Ecology & Evolution Exam 2

Front 1

Order of soils from smallest to biggest

Back 1

Clay < 0.002 mm

Silt 0.002 <--> 0.05mm

Sand > 0.05

Front 2

Smaller particle soils hold water better or worse? Why?

Back 2

Better, because there is less space between particles for gravity to pull water down

Front 3

Properties of soil

Back 3

Color, Texture, Moisture

Front 4

Is intraspecific or interspecific competition stronger? Why?

Back 4

Interspecific competition is stronger because same species have the same niche width.

Front 5

What is GPP? Where does it come from?

Back 5

Gross primary production, total amount of chemical energy obtained from light per unit time. Occurs through photosynthesis

Front 6

What is NPP? How do you calculate it?

Back 6

Net Primary Production. The energy left over after use of energy for cellular respiration and maintenance of existing tissues.

NPP = GPP - respiration [by plants]

Front 7

What is AET?

Back 7

Actual evapotranspiration. the process by which water in transferred to the atmosphere from evaporation in soil and other surfaces and transpiration from plants.

Evaporation + Transpiration

Front 8

What is transpiration?

Back 8

Water from soil -> plants -> atmosphere

Front 9

What is trophic efficiency, how do you calculate it?

Back 9

Trophic efficiency is efficiency with energy transferred from one trophic level to the next.

Trophic level efficiency = Energy available at next level / energy available at one level. =input/output

Front 10

What is the Rule of thumb/ Ten percent rule with energy flow?

Back 10

Due to the system being imperfect, Output > input. around 10% of the input will be the output to the next level.

1000 Joules -> 100 Joules -> 10 Joules -> 1 Joule

Front 11

How does the second law of thermodynamics apply to energy flow between trophic levels?

Back 11

organisms lose heat with each trophic level while producing their output to the next level

Front 12

What is Nitrogen fixation?

Back 12

The process by which Nitrogen NO2 in the atmosphere is converted into ammonia NH3.

Front 13

What are the two steps of nitrification?

Back 13

Nitrification begins with the oxidization of ammonia to nitrite, then is followed by oxidization of nitrite to nitrate.

Front 14

What is denitrification?

Back 14

The process of nitrate reduction, that ultimately produces Nitrogen N2. Completes the Nitrogen cycle.

Front 15

What are the two forms of Advantageous Resemblance?

Back 15

Crypsis and mimicry

Front 16

What are two defenses against predation?

Back 16

advantageous resemblance and aposematic coloration

Front 17

What is Crypsis? Give an example.

Back 17

Matches background, looks inedible.

stick bug

Front 18

What is mimicry?

Back 18

Resemblance to a non-related species living in the area.

Front 19

What are the two types of mimicry? Define them

Back 19

Batesian mimicry: creature resembles a non edible version of a closely related species.

Mullerian mimicry: Unpalatable species resemble one another

Front 20

What is aposematic coloration?

Back 20

Bright colors warn of consequences to predators. Warning coloration

Front 21

What will happen to N1 if species 2 is absent? (N2 = 0)

Back 21

N1 will K1 (will increase to carrying capacity

Front 22

What are the four possible outcomes of the competition equations?

Back 22

Species 1 succeeds over species 2, species 2 succeeds over species 1, unstable equilibrium in which species most abundant at outset usually succeeds, and finally stable equilibrium where both coexist at lower rate than if they were alone.

Front 23

Why are predator-prey models unrealistic?

Back 23

Prey populations are limited by food resources and not just predation. No predator can eat infinite number of prey.

Front 24

What is true predation?

Back 24

Encounters few prey, kills soon after capture

Front 25

what is grazing?

Back 25

encounters many prey, few are killed. (sheep eating grass)

Front 26

What is parasitism and disease?

Back 26

Encounters few prey, kill long after capture

Front 27

What are effects of competition on both species?

Back 27

both negative (-) (-)

Front 28

What are effects of mutualism on both species?

Back 28

(+) (+) both positive

Front 29

What are effects of predation on both species?

Back 29

(+) (-)