects that convert this land to farmland.

What are the five attributes that describe populations?

Size, Density, Dispersion, Genetic Characteristics, and Demography

What is the strongest environmental factor in species distribution?

Temperature

Coriolis effect

The way Earth's rotation makes winds in the Northern Hemisphere curve to the right and winds in the Southern Hemisphere curve to the left.

tropical rain forest

Tons of rain (>230cm) and very warm temperatures. Found in equatorial regions. Staggering amounts of plant life and diverse animals. Humans are being bad to them.

Give an example of two species that use the same resources at the same time and place. Why is this scenario unrealistic and what is this phenomenon called?

Two different types of Paramecium grow well on their own, but one dies when they are put together. This is because one species is always more efficient than the other. Competitive exclusion principle says that two species cannot inhabit the exact same niche.

mountain ranges

Unique from all other biomes because temperature depends on elevation and rainfall depends on the direction of the wind. Located wherever there is mountains, duh. A variety of biomes can be found on a single mountain, so plant and animal life is extremely varied. Humans are messing things up as usual.

cold desert

Very low precipitation and seasonal temperatures ranging from freezing in the winter to warm in the summer. Found in the interior of continents and the rain shadows of mountains. Plant life is relatively poor. Small mammals are most common. Little human intervention - but the ecosystem is delicate enough that it's easy to disturb.

tundra

Very low precipitation which is usually locked up in snow. Permafrost is permanently frozen soil. It's cold all the time, basically. Located in Alaska, Canada, and Russia. Plant life is composed entirely of lichens, mosses, grasses, and the occasional shrub. Animals have good insulation or migrate. Humans don't live there, but exploitation for oil is a definite possibility.

What do dN/dt, r, N, and K mean? How do they differ for different species?

dN/dt is the change in population size over time. r is the rate that a population grows.

macroclimate

large-scale patterns in climate; the climate of an entire region