Ecology Exam 1

Front 1

2 types of ecological research?

Back 1

descriptive
or
experimental

Front 2

purpose of descriptive research?

Back 2

studies to generate questions and hypotheses.

Front 3

purpose of experimental research?

Back 3

studies that TEST a hypothesis. There should always be a clear hypothesis for this type of research.

Front 4

is a caparison descriptive or experimental?

Back 4

experimental

Front 5

what are the 2 types of experimental research?

Back 5

Natural
or
Artificial

Front 6

What is the difference between Natural and Artificial research?

Back 6

Natural: Nature administers an unplanned tratment, and we analyze nature's experiment.

Artificial: human investigators administer a predetermined treatment.

Front 7

2 types of artificial experiments?

Back 7

lab or field

Front 8

2 types of natural experiments?

Back 8

Snapshot (1 point in time)
or
Trajectory (multiple points in time)

Front 9

comparisons of
deep vs. shallow water,
north vs. south slope,
parasites of native vs. introduced starling
are examples of what kind of experiment?

Back 9

SNAPSHOT

Front 10

comparisons of
serial terraces on a floodplain,
WI starlings over time,
serial biomonitoring following the invasion of an exotic plant species
are all examples of what kind of experiment?

Back 10

Trajectory

Front 11

what do we call the independent variable?

Back 11

the treatment

Front 12

what do we call the dependent variable?

Back 12

the response

Front 13

The prediction that the effect of x on Z will be INsignificant?

Back 13

Ho = null hypothesis

Front 14

The prediction that the effect of x on Z will be significant?

Back 14

Ha = the alternative hypothesis

Front 15

common example of sessile organisms?

Back 15

plants

Front 16

Examples of mobile organisms?

Back 16

Vertebrates: terrestrial and aquatic
Invertebrates: terrestrial and aquatic

Front 17

sampling types for sessile organisms?

Back 17

area based
point based
line based

Front 18

a predetermined sampling area with a predetermined shape (square, circle, rectangle, etc)

Back 18

a QUADRAT

Front 19

looking at 2 specimens and determining whether they belong to the same species or not.

Back 19

morphotyping

Then we can designate as species 1,2 3, etc (or beetle 1,2,&3, etc).

Front 20

types of quadrats:
species contained in the quadrat are merely listed

Back 20

List quadrat

Front 21

types of quadrats:
number of individuals of each species are listed

Back 21

count quadrat

Front 22

types of quadrats:
same as count quadrat, but cover (or surrogate) for each individual is listed.

Back 22

Cover quadrat

Front 23

types of quadrats:
the cover of each individual(for each species) is actually mapped.

Back 23

Chart quadrat

Front 24

what are the 4 types of quadrats?

Back 24

list, count, cover and chart.

Front 25

In this method for sessile organisms a line of predetermined length originates from a random point. Any organism that touches the line is recorded.

Back 25

transect method

Front 26

In this method for sessile organisms a real or imaginary "cross" originates in a random point, resulting in four equal sections of 90 degrees each. The organism that lies CLOSEST TO THE ORIGIN in each section is recorded. (so 4 organisms per point)

Back 26

Point quarter method

Front 27

a device made with a cross-bar with pin-holes supported on legs of adjustable height for obtaining a quantitative estimate of vegetation cover. Pins are lowered through the pin-holes and the plants hit by the pin-tips are recorded.

Back 27

pin frame/ point frame

Front 28

plates divided by spacers designed for substrata sampling of organisms found in rivers, streams, lakes, etc.

Back 28

plate sampler

Front 29

What are 4 examples of traps for invertebrates?

Back 29

pitfall traps (even a plastic cup can be used)
colored pan traps
sticky/intercept traps
light traps

Front 30

1 tool used for foliage beating (to catch invertebrates)?

Back 30

sweep nets

Front 31

maximize efficiency of a pitfall trap using _______.

Back 31

drift fences.

Front 32

A trap that is disguised as shelter/cover. Researcher visits trap regularly to detect/manipulate.

Back 32

Refugia traps

Front 33

a type of refugium trap where boards are placed to attract organisms like salamanders or invertebrates.

Back 33

Coverboards

Front 34

test of a hypothesis, either observational or manipulative?

Back 34

experiment

Front 35

proposition that suggests explanations for some ecological situation.

Back 35

hypothesis

Front 36

verbal or mathematical statement of a hypothesis?

Back 36

model

Front 37

universal statement that we all accept because they are mostly definitions, or are ecological translations of chemical laws

Back 37

principle

Front 38

universal statement that is so well corroborated that everyone accepts it as part of the scientific background of knowledge ....none of these in ecology yet but do exist in physics, chemistry and genetics.

Back 38

scientific law

Front 39

an integrated and hierarchical set of empirical hypotheses that together explain a significant fraction of scientific observations.

Back 39

Theory

Front 40

the four biological disciplines closely related to ecology?

Back 40

physiology
genetics
evolution
behavior

Front 41

how many organisms are found in a specific area?

Back 41

abundance

Front 42

functional ecology (as opposed to evolutionary ecology) studies ______ _____, the dynamic responses of populations and communities to immediate factors in the environment.

Back 42

proximate causes

Front 43

Evolutionary ecology studies _______ ________, the historical reasons why natural selection has favored the particular adaptations we now see.

Back 43

ultimate causes

Front 44

heat (usually from a light bulb) is applied to the top of litter in the funnel and drives insects and other invertebrates down through the litter by the elevated temperature, light, and lack of moisture; they fall into a collecting container placed at the bottom of the funnel.

Back 44

tullgren/burlese funnel

Front 45

some sampling methods for vertebrates....

Back 45

scat counts (poop)
roadside counts (can be auditory, or roadkill)
point survey (visual)
raptor pellets
small mammal traps

Front 46

organism behavior tracker.... "microchip" used in research

Back 46

PIT tags (passive integrated transponder)

Front 47

2 ways to detect larger vertebrates?

Back 47

1. tracking tunnels (with food coloring for paw prints)
2. motion detecting camera

Front 48

the variation in the data that is caused by factors other than the treatment?

Back 48

Noise or Error effects

Front 49

Ramets vs. Genets:
which can be an individual?

Back 49

both can comprise an individual!

Front 50

what do ramets and genets have in common?

Back 50

they are both clones from a single genotype, but the ramets is fragmented and is often considered an individual.

Front 51

the variation in the data caused by the TREATMENT

Back 51

treatment effects

Front 52

What are the 2 types of noise/ error?

Back 52

PREVENTABLE noise (season, location, method)
and
UNPREVENTABLE noise - usually undetectable, or unnoticed ...NOT READILY PERCEIVABLE

Front 53

important aspect which can help overcome unperceivable noise?

Back 53

REPLICATION

Front 54

2 most important characteristics of samples: must be...

Back 54

random
&
independent

Front 55

type of sampling that has the appearance of randomness, but is not indeed random. eg- some areas never get sampled.

Back 55

Haphazard sampling

Front 56

a nonrandom method of sampling which employs uniform coverage, but inherently excludes much of the sampling plot?

Back 56

systematic coverage

*random is better

Front 57

Random coordinates method?

Back 57

begin at baseline
select random points along baseline
Then anchor secondary lines at each point along the baseline

Front 58

important aspect which can help overcome unperceivable noise?

Back 58

REPLICATION

Front 59

2 most important characteristics of samples: must be...

Back 59

random
&
independent

Front 60

type of sampling that has the appearance of randomness, but is not indeed random. eg- some areas never get sampled.

Back 60

Haphazard sampling

Front 61

a nonrandom method of sampling which employs uniform coverage, but inherently excludes much of the sampling plot?

Back 61

systematic coverage

*random is better

Front 62

Random coordinates method?

Back 62

begin at baseline
select random points along baseline
Then anchor secondary lines at each point along the baseline

Front 63

a sampling method which incorporates random and systematic elements ...independence os satisfied and sometimes better coverage than complete random sampling.

Back 63

stratified random sampling

eg...to make sure you sample from each quarter of a plot, generate random spots within each quarter separately.

Front 64

having a design that is not appropriate for the question at hand. eg. getting 100 fish obsevations from 2 fish tanks instead of 10 or 20 fish tanks...though you have 100 observations, you only have 2 samples!

Back 64

pseudoreplication

Front 65

linear change in a given variable- usually a continuous variable over time or space.

Back 65

gradient

Front 66

the assemblage of all populations of all species that co-occur in time and space.

Back 66

community

Front 67

all the individuals of a SINGLE SPECIES that occur in time and space.

Back 67

population

Front 68

clonal fragments that descend from one genotype?

Back 68

ramet

Front 69

all of the clonal fragments of one genotype are collectively called ______.

Back 69

a genet
genet = genotype

Front 70

tree that is 3800 years old...oldest organism?

Back 70

bristle cone pine
(Methuselah)

Front 71

How does a genet usually develop?

Back 71

seedling
juvenile
adult
older genet
lobed genet
fragmented genet

Front 72

oldest clone?

Back 72

a clonal shrub "king's holly"- one genotype for entire species....fossils of same plant are 43.6 K years old.

Front 73

in what animals has parthenogenesis been observed?

Back 73

damselfly
weevil
snail
lizards
snake

Front 74

a form of asexual reproduction found in females, where growth and development of embryos occurs without fertilization by a mal

Back 74

parthenogenesis

Front 75

individuals with recombinant genetic material are products of what kind of cell division?

Back 75

Meiosis

Front 76

What results when an egg cell is formed without meiosis?

Back 76

clones

Front 77

explain "recombinant gametes"

Back 77

the genetic material is shuffled during meiosis, producing genetically distinct haploids (gametes).

Front 78

problem with parthenogenesis populations?

Back 78

lack of genetic diversity doesn't allow for versatility or adaptability

Front 79

terms for variation within a species, genetic or phenotypic?

Back 79

intraspecific variation

Front 80

define "fitness"

Back 80

ability to pass genes on/produce VIABLE offspring.
viable= capable of reproduction, so a mule wouldn't be viable.

Front 81

unique combination of genes that are responsible for hereditary variation

Back 81

allele

Front 82

How would I describe an individual?

Back 82

an individual carries out the processes of life without dependence on a greater whole organism (of the same genotype)

Front 83

individuals struggle within their own species (or population) for biological space

Back 83

intraspecific competition

Front 84

when different species struggle with each other for biological space.

Back 84

interspecific competition

Front 85

forming an alliance between 2 species

Back 85

mutualism

Front 86

what are the big 3 abiotic constraints?

Back 86

temperature
moisture
nutrient availability

Front 87

name that principle:
"2 species with identical ecological requirements cannot occupy the same environment"

Back 87

Gause's Competitive Exclusion Principle

Front 88

what are the zones along any abiotic gradient (with a bell curve)

Back 88

death zone
stress zone
optimal zone

Front 89

Occupying the same or overlapping geographic areas

Back 89

SYMPATRIC

Front 90

If there is competition along a gradient, the 2 species will _____to reduce interspecific competition.

Back 90

Partition (the resource in question, along the gradient...eg. the barnacles on a substrate layer by species)

Front 91

what are the zones along a gradient that are occupied by more than 1 species?

Back 91

biotic stress zones
(these zones can conflict with abiotic stress zones too, narrowing the habitable zone!)

Front 92

When 2 species overlap along one niche dimension (gradient) they may spread along another niche dimension. This avoids _____ ______.

Back 92

Niche overlap

*May 1 dimensionally seem to overlap, but with second niche gradient occupy UNIQUE NICHES.

Front 93

the conceivable niche space (if there were no competition)

Back 93

fundamental niche

(may be the same or much larger or than realized niche)

Front 94

the actual occupied niche space (presumably limited by competitors)

Back 94

Realized niche

(may be the same or much smaller than fundamental niche)

Front 95

a behavioral response to avoid competition, in which species split up the multi-dimensional habitat so that they inhabit different optimal zones

Back 95

resource partitioning

Front 96

The phenomenon where differences among similar species whose distributions overlap geographically are accentuated in regions where the species co-occur but are minimized or lost where the species’ distributions do not overlap

Back 96

character displacement

*to coexist in a stable environment two competing species must differ in their respective ecological niche.
Eg. a finch with an "all purpose" beak one one island, but 3 finches with specialized beaks on another island.

Front 97

character displacement (an adjustment to competition) can lead to _____.

Back 97

Speciation

Front 98

when character displacement occurs in a monophyletic group (group from common ancestor) resulting in reproductively isolated sub groups. (species)

Back 98

Adaptive radiation

Front 99

diverse Hawaiian honey creepers thought to be derived from a common ancestor are an example of ________.

Back 99

adaptive radiation

Front 100

Cichlid diversity in the great rift valley lakes is an example of resourc partitioning followed by _______, followed by ________.

Back 100

character displacement
speciation

Front 101

Modes of speciation:
with a physical barrier eg, islands, lakes, across deserts, etc.

Back 101

Allopatric
Greek": "other fatherland"

Front 102

Modes of speciation:
adjacent populations with no physical barrier eg: often genetic neighborhoods, mating habits

Back 102

Parapatric
Greek: "next to fatherland"

Front 103

Modes of speciation:
instantaneous- an individual gives birth to a new species, often a chromosomal rearrangement like polypoidy, or host shift like shpinx moth larvae.

Back 103

Sympatric
Greek: "same fatherland"

Front 104

What is a common route to speciation for parasites?

Back 104

host shift
(sphinx moths' parasitic larvae ...lead to 111 species of sphynx moth in North America!)

Front 105

The kaibab and albert squirrels separated by the grand canyon 10 K years ago are an example of what kind of speciation?

Back 105

allopatric

Front 106

the 3 various milk snakes and their intergrade form in the eastern US are an example of what kind of speciation?

Back 106

Parapatric

* They can mate with the intergrade species but not each other!! Caught in the act of speciation!!

Front 107

Term for when one or both homologs fail to find migrate to their own gamete and end up in the same gamete during reduction division of meiosis. (so one gamete ends up nonviable and the other is a diploid, as in lettuce which is octoploid!)

Back 107

nondisjunction

*this can happen during meiosis 1 or 2.

Front 108

having more than two sets of haploid chromosomes inherited from different species

a type of sympatric speciation where gametes of 2 species recombine in different ways... creating stable hybrid in 1 generation.

Back 108

Allopolyploidy

Greek: "other multiple chromosome sets"

Front 109

A change in PHYSICAL appearance resulting from specializing behavior in an effort to reduce interspecific competition?

Back 109

Character Displacement

Front 110

Specializing BEHAVIOR in the presence of competitors (interspecific competition)

Back 110

resource partitioning

Front 111

What is a niche?
(Hutchinson's definition)

Back 111

a MULTIDIMENSIONAL space within which the environment permits species and individuals to survive indefinitely.

Front 112

common species of large biomass or numbers in a community?

Back 112

dominant species

Front 113

In Simpson's diversity index:
A perfectly homogeneous population would have a diversity index score of____.
A perfectly heterogeneous population would have a diversity index score of 1 (assuming infinite categories with equal representation in each category)

Back 113

homogeneous: 0
heterogeneous: 1

Front 114

Most widely used diversity index?

Back 114

shannon's

Front 115

what is apomorphy?

Back 115

A trait which characterizes an ancestral species and its descendants.A derived or specialised character.

Front 116

What is Plesiomorphy?

Back 116

An ancestral or primitive character

Front 117

statistical tests that do not require a normal or random pattern of distribution but can be carried out on qualitative or ranked information

Back 117

nonparametric statistics

Front 118

statistical test that require quantitative data or observations based on a normal or random pattern of distribution.

Back 118

parametric statistics

Front 119

The change in the frequency of a gene variant (allele) in a population due to random sampling.
*The alleles in the offspring are a sample of those in the parents, and chance has a role in determining whether a given individual survives and reproduces.

Back 119

genetic drift

(evolution due to chance rather than pressures)

Front 120

the theoretical principle for if both allele and genotype frequencies in a population were to remain constant—that is, they are in equilibrium—from generation to generation unless specific disturbing influences are introduced.

Back 120

Hardy–Weinberg principle

(impossible in nature)

Front 121

factors which make the Hardy–Weinberg principle impossible in nature?

Back 121

non-random mating, mutations, selection, limited population size, "overlapping generations", random genetic drift, gene flow and meiotic drive.

Front 122

What is abnormal about a gamete (egg or sperm) following nondisjunction?

Back 122

one gamete ends up nonviable and the other is a diploid/polyploid

Front 123

example of pre zygotic isolating mechanism?

Back 123

behavioral (mating preference)
geographical \incompatible gametes

Front 124

example of post-zygotic isolating mechanisms?

Back 124

problems with hybrids...inviability, sterility, weakness

Front 125

the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages.

Back 125

convergent evolution

Front 126

the change of a biological object triggered by the change of a related object...eg, flower and a specific pollinator

Back 126

coevolution

Front 127

what is autopolyploidy?

Back 127

when nondisjunction occurs and the to polyploid gametes self fertilize creating a viable, robust and self fertile offspring, which cannot backcross with the parent species,

Front 128

when nondisjunction occurs and the to polyploid gametes self fertilize creating a viable, robust and self fertile offspring, which cannot backcross with the parent species,

Back 128

autopolyploidy