Ecology and Evolution Course Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is the main focus of the Ecology section of the course?

Natural selection and genetic drift

Reproductive isolation and species formation

Microevolution and speciation

Distribution of populations and community dynamics (correct)

Which of the following is included in the course grading structure?

Extra credit assignments (up to 10 pts)

Final project (50 pts)

Weekly quizzes (20 pts total)

Midterm examination (100 pts) (correct)

What requirement do Z students have regarding exams in this course?

They must complete an additional assignment instead of taking exams

They can choose to take either the evolution or ecology exam (correct)

They must take both the evolution and ecology exams

They are exempt from all examinations

Which platforms are utilized for course materials and interactions?

Canvas and Gauchocast Signup and view all the answers

What type of exam format is used for the midterm and final exams?

Online quiz through Canvas Signup and view all the answers

Which topics are covered under the Evolution section of the course?

Microevolution, speciation, and macroevolution Signup and view all the answers

What is the time frame for contacting Dr. Nguyen after missing an exam?

24 hours Signup and view all the answers

What type of assignments are included in the problem sets?

Ecology and evolution problems Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the physical environment and all living organisms within a specific area?

Ecosystem Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary distinction between abiotic and biotic components in an environment?

Abiotic components are chemical and physical factors, while biotic components are living factors. Signup and view all the answers

Which level of biological organization includes individuals of the same species living in a specific geographical area?

Population Signup and view all the answers

Which scale of ecology typically involves interactions at the highest level of biological organization?

Biosphere Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of ecology has become increasingly emphasized in the last fifty years?

Conceptual and mathematical theory combined with experimentation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered an abiotic component of the environment?

Predation Signup and view all the answers

What do the interactions between abiotic and biotic components result in?

Reciprocal changes affecting both components Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following definitions best represents a community in ecological terms?

Multiple species in the same area interacting biotically Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect does ecology focus on?

The distribution and abundance of organisms Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between population density and mortality as described by Farr's rule?

Higher density leads to higher mortality rates Signup and view all the answers

Who contributed to the early understanding of community regulation and succession in ecology?

Henry Cowles Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following figures is NOT associated with early population regulation concepts?

Ross Signup and view all the answers

Which historical figure is credited with the work 'Historia Animalium'?

Aristotle Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the community level of ecological explanation?

Interactions among organisms Signup and view all the answers

Which method relies on obtaining estimates from representative samples to draw conclusions in ecology?

Random sampling Signup and view all the answers

What happens if the p-value is less than 0.05 in hypothesis testing?

The results are considered statistically significant Signup and view all the answers

What is the ultimate goal of ecology as stated in the content?

To observe patterns and describe processes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a level of ecological explanation mentioned?

Genotype Signup and view all the answers

Which of these methods is used to gather ecological evidence through manipulative experiments?

Manipulative field experiments Signup and view all the answers

What does ecological statistics primarily aims to estimate?

Population parameters Signup and view all the answers

Which level of ecological organization examines behaviors and morphology of individual organisms?

Organism Signup and view all the answers

What is the Z-score calculated for the troop of chimpanzees?

-2 Signup and view all the answers

What is the average number of termites captured by chimpanzees across the Congo?

100 Signup and view all the answers

What was the standard deviation of termite capturing for the chimpanzees?

10 Signup and view all the answers

If the null hypothesis states that there is no difference in termite capturing ability, what conclusion can be drawn from a Z-score of -2?

Reject the null hypothesis. Signup and view all the answers

What does a P-value of 0.0068 indicate regarding the null hypothesis?

Strong evidence against the null hypothesis. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of using the standard error ($\sigma_p$) in calculating the Z-score?

It provides an indication of variability within a sample. Signup and view all the answers

In the given study, how many chimpanzees were in the troop studied?

25 Signup and view all the answers

What hypothesis is being tested in this scenario?

Null hypothesis: No difference in capturing ability. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the frequency distribution in ecological studies?

It determines the probability of an event occurring. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the frequency distribution, what does a value of 0.05 indicate?

The occurrence of the value is very rare. Signup and view all the answers

How does variability affect the spread of a normally distributed biological data set?

More variability leads to a wider spread. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Z-test statistic in analyzing sample means?

To find out how many standard deviations away the sample mean is from the population mean. Signup and view all the answers

If a troop of chimpanzees captures an average of 96 termites, while the average in the region is 100, what should be calculated to analyze this data?

The Z-test statistic to compare means. Signup and view all the answers

In a normally distributed set of biological data, what does the single central peak represent?

The mean of the distribution. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of standard deviation in describing biological data distributions?

It indicates how much variation exists from the mean. Signup and view all the answers

If the average termite capture in the region is 100 with a standard deviation of 10, what would the standard error be for a sample of 25 chimpanzees?

5 Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Course Information

Course Title: Introductory Biology II - EEMB 2 (Introduction to Evolution & Ecology)
Winter 2025
Instructors: Dr. Thomas Even, Dr. John Latto
Academic Coordinator: Dr. Alice Nguyen ([email protected])
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00-3:00 PM, and by appointment via Zoom ([email protected])
Course Website: https://www.canvas.ucsb.edu (Canvas is the interactive hub for all course materials)

Course Goals & Sections

Course Goal: Introduction to population & community ecology, and evolution (detailed learning objectives in the syllabus)
Ecology Section: Population & community distributions, population growth & regulation, species interactions, community structure, dynamics, and species diversity
Evolution Section: Microevolution, speciation, macroevolution; including adaptation, variation, natural selection, gene flow, genetic drift, reproductive isolation, and species formation

Course Format

All materials on Canvas
In-person lectures (synchronous), then recorded and posted to Gauchocast (asynchronous)
Problem sets (3 sets for ecology, 3 sets for evolution); asynchronous with specific deadlines (see syllabus)
Office hours: 2 per week via Zoom (synchronous); times available listed on syllabus
Examinations (Midterm and final) delivered online via Canvas quiz function during scheduled lecture time (synchronous)

Grading

220 points total
1 midterm (100 points) and a final exam (100 points)
Non-cumulative exams, includes mathematical calculations.
6 Computation Sets (3 each for ecology and evolution); 3 points each (18 points total)
Survey Questions (1 point each; 2 points total)

Make-up Policy

Contact Dr. Nguyen within 24 hours for missed exams; need verification of illness or emergency.
Specific issues on exam dates; address them directly with Dr. Nguyen

Academic Conduct

Follows standard UCSB policy for academic conduct.
Cheating results in failure, suspension, or expulsion.

Reading Material

Campbell Biology 12th edition (e-book or hardcopy); assigned readings on syllabus

Lecture Schedule (Partial)

Jan 7: Ecology: Patterns and Processes
Jan 9: Distribution of populations and communities
Jan 14: Factors that limit distributions
Jan 16: Patterns of population growth I
... (and other topics)
Feb 6: Midterm Examination (100 points)

Ecology: Patterns and Processes

Definition: The study of distribution and abundance of organisms; and factors/interactions that determine distribution and abundance (where are they, how many, and why?)
History roots: Natural history, human demography, biometry, and applied problems of agriculture and medicine; including hunters and gatherers, Aristotle (350 BC - Historia Animalium), Herodotus and Plato (Providential ecology), Graunt (1662), Leeuwenhoek (1687 - population growth), Buffon (1756), Malthus (1798), Quetelet (1835), Verhulst (1838) and their relations to population regulation, Farr (1843), Edward Forbes (1887), Henry Cowles (1899), Ronald Ross (1908), A.G. Tansley (1904), F. E. Clements (1905), Charles Elton (1927) and Rachel Carson (1962)
Factors: Abiotic factors (temperature, light, nutrients, water); biotic factors(other organisms, competition, predation)

Ecological Scales: Definitions & Levels

Organism: A single individual;
Population: Individuals of the same species living in the same geographic area
Community: 2 or more interconnected populations
Ecosystem: Comprises the community and its physical environment
Biosphere: Regions of atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere where organisms live

Ecology: Statistical Approaches

Methods: Statistics and scientific rigor; estimates of population parameters; random sampling; representative samples (and sampling error)
The P-Value Approach: Hypothesis testing (null hypothesis and P-values); significance testing, generating p-values by comparing data wtih frequency distributions
Z-Test Statistic: How many standard deviations a data point is above or below the mean
Frequency Distributions: Determining probability (e.g., what is the probability of getting a > 75).
Normal Distribution: Symmetrical, single central peak (mean), and spread determined by standard deviation.

Computational Set (Example)

Practice Question 1: Z-test statistic (across Congo, typical termite capture by chimps is 100 with SD of 10; one troop averaged 96, is this less than the typical across the region?)
Standard Error: SD of sample data /√N
Z-score calculation (datum-mean)/ standard error
Null Hypothesis: No difference in termite-capturing ability
P-value and decisions on hypothesis/null hypothesis regarding results

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz covers essential topics from the Ecology and Evolution sections of the course. It addresses course grading, exam formats, and key ecological concepts such as abiotic and biotic components. Prepare to test your understanding of the course structure and major themes in ecology.