Biology Chapter 14 Study Guide Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is symbiosis and how many types are there?

Symbiosis is a close ecological relationship between 2 or more organisms of different species that live in direct contact with one another. There are 3 major types.

What is mutualism?

Mutualism is a type of symbiosis where there is a two-way benefit.

What is parasitism?

Parasitism is a type of symbiosis where the host is harmed.

What is commensalism?

Commensalism is a type of symbiosis where there is no effect on the host. Signup and view all the answers

What is population dispersion and how many types are there?

Population dispersion is the way in which individuals of a population are spread in an area or a volume. There are 3 types. Signup and view all the answers

What is clumped dispersion?

Clumped dispersion is the type of dispersion where there is a herd, facilitating mating, protection, and access to food. Signup and view all the answers

What is random dispersion?

Random dispersion is a type of dispersions without any defined pattern. Signup and view all the answers

What is uniform dispersion?

Uniform dispersion is where the population is spread out across a territory and competes for resources. Signup and view all the answers

What is population growth and how many types are there?

Population growth is the rate of growth for a population, directly related to the availability of resources. There are 2 types. Signup and view all the answers

What is exponential growth?

Exponential growth occurs when there are abundant resources available, causing rapid population growth. Signup and view all the answers

What is a population crash?

A population crash is a sudden decrease in the size of the population, often caused by decreased food resources. Signup and view all the answers

What is logistic growth?

Logistic growth starts off slow, goes through a period of exponential growth, and then levels off as resources decrease, reaching a sustainable number. Signup and view all the answers

What is an ecological niche?

An ecological niche is a 'special place' for a particular species as it encompasses all the factors needed for survival and reproduction. Signup and view all the answers

What is a habitat?

A habitat includes all abiotic and biotic factors in the area where the organism lives. Signup and view all the answers

What is the habitat and niche of a deer?

A deer's habitat is a forest, and its niche includes plants for food, water to drink, and factors supporting reproduction. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between competitive exclusion and ecological equivalents?

Competitive exclusion is the theory that two species cannot occupy the same niche simultaneously, while ecological equivalents share a similar niche but live in different geographical regions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between interspecific and intraspecific competition?

Interspecific competition occurs between different species for resources, while intraspecific competition occurs between members of the same species. Signup and view all the answers

How can a brown bear and a squirrel be in interspecific competition while also having a predatory-prey relationship?

They compete when both consume the same types of plants or drink from the same pond; the bear can prey on the squirrel. Signup and view all the answers

What type of symbiotic relationship includes the remora fish and a shark?

The relationship is an example of mutualism as both benefit. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the population density of goldfish in a tank after adding 2 goldfish to an existing 3?

The population density experiences exponential growth. Signup and view all the answers

What is a survivorship curve and how many types are there?

A survivorship curve is a diagram showing the number of surviving members over time from a measured set of births. There are 3 types. Signup and view all the answers

How do the 3 types of survivorship curves align with reproductive strategies?

Type 1 has low infant mortality and parental care; Type 2 has equal chances of survival at all stages; Type 3 has high birth rates and high infant mortality. Signup and view all the answers

What happens if many individuals immigrate into a population of bison?

Competition for food could decrease the herd size, and a denser population could lead to disease spread. Signup and view all the answers

Why does a population experiencing exponential growth have a high chance of crashing?

If resources do not keep pace with population growth, it can lead to starvation and death. Signup and view all the answers

What is carrying capacity?

Carrying capacity is the number of individuals that the resources of an environment can normally support. Signup and view all the answers

How might carrying capacity change in response to a long and harsh winter?

Carrying capacity may decrease if the winter reduces the amount of available food. Signup and view all the answers

Describe two limiting factors that affect a dense population.

Competition for food (e.g., two types of deer eating the same food) and predation (e.g., not enough rabbits for coyotes). Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Symbiosis

Symbiosis is a close ecological relationship between two or more organisms of different species.
There are three major types of symbiosis: mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism.

Types of Symbiosis

Mutualism: Both species benefit; examples include Nile crocodiles and Egyptian plovers, and bees with flowers.
Parasitism: One species benefits at the expense of the host; an example is a baraconid wasp laying eggs in a caterpillar.
Commensalism: One species benefits while the host is not affected; an example is demodicid mites consuming dead skin around human eyelashes.

Population Dispersion

Population dispersion refers to how individuals are spread across an area.
Three types of population dispersion: clumped, random, and uniform.

Types of Population Dispersion

Clumped: Individuals gather in groups for mating, protection, or resource access.
Random: No specific pattern in the spread of individuals.
Uniform: Individuals are evenly spaced due to competition for resources.

Population Growth

Population growth rate is influenced by resource availability.
Two types of population growth: exponential growth and logistic growth.

Types of Population Growth

Exponential Growth: Rapid population increase when resources are abundant.
Population Crash: Sudden decrease in population size, often due to resource depletion.
Logistic Growth: Growth that slows as it approaches the environment's carrying capacity after initial rapid growth.

Ecological Niche

An ecological niche represents the special place a species occupies, incorporating all necessary physical, chemical, and biological factors for survival.

Habitat

A habitat encompasses all biotic and abiotic factors needed for an organism's life, derived from the Latin for "it inhabits."

Examples of Habitat and Niche

Deers inhabit forests (habitat) and their niche includes plant food, water, temperature, and social structure for reproduction.

Competition Types

Competitive Exclusion: Two species occupying the same niche cannot coexist.
Ecological Equivalents: Organisms share similar niches in different geographical areas.

Interspecific vs. Intraspecific Competition

Interspecific Competition: Different species compete for the same limited resource.
Intraspecific Competition: Members of the same species compete for resources, such as territory.

Predatory-Prey Relationships

Brown bears can compete with squirrels for food while also preying on them.

Advantages of Symbiosis

Remora fish benefit by attaching to sharks, gaining food and aiding in parasite removal, exemplifying mutualism.

Population Density Changes

Adding goldfish to a tank results in exponential growth as population density nearly doubles.

Survivorship Curves

Survivorship curves illustrate the number of survivors over time from a set of births, categorized into three types based on reproductive strategies.

Types of Survivorship Curves

Type 1: Low infant mortality, high survival into old age; e.g., humans and large mammals.
Type 2: Equal chance of living or dying across ages; e.g., small mammals and birds.
Type 3: High birth rates, high infant mortality; e.g., fish and plants.

Population Dynamics

A population experiencing immigration may face competition for resources or disease spread leading to a return to original size.

Risks of Exponential Growth

Exponential growth leads to potential crashes if resources cannot match the rapid population increase, risking starvation, as seen with coyotes and rabbits.

Carrying Capacity

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals that an environment’s resources can sustainably support.

Environmental Changes and Carrying Capacity

Prolonged harsh winters can decrease carrying capacity by reducing food availability.

Limiting Factors in Dense Populations

Competition for food: e.g., overlapping diets between deer species.
Predation: insufficient prey in an area affecting predator populations.
Disease spread: higher transmission rates in overcrowded communities.

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Description

Explore key concepts from Chapter 14 in Biology through this study guide featuring flashcards. Learn about symbiosis and its types, including mutualism and parasitism, while enhancing your understanding of ecological relationships. Ideal for revising important terms and definitions.