Ecology Final 340 Kuehn

Taiga characteristics

"Boreal forest" is the largest coniferous forest. Largest variation formation on earth. high latitudes of the northern hemisphere; occupies glaciated land in a region of cold lakes, bogs, and rivers. Dominated by a cold continental climate. Extreme temperature fluctuations (100 C)

Density is _____

"Patchy" .. microdifferences (physical/chemicals conditions)

Solifluction terraces

"flowing soil" in attic tundra. form on sloping ground.

Species Richness

#'s of species"

Define ecological density

(helps with population density). Determine numbers per unit living space. (ex. bobwhite quail #'s/mile of hedgegrow).

Define monogamy

1 female to 1 male. prevalent among birds (seasonally 90%). Both parents needed to rear young. Rare among mammals

Headwater streams are orders _____

1 ro 3

Reproductive effort may vary with latitude examples:

1. Birds in temp regions have larger clutch sizes than those at lower latitudes 2. mammals at high latitudes have larger litters than those at lower temperatures.

What factors influence distribution

1. Environmental conditions (environmental tolerances) 2. Geographic barriers 3. Competition and predation

What are the four heat transfers between organisms and environment?

1. Evaporation 2. Convection 3. Conduction 4. Thermal Radiation

Tropical rain forests 5 vertical layers (from small to large)

1. Ground cover (herbs and ferns) 2. Understory (shrubs and saplings) 3. Lower canopy 4. Upper canopy (medium-spaced crowns) 5. Emergent canopy (Trees widely spaced)

Ways organisms spend energy

1. Growth. maintenance, defense 2. Energy in sexual reproduction

List and briefly explain 5 condition that might lead to evolution (ex change in allelic frequencies) within a populations?

1. Mutation (change in genes) 2. Gene flow (result of migration) 3. Genetic Drift (Founder's effect-*****) 4. Non-random mating (Mates are selective) 5. Natural Selection (Survival of the fittest--positive adaptions)

The five soil formation factors

1. Parent material 2. Climate factors 3. Biotic factors 4. Topography 5. Time

3 Ecological periods of population

1. Pre-reproductive 2. Reproductive 3. Post-reproductive

What are the investments in reproduction?

1. Production 2. Care 3. Nourishment of offspring

What are the two categories of life parts?

1. Unitary organisms (single unit) 2. Modular organisms (part of a whole)

There are five regions where shrublands are found

1. Western NA (Chaparral) 2. Mediterranean Sea 3. Central Chile 4. South Africa Cape 5. S/SW Asutralia

Grasslands three vertical layer

1. aboveground (tillers) 2. ground layer (thatch) 3. below ground (rooting)

Clutch size and latitude hypothesis

1. clutch size is related to food supply (More food spring in temperate zones) 2. periodic climatic catastrophes (temp regions) restricted population when resources are plentiful---> organisms have larger clutches 3. Seasonal variation of resources. Population regulated by winter; more food for survivors

Savannas two layers of vertical structure

1. grasses 2. trees/shrubs

Two conditions of natural selection

1. variation in heritable characteristics. 2. variation results in differences in individuals survival, growth, and reproduction

Molecule first formed in C3 plants after initial CO2 fixation

3-phosphoglycerate (PGA)

Medium sized streams are orders _____

4 to 6

Rivers are orders greater than ______

6

Combined value of evaporation + transpiration

AET

What are the products of the light reactions of photosynthesis that are utilized in the Calvin Cycle?

ATP and NADPH

Number of an individuals species in a specific area

Abundance

Define life tables

Account book of life (survivorship) and Death Age specific mortality relationships begins with a COHORT

The process where one (ancestor) species gives rise to multiple species that exploit different features of the environment

Adaptive radiation

Attraction of H2O molecules to other materials (ex. glass wall of a capillary tube)

Adhesion***

The rate depends on the moisture in the air

Adiabatic lapse rate

What are unique features of a population?

Age structures distributions (time and space) density birth/deaths rate growth rates respond to competition, predation

Grazers feed on _______

Algae

What is the largest and most continuous tropical rain forest?

Amazon basin

Define reproductive barrier

An important factor in maintaining species is that they remain reproductively isolated

Equation/law dealing with attenuation of light in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems

Beer

_______ is the study of the spatial or geographical distribution of organisms, both in the present time and history past.

Biogeography

A ______ is a classification of plant formations and associated animal life into biotic units based on the predominant plant types. there are at least eight major terrestrial forms.

Biome

Define precocial

Born in advanced state and able to feed itself almost immediately ( ex. giraffe)

What is the statement that describes the results of this reaction? C6 H12 O6 + 6O2 --->6 CO2 + 6 H20 + energy

C6 H12 O6 is oxidized and O2 is reduced

Many plants adapted to arid environments utilize the ______ photosynthesis pathway to fix CO@ during the night

CAM

Sorensen's coefficient of community (CC)

CC = 2c / (s1 + s2)" 2c = # of species common to both" s1 = number of species in community 1" s2 = number of species in community 2

Shredders feed on ______

CPOM

Define ordinal data

Categorical---ordered categories (ex. young, middle, old age)

Define nominal data

Categorical---unordered categories (ex. hair, color, sex)

The _________ is a basic measure of soil availability and typically increases in soil with higher clay and organic matter contents

Cation exchange capacity

Measurable, gradual change over a geographical region in the average

Cline

At the _______ level of organizations ecological systems, an ecologist might focus on the factors that affect the relative abundance of various plant and animal population (species) in the area.

Community

Organismal Concept (Clements,1916)"

Community - integrated unit (super-organism)" Each species is a component of the whole" Cells--> Tissue --> Organ --> Organism" Development of a community through time (succession) was viewed as ~ development of the organism"

How is population affected by density?

Competition for resources between members of same species for food/habitat.

Heat transfer through solid solid material

Conduction

Heat transfer between/within fluids (ex air)

Convection

The independent evolution of a similar characteristic in two different species, not derived from a common ancestor is referred to as _____

Convergent evolution

What are the impacts of human on grasslands?

Conversion to agricultural lands; monoculture (Bread basket); replacement of native species; fertilization, pest control, irrigation

Results from earth's rotation

Coriolis

Leaves that live for only a single year or grown season are classified as _______

Deciduous

Essay Question: What are the leaf area index for deciduous, coniferous, and tropical rain forest. Then be able to calculate the LA.

Deciduous LA 3-5 Coniferous LA 2-4 Rain Forest LA 6-10 Area of a circle is (pi)r2 LA = total leaf area/ projected ground area

Conversion of MO3--->NO2-->NO-->N2O-->N2

Denitrification

What are 2 major attributes and a populations

Density and Distributions

r and k species selection

Developed by r. MacArthur, E.O Wilson, and E. Pianka 2 habitats 1. variable in time and are short-lived 2. relatively stable, long lived, and constant

Forest ecosystems characteristics

Differences in climate, bedrock, and drainage create a variety of soil conditions; Plant productivity influenced by soils, temps, and length of the growing season; end of the growing season in broadleaf deciduous forests is marked by autumn colors.

The movement of molecules from an area of highs concentration to an area of less contraction is called

Diffusion

A specific type of natural selection where the mean value of a trait (ex. beak size) is shifted toward one extreme is called _______

Directional

Presence/absence of a species in an area

Distribution

Coniferous forest ecosystem characteristics

Dominate the cool temperate and boreal zones. Occur in a broad circumpolar belt across the northern hemisphere and on mountain ranges; Low temperatures limit the growing season. Dominated by needle leaf evergreen trees.

Shrubland vegetation

Dwarf sclerophyllous (broadleaf evergreen shrub); Sclerophyllous vegetation-- adapted to reduce water loss during summer; small leaves, thickened cuticles, glandular hairs, sunken stomata.

Lakes that received large amounts of organic matter from surrounding land, particularly in the form of humic materials that stain the water brown, are called ________ lakes

Dystrophic

Environmental sources of heat control the rates of metabolism and activity among ______ organisms

Ectotherms

Zone of leaching in soils

Eluviation

Animals that maintain a fairly constant internal temperature independent of external environment temperatures are called

Endotherms

The minimum and maximum values of an environmental factor (ex. temperature) that an organism can survive, grow and reproduce are referred to as an organism's _________

Environmental tolerance

An ecologist conducts a greenhouse experiment to examine the effect of nitrogen concentration on the biomass productivity of Eucalyptus seedlings. What is the dependent variable in the experiment?

Eucalyptus biomass productivity

Essay Question : Look at oligotrophic and eutrophic

Eutrophic lakes-- high SA to volume ratio; abundant nutrients (high production). Low dissolved material in hypolimnion. Oligotrophic lakes-- Low SA to volume ratio. Low in nutrients (low productions) High dissolved material in hypolimnion.

Human impacts on lakes

Eutrophication; silt and pesticides; exotic species; wetland destruction

Leaves that live for more than a year are classified as _________

Evergreen

define polygandry

Exception not the rule*; A female with 2 or more males.

Filtering/ gathering collectors feed on _____

FPOM

Type of global air (wind) circulation cells

Ferrel

Amount of water held by soil against the force of gravity (ex. capillary forces)

Field Capacity

The proportionate (genetic) contribution that an individual makes to future generation is called an organism's ______

Fitness

CAM plants keep stomata closed in daytime but open at night, thus reducing loss of water. Photosynthesis in CAM plants (i.e. Calvin Cycle) can continue to operate because they ______

Fix CO2 into organic acids during the night.

______ influences reproductive effort

Food availability,

Shrubland characteristics

Found on western margins of the continents between 30-40 Degree latitude. Shrub growth is dominant or codominant; the climate is "mediterranean"--hot/dry summers and cool/moist winters.

Deciduous forest ecosystem characteristics

Four vertical layers that are highly developed and unevenly aged; animal diversity is associated with vertical stratification and plant growth forms --highest on and just below the ground layer.

Grasslands in euroasian

From E. Europe to W. siberia. Mesic meadow steppes in the N. to semiarid grassland in S.

Essay Question: Lavel and briefly describe the major horizons of soil.

From top to bottom: organic layer (has organic material), Topsoil (leaching occurs here. includes eluviated layer), subsoil (clay and sand accumulation), and weathered/ bed rock (parent material of soil).

Arctic tundra

Frozen plane that is located at the highest latitudes of Northern hemisphere. Tundra--100% plant cover, wet to moist soils. (Polar desert <5% plant cover, dry soil.

the total collection of all alleles across all individuals in an inter-breeding population at any given time is called the population's _______

Gene pool.

In streams and rivers, invertebrates that live and feed on wood detritus are called ______

Gougers

Within any ecosystem there are two major chains.

Grazing and detrital

In a temperate deciduous forest, the concentration and diversity of animal life is greatest in the ______

Ground layer

Define Cohort

Group of individuals born in the same period of time (~1000 or proportion of 1)

Define population

Group of potentially interbreed and interacting individuals of the same species living in the same place at same time (reproductively isolated from other populations)

Major Ocean Circulation Patterns

Gyres

Major ocean circulation patterns

Gyres

Ability of the physical environment to support life

Habitability

He was a german zoologist that first coined the term ecology

Haeckel

Grazers of the grassland

Herbivores, saprovores, carnivores.. above ground--mammals 1-5 g/m2 (bison); invertebrates 1-50 g/m@ (Grasshoppers) Belowground---invertebrates (nematodes) >135 g/m2

A plant growing in a sun would be expected to a ______ maximum photosynthesis rate than a plant growing in shade

High

The ______ of water is the amount of heat energy that required to increase a gram of water one degree celsius

High specific heat

Environment is not ______

Homogenous

attraction of H2O molecules to each other

Hydrogen bonds

Ground level of grassland positive impacts

Increases soil moisture; stabilizes temperatures; decreases runoff and erosion; habitat for animals.

Define convergent evolution

Independent evolution of similar characteristics

List in increasing order the main levels of biological organization that we are concerned with in the field of ecology?

Individual organisms, population, community, ecosystem, landscape, biome, biosphere

______ are not distributed evenly through out the geographic range of a population

Individuals

Letic

Inland depressions containing standing water. Can be permanent or ephermal, or FW or saline.

Define semelparity

Invest all stored energy into reproduction. "suicidal act of reproduction". Give birth and die--salmon/

Define Iteroparous

Invest energy periodically into reproduction. "Repeating reproduction" They have early or late tradeoffs.

What is a characteristic of a poikilotherm?

It can allocate more of its energy to biomass production to metabolic heat.

Life History Definition

Its lifetime pattern of growth, development, and reproduction

Essay question: Look at the graphs representing a sun tolerate and shade tolerate plant. Briefly discuss what is the meaning of LCP, LSP, and their differences between sun and shade plants. Why do we see such differences?

LSP-- the light saturation point; this is when the photosynthesis rate has come to its max--> it can no longer make more in production. LCP-- is the compensation point; this is when the light has been compensated from respiration to production (in other words, when you replaced what you used). Sun plants have allowed LCP and a higher LSP Shade plants have a higher LCP and a lower LSP

Techonic basins

Lake formation. Depression formed by movement of earths crust .... Graben--down faulted depressions

Deltaic

Lake formation. Isolated on deltas, often receives salt. River activity

Glacial basins

Lake formation. Most important agent. Gradual erosion and deposition. Pleistocene was the last ice age.

Volcanic Basins

Lake formation. depressions formed

Refers to standing water environments

Lentic

Determining density example

Lepomis 100 individuals marked (M) 150 individuals resampled (n)-- 4 were marked N/M=n/resampled N/100=150/4 N=3750

The value of PAR above which not further increase in photosynthesis occurs is referred to as the _______ point

Light saturation

Shoreline zone of a lake

Littoral

The Position occupied by a gene on the chromosome is called the _______

Locus

Evaporation definition

Loss of moisture

Refers to flowing water environment

Lotic

Small number of young effects

Major investments in one and parental care. Expend more energy per young (altrical or precocial); amount of parenting are varies

A __________ climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters

Mediterranean

Rank-Abundance diagram

Method for comparing patterns of species richness and abundance is to plot the relative abundance of each species against rank"

What are some balance trade offs organisms fitness is constrained by?

Modes of reproductive (sexual/asexual); age at & allocation to reproduction; number of size eggs, young, and seeds produced; amount of parental care.

Late tradeoffs of iteroparous

More growth, later maturity, increased survivorship, less time for future reproduction. optimal timing for reproductive success

Define uniform dispersal

More or less evenly spaced. Animals-Competitor (territoriality); Plants- competition (crown/root space)

Dominates (may be the)

Most #'s! Greatest biomass" Occupy the most space" Largest contributor to energy flow" Often control or influence the community! Keystone species!

Lotic

Moving water bodies. Streams/rivers

Lincoln or peterson index equation

N/M=n/R

The Electron acceptor in the light dependent reaction is ____

NADP+

Total plant primary production minus respiration costs

NPP (Net primary production)

Biotic Community

Naturally occurring assemblages occupying " the same environment/habitats and interact " (directly/indirectly)

The major grazer in grassland biomes

Nematodes

Conversion of NH3--> NO3/NO2

Nitrification

Conversion of N2-->NH2

Nitrogen fixation

Individuals do _________ all the space. Give an example

Not occupy.. (ex. deer population -- difference may avoid half of this area. land use patterns (humans), lack of cover, food, etc.)

Define abundance/density

Number o individuals in the population and define its size.

Bird wingspan would be considered ______ data

Numerical

Define Discrete data

Numerical--- integer values, counts (can be continuous--height/weight)

Classification of streams and rivers

Orders

Dystrophic Lakes receive large amounts of ______

Organic material (humic) that stain the water; or or in contact with peaty substrates; have highly productive littoral zones.

Define reproductive effort

Organisms allocation of energy and time in reproduction; depends on species. (15-30%-annuals, 12-20%- perennials, 25-40% grain crops, 7-48%-reptiles)

Individualistic Concept (Gleason,1926)"

Organisms are independent from one another" Co-occurrence of species " Similarity in requirements and tolerances" Not to strong interactions or common" evolutionary history"

Define mating

Pair formation vary in pari bonding (relationship), vary in parental care from each sex

Define mating system

Pattern of mating between males and females in a population.

C4 plants use the enzyme ______ to initially fix CO2

Pep-carboxylase

Define acclimation

Phenotypic changes in an individual in response to changing environmental conditions--reversible (e.g. physiologic)

the ability of a genotype to give rise to a variety of phenotypic expressions under different environmental conditions is called ________

Phenotypic plasticity

Trophic efficiency equation

Pn/Pn-1

Essay question: In biochemical cycles, what are the two main things that we are interested in quantifying (Define). In addition, provide a simple diagram of general biochemical cycle.

Pools- Reservoirs of the element Processes- Flow, flux between pools---what connects pools. Atmosphere ---> photosynthesis---> Plant biomass Plant biomass---> litterfall---> soil soil or plant biomass---> respiration ----> atmosphere

A groups of individuals of the same species occupying a given area is referred to as a _______

Population

Define random dispersal

Position is independent from others.

Define adaptation

Process of becoming better suited to one's habitat (abiotic and biotic environment)

Bottom sediment zone of a lake

Profundal

Essay question: Why do the amount of rainfall and the composition of vegetation differ greatly on the opposite sides of a mountain range?

Rain shadow which is the dry region on the leeward side of a mountain range resulting from a reduction in rainfall. The formation of a rain shadow is when air is forced to go over the mountain. As it rises, the air mass cools and loses its moisture as precipitation on windward side. The descending air, already dry, picks up moisture and precipitates on the leeward side. Prevailing winds push the moisture up the mountain and then the arid air falls down the other side.

Natural Grassland characteristics

Rainfall 250-700 mm/year. The plant diversity/productivity reflects the amount of rain.

Tropical savannas characteristics

Range of vegetation types in the drier tropics/subtropics with seasonal rainfall. Grass found cover with scattered trees or shrubs. Distribution of woody vegetation. Land surfaces of little relief, fire-adapted, woody vegetation short lived, seasonal precipitation controls plant activity and productivity.

anatomical cooling adaption in animals (ex. antelope)

Rete

The enzyme that that catalyzes initial Carboxylation (CO2 fixation) during C-3 plants photosynthesis is called _______

Rubisco

Capture-recapture and mark-recapture

Sampling method for mobile animals. Based entrapping, marking, and releasing a known number marked animals (M) into the population (N). Population is resampled and the ratio of marked ® to sampled (n) individuals in the 2nd sample represents the ration for the entire population. N/M= n/R

Texture of soil

Sand- 0.05-2 mm Silt- 0.002-.05 mm Clay- <0.002 mm

This biome is likely to have a population of giraffe

Savanna

Define clumped dispersal

Scattered groups (most common). Results from responses to habitat difference. Daily or seasonal weather patterns. Reproductive patterns. Social behavior. Resources.

In streams and rivers, the group of invertebrates that feeds on coarse particulate organic matter (mostly leaves that fall into the stream) are referred to as ________

Shredders

Dominant vegetation type in the Chaparral

Shrubs or shurblands

Dominants"

Single or few species predominate in a community

El nino

Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The surface pressure is between the SE tropical Pacific and Australian/Indonesian. A lot of rain

Define promiscidity

Special form of polygamy; males an females mate with many. for no pair bonds.

Dominant vegetation in taiga

Spruce

_________ are opens in the leaves of terrestrial plants that allow for uptake of CO2

Stomata

Alpine tundra

Strong winds, snow cold, and widely fluctuating temperatures. UV is especially intense on clear days; summer soil temp is 0-40 C. Steep topography induces rapid runoff.

What are the effects of grazing?

Structure/growth reflects grazing pressure; critical growth tissues (below ground); stimulates new growth; change in species

Ground level of grassland negative impacts

Suppresses growth; allows for plant invasion

In this biome you are most likely to find black spruce

Taiga

This biome is most likely to have a population of moose

Taiga

Define solar radiation

The electromagnetic energy or stream of photons produced by the sun. (waves or photons)

What is an ecosystem?

The environment where organisms carry out their "struggle for existence"

define homeostasis

The maintenance required for the exchange of energy and materials between the organisms and the external environment

Define Demography

The study of populations (change) births (natility) deaths (mortality)

Individuals can only occupy areas that can meet ______

Their requirements

Abiotic Decrease factor (environmental resistance)

Too much or too light light Temperature too high or too low Unfavorable chemical environment (too much or too little of critical nutrients)

Abiotic decrease factors (environmental resistance)

Too much or too little light Temperature too low or too high Unfavorable chemical environment

A process of temporarily dropping body temperature to the temperature of the environment for part of the day is called _____

Torpor

________ efficiency if the ratio of photosynthesis in a given trophic level to the productivity of the trophic level on which if feeds

Trophic

The highest diversity of plant and animal life occurs in ______

Tropical rain forests

This biome is most likely to find dwarf willow

Tundra

In terms of temperatures, which of the following is the proper sequences for terrestrial ecosystems in North America (coldest to warmest)

Tundra, taiga, shrubland, warm desert

In terms of precipitation received, which of the following would be proper sequence for terrestrial biomes in North america (lowest to highest)?

Tundra, taiga, temperate forest, temperate rain forest.

Define Survivorship curves

Type 1-- Mortality is low early in life (high parental care) Type 2-- a constant mortality (equal probability of life/death) Type 3-- Mortality high early in life (low parental care.

Where are the nutrients and moisture found in savannas?

Under the trees

Explain tree as a population

Unitary/Modular. Appear to be single units, but of collections (ex. leaves, roots) of modules (parts)

Carbon balance focuses on the balance between _______

Uptake of CO2 in photosynthesis balanced with the loss of CO2 during respiration

Arctic tundra vegetation

Very simple, few species; productivity low (3 months) most of it in underground. (ex. lowground- cotton grasses, well drained sites-dwarf willows, exposed sites-lichens.)

He was an early biographer/naturalist

Wallace

Savannas typically occur in ______

Warm areas with seasonal rainfall in the tropics

The ratio of carbon fixed (photosynthesis) per unit of water lost (transpiration ) is called ______

Water use efficiency

On a global basis where do we find latitude desert ecosystems and why?

We find the desert between 15 and 30 degree latitude. At these latitudes, the desert is receiving fry air that warms as it descends from the Hadley cell to earths surface. There is a rainfall and humidity. Little to no vegetation, such as cacti or sagebrush. Adapted to dry conditions.

Food chain

a descriptive diagram that represents the flow of energy from prey to predator"

Define polygyny

a male with 2 or more females

Define ecotype

a population adapted to its unique (often abrupt) local environmental conditions

Which of the following elements is considered a plant micronutrient? a. iron b. nitrogen c. phosphorus d. oxygen e. carbon

a. Iron

Assimilation Efficiency equation

a/i

Define microevolution

adaptations that occur in a population (population genetics)

Population will have an ______

age structure unless organisms have a seasonal life cycle. (reproduction -- certain age classes) (Mortality-- prevalent in other age classes)

The rate of adiabatic cooling depends on the ____

amount of moisture in the air.

Define disruptive selection

at the both extremes, but not in the middle.

What are the condition of water potential that are required for a continued movement of water from the soil into and through a plant via transpiration?

atm < leaf < root < soil

Define life expectancy

average # of years to be lived in the future

Which of the following is an example of categorical data that an ecologist might record for a bird? a. beak length b. feather color c. wingspan d. feather number e. none of the above

b. Feather color

Which of the following is considered a biotic component of the ecosystems? a. climate b. microbes c. soil d. water e. All of the above

b. Microbes

In a grassland, usually most of the living plant biomass occurs in the form of __________

below ground stems/roots

Define biomes

biotic units and are classified by predominant plant types

Define Altricial

born in an undeveloped state and requiring care and feeding by the parents (ex. us)

A major ungulate grazer in grassland biomes

buffalo

Which of the following DOES NOT represent a possible source of HEAT GAIN for an organism? a. thermal radiation b. solar radiation c. evaporation d. convection e. conduction

c. Evaporation

Define development plasticity

change in the allocation of biomass to different tissues---irreversible

Define weather

combination of variables at a specific place and time ( temperature, precipitation)

Define ecological biogeography

contemporary organisms

Researchers Rosemary and Peter Grant discovered that beak size frequency of Galapagos Island Medium ground finish populations varies with all the following following except: a. rainfall b. seed hardness c. seed size d. seed color e. all of the above

d. seed color

who came with Theory of natural selection

darwin

Define Adiabatic cooling

decreased in air temperature through air expansion rather than heat loss

As Altitude above sea level increases, both air pressure and air density will ______.

decreases

In this biome you are more likely to find saguaro

desert

What is the major energy source in a lotic system

detritus (SPOM, FPOM, DOM)

If birds with larger beaks are favored by the environment, it is likely that ______ selection will occur?

directional

Needle leaf evergreen adapted for survival in an environment with a ________

distinct growing season

Tropical rain forest characteristics

dominated by broadleaf evergreen plants. High NPP and rates of littler production. Equatorial zone 0 to 10 degrees N/S. Temperatures are warm (25 C). Most known biological diversity.

Thermal radiation definition

emission of radiation

Define macroevolution

evolution at a large scale (speciation or extinction)

r selected species traits

ex. cochroach Many small offspring little or no parental care/protection early reproductive age small adults many don't make it to reproductive age high populationgrowth rate generalist niche low ability to compete adapted to unstable climate/environment population size fluctuate

k selected species traits

ex. elephant fewer, larger offspring high parental care and protection later reproductive age most offspring survive to reproduce larger adults adapted to stable climate and environment lower population growth rate specialist niche high ability to compete population size fairly stable

Abiotic Growth factors (biotic potential)

favorable light favorable temperature favorable chemical environment

What is the primary function of the calvin cycle

fix and reduce CO2 to simple sugars

Define directional selection

go to only one extreme, but not both.

Invertebrates that feed on the algal/microbial coatings of stones and rubble in streams and rivers are referred to as _____

grazers

The absorption and re-radiation (back down to earth's surface) of infrared radiation by gases in the atmosphere is called the _______.

greenhouse effect

Functional type

group of species based on their common response to the environment

Guilds

groups of species that exploit a common resource - potential for strong interactions

Each subpopulations has it own:

growth, birth, and death rates

Convection definition

heat transfer between a fluid

Conduction definition

heat transfer between two objects

Below ground grassland characteristics

highly developed; most fibrous roots (upper 15 cm); some tap (1-2 m); underground stems (rhizomes)--storage and propagate (fire adapted).

A ______ individual has the same two alleles at the same locus on homologous chromosomes

homozygous

In the electron transport system, ______ accumulate in the outer compartment o the mitochondria.

hydrogen

Where is permafrost found and what is it definition

in the taiga; ;perennially frozen subsurface,

Allogenic

independent of organisms

Species Evenness

indicates the distribution of individuals among the total species"

What is the correct ecological hierarchy (from smallest to largest)

individual organisms, population, community, and landscape.

Percent similarity (PS

is based on the rela0ve abundance of species within the communi0es being compared (0 to 100)

Arctic Tundra animal diversity

is low; inverts near the surface; dominant vert are herbivores (arctic hare); carnivores (wolf, arctic fox)

Define distribution

its spatial location and is based on the presence or absence of individuals

Vegetation of grasslands

leafy shoots (tillers) underground rhizomes. Leaf blade and rude-like sheath. Tillers grow together (bunch or tussock) or grow laterally (sod or turf)

Compared with plants growing in high light, plants growing in shaded environments produce _____ rubisco

less

Early Tradeoffs of iteroparous

less growth, earlier maturity, reduced survivorship, potential for future reproduction

Define Subpopulations

linked together by migration (aka metapopulation)

Define Climate

long-term pattern of weather. this determines long term availability of solar energy, heat and water.

Large number of young effects

minimal investment and no parental care; disturbed and unpredictable habits.

An individual's fitness is determined by

number of offspring that survive to reproduce. (tradeoffs to max reproductive effort).

Lakes that typically have a low surface area to volume ratio

oligotrophic

Individuals are not dispersed as _______

one large population

Define historical biogeography

origin, dispersal, extinction

The removal of electrons from a compound is known as ______

oxidation

Population Efficiency equation

p/a

Growth Production efficiency

p/i

Mortality curve

plots qx against age (x)" Typically J shaped" High juvenile mortality" Higher mortality with old age

Water is a ____ ____ Bond

polar covalent

Abundance is a function of :

population density (numbers per unit space m2). Crude density, can vary from location to location

Define evolution

process by which the properties of populations change over generations

Succession

progressive changes in community" structure through time in response to environment" Gradual sequential change in species" Opportunistic early ---> late successional" r vs. k selected ?"

Diversity indexes

provide a way to quantify the relationship between species number and relative abundance"

Probability of survival (px)

px=1-qx

Mortality rate (qx)

qx=dx/Nt dx= # of deaths a time interval Nt=#alive at the beginning

Define fecundity

rate of production of young (size and age relate to this)

Relative abundance

represents the % each" species contributes to the total # of individuals" of all species"

Autogenic

result from activities of organisms

In the vicinity of the equator, air typically ____, ____, and _____

rises, cool, and precipitates

Herbivores with compartmentalized digestive systems that house microbes that facilitate the breakdown of cellulose are known as ______

ruminants

What biome has the large diversity of herbivores?

savannas

Define sexual selection

selection of a mate among competing males. Females ensure male fitness.

Acquisition of a mate

selection of mate is important (best fit); only so many males and females present; males not very selective; female very selective

The vegetation of tundra is dominated by ________

short plants such as sedges and willow

Define biogeography

spatial or geographical distribution of organisms

Define Stabilizing selection

stabilizing in the middle. the intermediate between the extremes

Define Population's geographic range

the area that encompasses all individuals of a species

Define phenotypic variation

the change in geographic range of species of neighboring populations

Define siblicide

the killing of sibling(s) as a behavior pattern typical in various animal groups (birds/snakes)

Define ecology

the scientific study of the processes influencing the distribution and abundance of organisms. the interactions among/between organisms and their environment, and the transformation and flux of energy and matter.

Buttresses, which are broad overgrowths at the base of trees, are best developed in ______

tropical rain forests

Frozen, treeless plains dominated by sedges, lichens and dwarf willows at high latitudes are referred to as ______

tundra

The force exerted on a plant cell wall by the water contained in the cell is called _______

turgor pressure

Define polygamy

two or more mates (female or male). On is freed from parental duties.

Shrublands lack an _____

understory; ground litter is highly flammable. Chapel---a large fuel load build up; many species require fire for seed germination

Define gene

unit of hereditary information (DNA)

The portion of sunlight that is available to plants for photosynthesis is called ______

visible light

The oxygen liberated in photosynthesis comes from ______

water

Gougers burrow into _______

waterlogged wood.