EXAM 3 BIOLOGY CORAL REEFS (KMS)

Misconceptions about evolution: 1. Evolution is just a theory 2. Individuals evolve 3. Evolution explains the origin of life 4. Organisms evolve on purpose

1.

hybrid sterility

2 species mate and have offspring but the offspring are not able to reproduce

what is the difference between gene and allele?

A gene is a portion of DNA that determines a certain trait. An allele is a specific form of a gene. Genes are responsible for the expression of traits. Alleles are responsible for the variations in which a given trait can be expressed.

monophyletic group

A group that contains a common ancestor and all descendants of that ancestor

hybrid inviability

A postzygotic barrier in which hybrid zygotes fail to develop or to reach sexual maturity.

Parasitism

A relationship between two organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is harmed. Example- tick draws blood from the moose. (bye bye moosey)

Commensalism

A relationship between two organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is neither harmed nor benefited. Example: Goby fish live on other sea animals, changing color to blend in with the host, thus gaining protection from predators.

Mutualism

A relationship between two species in which both species benefit. Example: The oxpecker (a bird) lives on the zebra or rhino, sustaining itself by eating all of the bugs and parasites on the animal.

Discuss the global factors causing more frequent, more widespread coral bleaching events

Climate change because the increase of seawater temperature causes cloral bleaching.

Describe the physical and physiological connections between coral animals and zooxanthellae.

Coral animals produce carbon dioxide and the zooxanthellae uses the carbon dioxide and water to carry out photosynthesis. Without the zooxanthellae, the corals will result in coral bleaching. Because of their algal cells and the need of photosynthesis from zooxanthellae they need it to stay alive.

coral bleaching, its causes and impacts

Coral bleaching- When corals are stressed by changes in conditions such as temperature, light, or nutrients, they expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white. Causes- The change in ocean temperature from climate change, pollution and runoff generated by storms can dilute ocean water, overexposure to sunlight, and extreme low tides.

Describe the relationship between coral animals and zooxanthellae dinoflagellates.

Corals provide a home for the zooxanthellae and in return, the zooxanthellae, provide oxygen from photosynthesis, and organic matter such as carbohydrates and protein which the corals use as nutrients.

Explain how biodiversity relates to resilience in an ecosystem.

Ecological resilience, also called ecological robustness, the ability of an ecosystem to maintain its normal patterns of nutrient cycling and biomass production after being subjected to damage caused by an ecological disturbance.

Microevolution

Evolutionary change below the species level; change in the allele frequencies in a population over generations. Relies on mutations

the biological species concept

Groups of actually or potentially interbreeding populations which are reproductively isolated from other such groups or two groups are different species if they are reproductively isolated form each other.

Describe the structure of reef-building "hard" corals.

Hard corals are the primary reef-building corals. Colonial hard corals, consisting of hundreds to hundreds of thousands of individual polyps, are cemented together by the calcium carbonate 'skeletons' they secrete.

Connect multiple levels (from cellular to ecosystem) associated with coral reefs by describing the role of microbes, zooxanthellae, polyps, colonies, and reefs to ecosystem and function.

In coral reef ecosystems, microorganisms are essential for recycling nutrients that are important to reef organisms - transforming bits of organic matter into nitrogen and phosphorus. The polyps offer the algae shelter while the zooxanthellae create energy—through photosynthesis—that the corals use as food. In a sense, the coral polyps are "farming" the algae. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. They are most commonly found at shallow depths in tropical waters, but deep water and cold water coral reefs exist on smaller scales in other areas. They protect coastlines from the damaging effects of wave action and tropical storms.

zooxanthellae

Mutualistic single-celled photosynthetic algae Derived from a free-living ancestor Form mutualisms with corals and other invertebrates such as bivalve molluscs and nudibranchs.

What is the connection between natural selection and adaptation?

Natural selection leads to adaptations: structural, physiological, or behavioral traits that enhance an organism's chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness).

Discuss the role of corals in the ecosystem. Describe the ecosystem functions corals provide.

One is the regulation of carbon dioxide levels in the oceans. Carbon dioxide regulation is very essential and without the corals or coral reefs there would be an imbalance of carbon dioxide levels that would severely impact all marine creatures. Providing food and shelter for sea creatures

Compare and contrast symbioses, predation, and competition.

Predation, competition, and symbiosis are all forms of interactions amongst organisms within an ecosystem. Predation occurs when the predator hunts for another organism (prey). If the prey increases, the predators will have more food, which means a result in an increased population size of the predators. More predators=more preys will be eaten. Vice versa Competition is when two organisms of the same species both strive for the same limits resources in their environment. The population size of the species that receives less of the resource is likely to decrease. Vice versa. Symbiotic- close relationships between two species where one species involved in a symbiotic relationship benefits. The other organism is either harmed, helped, or not affected. Mutualism-population size increase Commensalism-population size increase; population size of the unaffected species will not change. Parasitism- parasite/host. Population size of parasites=increase population sizes of hosts=decrease

Where pre zygotic and post zygotic reproductive isolation could occur in corals?

Prezygotic occurs before fertilization and development but gametic occurs after. Post zygotic occurs after the settlement and in development.

Where pre-post zygotic reproductive isolation could occur in corals

Prezygotic traits happen in between spawning and fertilization and development. Gametic begins after fertilization and development. Post zygotic comes from after the egg and sperm meets which is after development.

Artificial selection

Selection by humans for breeding of useful traits from the natural variation among different organisms

coral/zooxanthellae mutualism

They have a mutualism relationship because each other benefits each other. Coral polyps produce carbon dioxide and water as byproducts of cellular respiration. The zooxanthellae cells use the carbon dioxide and water to carry out photosynthesis.

Three principles of Natural Selection

Variation in traits Fitness differences (relationship between trait and some aspect of reproduction or survivorship) Heritability of trait (must be at least partially heritable) Natural selection leads to adaptations: structural, physiological, or behavioral traits that enhance an organism's chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness). Trait frequency (and therefore allele frequency) can change over generations when there is some selection pressure (i.e., survival and reproduction of individuals is not random).

Mutations

a change in DNA; The source of a new allele Examples: sickle cell anemia Huntington disease Cystic Fibrosis Cancer is caused by a series of mutations

Natural Selection

a mechanism for how species change over time. Requires that there will be variation in a trait in a population, the trait is heritable and that the trait results in differential survival and reproduction. Leads to adaptations: structural, behavioral, physiological that enhances an organism's chances of survival and reproduction (fitness).

Migration/Gene Flow

a new allele enters a population when an individual from another population enters and mates with an individual in the original population. Movement of different alleles from one population to another.

acclimation

a reversible phenotypic change that occurs within an individual organism in response to a stress or a change in the environment

ancestral

a trait that is shared by all groups and have the same common ancestor

Alleles

a variant of a gene; arose due to mutation

heritability

ability of a trait to be passed from one generation to the next. a statistic used in the fields of breeding and genetics that estimates the degree of variation in a phenotypic trait in a population that is due to genetic variation between individuals in that population.

roots

ancestral species from which al the other species originate

Compare and Contrast plant and animal cells

animal cells are round most plant cells are rectangular. Plant cells have a rigid cell wall that surrounds the cell membrane. Animal cells do not have a cell wall. they are both eukaryotic cells. They both contain membrane-bound organelles such as the nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus, lysosomes, and peroxisomes. Both also contain similar membranes, cytosol, and cytoskeletal elements.

Gene

basic unit of heredity; blueprint for all components of the body (structures, enzymes, proteins, etc.)

Genetic Drift (RANDOM)

by chance, some individuals in the populations have more offspring than others or Variation in the relative frequency of different genotypes in a small population, owing to the chance disappearance of particular genes as individuals die or do not reproduce.

Evolution

changes in alleles frequencies in a population over time

mechanical isolation

female and male sex organs or gametes are not compatible. They must have the right parts to mate with each other. Ex. flowering plants, the shape of the flower will tend to match up with a natural pollinator. Plants that do not have the correct shape for the pollinator will not receive a pollen transfer.

temporal isolation

form of reproductive isolation in which two populations reproduce at different times and unlikely to meet up when seeking mates. Ex. One frog reproduced earlier in the year. One frog produced later in the year.

monophyletic group

group that consists of a single ancestral species and all its descendants and excludes any organisms that are not descended from that common ancestor, can be removed from the tree with a single cut.

variation

in offspring is caused by genetic recombination, mutations and environmental effects.

A new mutation arises in a population...

is a random event that results in evolution can be beneficial can be neutral can be harmful

Postzygotic barriers

keep hybrid zygotes one cell embryos with parents of different species- from developing into healthy fertile adults.

Macroevolution

large-scale evolutionary changes that take place over long periods of time. Happens in a single specie; Relies on mutations Mass Extinctions. Adaptive Radiation. Convergent Evolution. Coevolution. Punctuated Equilibrium. Developmental Gene Changes.

prokaryotes

no nucleus, circular DNA, no membrane organelles, Bacteria and Archae; Prokaryotic cells reproduce asexually, copying themselves.

habitat isolation

occurs when two species that could interbreed do not because the species live in different areas. EX. One group lives in soil and the other group live on the surface of the water. The two members will less likely produce and meet

eukaryotes

organisms made up of one or more cells that have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. LINEAR DNA, Eukarya Eukaryotes reproduce sexually through meiosis, which allows for genetic variance.

nodes

points out common ancestors and speciation event

prezygotic barriers

prevent members of different species from mating to produce a zygote, a single-celled embryo.

vestigial

structures that had a clear adaptive function in an ancestor but do not serve as an adaptive function in the current organism. Heritable traits

terminal taxa

terminal tips of branches on the tree

Adaptation

the physiological, structural, behavioral trait (phenotype) that occurs within a species that results in differential reproduction and fitness for those individuals with the adaptation; over several generations the proportion of individuals in the population with the adaptations increases.

Derived traits

traits that are shared by some groups but not others

behavioral isolation

two species might have different courtship behaviors or mate preferences and thus find each other unattractive. A slight difference in the songs sung by males of two grasshopper species-if females of each species are attracted only to the song of their own species.

gametic isolation

two species might produce egg and sperm cells that can't combine in fertilization even if they meet up with mating ex. Coral species release eggs and sperm into the water for fertilization, but gamete incompatibility prevents certain cross species hybrids from forming

phylogenetic tree

visualizes the hypothesized evolutionary relationships among different organisms.

branch

where it leads to the tip