ecology 1

5. What is autecology? Synecology? How does these differ from the other areas of ecological study?

Autecology: study of individuals and interactions with environment. Population ecology: study of populations and population dynamics of single species. Community ecology—SYNECOLOGY: study of interactions between species in a given area. Ecosystem ecology: study of interactions between species in a community and their physical environment.

9. How does light affect photosynthesis?

Certain wavelengths of light are absorbed by plants in photosynthesis. It drives photosynthesis.

6. Compare and contrast the following terms: ecology, environmental science, environmentalism, conservation.

Ecology: study of organisms' interactions in and with natural world. Environmental science: an applied science (human based)—ecological effect of human activities on environment. Conservation biology; uses ecology to maintain biodiversity through careful human use. Environmentalism: social and political belief system. Ecology is in all of them—just applied differently.

11. What is heat? What is temperature? Compare and contrast these terms.

Heat: total quantity of kinetic energy of a substance as well as kinetic energy. Temperature: measure the intensity of heat due to the average kinetic energy of its molecules. Temperature is a measure of heat (amount of kinetic energy).

10. What is the fate of light in an aquatic environment? What is a photic or euphotic zone?

Light is dispersed in aquatic envirnments. The top few meters of water is photic (light penetrates here). Light supports photosynthesis in shallow water plants. In the aphotic zone, light is dispersed so much that it is no longer visible.

7. What constitutes the physical environment?

Light, temperature, moisture (water), nutrients.

8. What is light? Why is light an important part of the physical environment? What is the nature of light? (i.e., spectral quality, intensity, duration, etc.)? What is the fate of light that reaches the earth's surface?

Light: source of photosynthesis, duration, directionality, intensity effects plants. Only certain wavelengths are visible. Nature of light: spectral quality—photosynthetically active radiation. Intensity: reaches the outer limits of earth's atmosphere. Duration and directionality depend on the time of year. Is absorbed, reflected, transmitted once it hits earth.

1. What is ecology? Who coined the term? At what levels does an ecologist study?

Oikos—House or home. Coined by Ernst Haekel. Study of the home. Economy of Nature. The study of interactions between organisms and between organisms and their physical environment. How organisms interact in and with the natural world.

4. What are the levels of organization in ecology (communities, populations, etc)?

Organisms-populations-communities-ecosystems-biosphere.

12. What are the modes of thermal energy exchange? Why is the thermal environment important?

Radiation (transfer of heat to surroundings), convection (wind), conduction (transferred through a substance), evaporation. All organisms live in a thermal environment characterized by heat and temperature.

2. Why is ecological study important?

Shows that there is historical variation in nature, demonstrates that the pervasive influence of human activities extends to the most remote regions of the earth. We can apply ecological prinicples to solve or prevent environmental problems, inform our economic, political and social thought/practice

3. How are ecological studies performed? How do ecologists deal with ecological complexity in their studies? What are microcosm experiments? Mathematical models?

Uses scientific method—observation, hypothesis, prediction, experiment. Evolved from a science relied on description of patterns to one that is based on experimental hypothesis testing. Ecological complexity: microcosm experiments, mathematical modeling (an abstract representation of the real system, with explicit set of assumptions—requires validation).

13. What are its structural and physical properties of water? Why is water an important part of physical environment?

Water is a polar molecule that covalently bonds. Lattice structure, specific heat is 1 cal/1 C, cohesion, adhesion, capillarity, viscocity. Water is the solvent of life, containing dissolved ions and nutrients. Life depends on water to carry out most of its metabolic processes. Water: covalent bonds—it is polar. Lattice structure. SOUP OF LIFE Specific heat is 1 cal/g/1C—HIGH specific heat, so we use it to boil things; Cohesion—Allows water molecules to stick together becausw the water molecules bond together/are polar. Creates surface tension. Helps water travel upward. Adhesion: Water sticks to other things. Example—meniscus—it is holding to the sides of the container. (ex: meniscus in the graduated meniscus—water holds to the side od glass). Helps water travel upward. Capillarity: capillaries are so small that water can keep moving upward against gravity. See it in cotton products—if I stepped in a puddle and my jeans were in it, the water will slowly creep up your leg. Moving from high to low pressure also (osmosis) Viscosity: The ability of something to move. Water has a low viscosity—its not thick and slow. Ex: water to blueberry syrup to molasses.