Ecology and Climate Change Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is one consequence of declining krill populations in Antarctica?

  • Increase in penguin populations
  • Expansion of arctic cod habitats
  • Loss of billions of dollars in fisheries (correct)
  • Decrease in phytoplankton diversity

Which factor is NOT associated with the success of bird migration and reproduction?

  • Seasonal shifts in food supply
  • Climate-friendly habitats (correct)
  • Availability of food resources
  • Celestial cues for navigation

What is a significant effect of increased temperatures on pathogens in wildlife?

  • Increased prevalence of diseases (correct)
  • Decreased prevalence of diseases
  • Improved health conditions for amphibians
  • Stabilization of parasite populations

To combat climate change, which measure is suggested to stabilize CO2 levels?

<p>Achieving global carbon neutrality by 2050 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of implementing Species Distribution Models in ecology?

<p>To project suitable habitats for species (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does habitat fragmentation primarily lead to?

<p>Decline in species and biodiversity (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following defines a reservoir in disease ecology?

<p>A dormant or active population where a disease exists (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome when the measure of parasite fitness, Ro, is greater than 1?

<p>Epidemic potential of the disease (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a zoonotic disease?

<p>Lyme Disease (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What has been the trend in emerging infectious diseases since 1970?

<p>Emergence of over 40 new diseases in humans (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What process makes nitrogen in the atmosphere usable for organisms?

<p>Nitrogen Fixation (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following primarily occurs during nitrification?

<p>Conversion of NH4+ to NO3- (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the enzyme nitrogenase in the nitrogen cycle?

<p>It catalyzes the conversion of N2 to NH3. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes denitrification?

<p>It returns nitrogen to the atmosphere as N2. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What limitation do organisms face concerning phosphorus in the ecosystem?

<p>Phosphorus is often in limited supply for growth and reproduction. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a pool in the context of biogeochemical cycles?

<p>The total standing crop of biomass in an ecosystem. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is ammonification characterized in the nitrogen cycle?

<p>Release of ammonia from organic matter. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor drives the major biogeochemical cycles observed in ecosystems?

<p>Flow of energy through the ecosystem (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Parasite Fitness (R0)

The ability of a parasite to spread and infect new hosts, measured by the basic reproductive number (R0). An R0 value greater than 1 indicates an epidemic, while an R0 less than 1 suggests the disease will die out.

Etiology

The study of the cause of disease, focusing on factors like pathogens, environmental influences, and host interactions.

Reservoir (Disease)

A population of organisms, like animals or humans, where a specific disease is commonly found and can persist. It acts as a source for further infections.

Vector (Disease)

An organism, like a mosquito or tick, that carries a pathogen and transmits it to another organism (host).

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Epizootic Disease

A disease outbreak affecting a large number of animals within a population, leading to significant mortality. It's the animal equivalent of a human epidemic.

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How do ocean changes affect species?

Changes in ocean conditions, driven by factors like temperature and distribution of resources, can cause shifts in species' behaviors and locations. For example, krill populations in the North Pole and Antarctica have declined, impacting penguins and other species dependent on them.

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Climate change and invasive species

Invasive species or disease outbreaks can become more frequent and widespread due to climate change, impacting ecosystems and potentially leading to declines in native populations.

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What are species distribution models?

Species distribution models use data about species locations and environmental factors to predict where a species might live in the future. Climate change is a key factor in these models.

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What is phenology?

Phenology refers to the timing of biological events, like migration or breeding. Climate change can alter these timings, potentially affecting species relationships and ecosystem balance.

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How does climate change impact diseases and parasites?

Climate change impacts pathogens, parasites, and diseases in various ways, often leading to increased prevalence and severity. This can impact both human and animal health.

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Biogeochemical Cycles

The continuous movement of essential nutrients (like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus) through living organisms and the non-living environment, including the atmosphere, rocks, and soil.

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Atmospheric Nitrogen

The portion of the Earth's atmosphere primarily made up of nitrogen gas (N2), which is unavailable to most organisms in this form.

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Nitrogen Fixation

The process of converting unusable atmospheric nitrogen gas (N2) into usable forms like ammonia (NH3) or nitrate (NO3-) by certain organisms.

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Remineralization/Ammonification

Conversion of organic nitrogen (from dead organisms) into ammonium (NH4+).

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Nitrification

The process of oxidizing ammonium (NH4+) into nitrite (NO2-) and then nitrate (NO3-), which is a form of nitrogen plants can easily absorb.

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Denitrification

The process of converting nitrate (NO3-) back into atmospheric nitrogen gas (N2).

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Phosphorus Cycle

The movement of phosphorus through the environment, from rocks to living organisms and back again.

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Phosphate (PO4 3-)

The form of phosphorus that is most readily available for plants and other organisms.

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Study Notes

Biogeochemical Cycles

  • Nutrients cycle through non-living and living components of ecosystems.
  • Cycles involve both biological and nonbiological processes.
  • Two types of cycles:
    • Gaseous: major reservoir in the atmosphere or ocean.
    • Sedimentary: major reservoir in soil, rocks, or minerals.
  • Based on inputs and outputs:
    • Input energy to the system -> internal cycling -> outputs (respiration, denitrification, assimilation/excretion).
    • Mass balance: Input - output + sources - sinks = amount of mass.

Nitrogen Cycle

  • Abundant nitrogen (N2) in the atmosphere, but unusable to organisms.
  • Nitrogen fixation converts N2 into usable forms (e.g., ammonia).
  • Abiotic fixation: lightning and cosmic radiation.
  • Biotic fixation: by bacteria (e.g., Cyanobacteria, Rhizobium).
  • Nitrogen is converted into usable forms like nitrate, by nitrification.
  • Organic nitrogen is converted into ammonia.
  • Denitrification returns N2 to the atmosphere.

Phosphorus Cycle

  • PO43− (phosphate) is the primary form of phosphorus.
  • No atmospheric reservoir, mainly in soil and rocks.
  • Cycles through water, soil, and organic matter.
  • Essential for biological processes (DNA, phospholipids, bones, etc.).

Carbon Cycle

  • Carbon moves globally between organisms and the environment.
  • Reservoirs: atmosphere (CO2), terrestrial biosphere(soil, plants, animals), oceans, and geological formations (fossil fuels).
  • Processes:
    • Photosynthesis: removes carbon from the atmosphere.
    • Respiration: releases carbon into the atmosphere.
    • Decomposition: breaks down organic matter.
  • Oceans are the largest carbon reservoir.
  • Fossil fuels release significant amounts of carbon into the atmosphere.
  • Carbon sequestration in soil can mitigate climate change.

Carbon Movement

  • Seasonal changes in carbon cycles are linked to energy flow and photosynthesis.
  • Decomposition breaks down dead organic matter.
  • Respiration: releases carbon from organisms.
  • Rate of decomposition: influenced by factors like moisture, temperature, and humidity.
  • Detritivores (organisms that consume dead organisms) also play a significant role.
  • Decomposition/mineralization: converts organic matter into inorganic nutrients.
  • Immobilization: microbes take up and use nutrients, opposite of mineralization.

Landscape Ecology

  • Studies relationships between spatial patterns and ecological processes.
  • Focuses on large scales of change.
  • Patches: homogeneous areas in a heterogeneous landscape.
  • Edges/corridors: borders between habitats, facilitate movement, and biodiversity.
  • Connectivity: metapopulations; dispersal and migration influence extinction/persistence.
  • Source-sink dynamics: populations in high-quality habitats increase while low-quality habitats decrease.

Ecosystem/Global Ecology

  • Ecosystem ecology considers the integrated system of organisms and their environment.
  • Includes processes like energy flow and nutrient cycling.
  • Ecosystem resistance refers to the ability of an ecosystem to withstand disturbance.

Ecosystem Stability/Resilience

  • Stability = ecosystem's tendency to stay constant.
  • Resilience = ecosystem's ability to recover after disturbance.
  • Resilience and stability are measured by ecological services.

Global Climate Change

  • Evidence for human-induced change.
  • Human activities have increased CO2 levels.
  • Climate change influences natural cycles.
  • Global temperature increase alters ecosystem conditions.

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