Ecology and Evolution Overview

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What distinguishes biotic factors from abiotic factors in an ecosystem?

Biotic factors are non-living components, while abiotic factors are living organisms.

Both biotic and abiotic factors stem from human influence.

Biotic factors include living organisms, while abiotic factors include non-living environmental elements. (correct)

Biotic factors are interactions within a species, while abiotic factors are interactions between species.

Which of the following statements about survivorship curves is correct?

Type I curves are characteristic of r-selected species.

Type II curves show a constant mortality rate regardless of age. (correct)

Type III curves generally represent species that invest heavily in parental care.

Type I curves depict high mortality at a young age.

How do K-selected species differ from r-selected species?

R-selected species typically have long lifespans and low reproductive rates.

K-selected species are adapted to stable environments and invest in fewer offspring. (correct)

R-selected species thrive in predictable environments with significant competition.

K-selected species produce many offspring with little parental care.

What is the primary difference between density-independent and density-dependent population regulation?

Density-independent factors affect populations regardless of their size, while density-dependent factors have effects that change with population size. Signup and view all the answers

What is a keystone species, and why is it significant in an ecosystem?

A keystone species plays a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecosystem despite its low abundance. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic that differentiates gnathostomes from agnathans?

Presence of jaws Signup and view all the answers

What best describes the advantage of being an amniote tetrapod?

Reproduction in a terrestrial environment Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT a function of Hox genes?

Controlling genetic mutation rates Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is unique to reptiles as compared to amphibians?

Shelled eggs Signup and view all the answers

How does the water vascular system in echinoderms function?

Movement and adherence to surfaces Signup and view all the answers

Which pair of characteristics best describes the organisms in the phylum Platyhelminthes?

Bilateral symmetry and acoelomate body plan Signup and view all the answers

Which of these best describes the significance of Tiktaalik?

It is a transitional fossil linking fish to tetrapods. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement correctly identifies a misconception about human evolution?

Humans evolved from chimpanzees. Signup and view all the answers

What method in restoration ecology involves removing invasive species?

Biocontrol Signup and view all the answers

Which classification group represents a natural evolutionary lineage?

Monophyletic Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ecology and Evolution

Ecology is the study of the interactions between organisms and their environment.
Levels of ecology range from organisms to ecosystems.
Major physical components of climate include temperature, precipitation, sunlight, and wind.
Terrestrial biomes vary based on temperature and precipitation, creating distinct ecosystems. Examples include tundra, temperate deciduous forest, savanna, etc.
Aquatic environments include freshwater (lakes, rivers) and marine (oceans, coral reefs).
Abiotic factors are non-living (e.g., sunlight, water). Biotic factors are living (e.g., plants, animals).
Dispersal can influence species distribution, affecting their ability to colonize new habitats.
Climate change impacts species distributions by altering suitable habitats and affecting migration patterns.
Ecological and evolutionary processes influence each other, with natural selection shaping populations within their environments.
Population density is the number of individuals per unit area, while population distribution refers to the spatial arrangement of individuals.
Indirect methods for calculating population size include mark-recapture studies.
Survivorship curves illustrate the probability of survival over time, with Type I showing high survivorship throughout life (e.g., humans), Type II showing constant mortality throughout life (e.g., rodents), Type III showing low survivorship in early life (e.g., oysters).
Exponential growth increases at a constant rate, while logistic growth is limited by carrying capacity.
Life history traits describe aspects of an organism's life, like age of maturity, lifespan, and reproduction.
K-selected species have few offspring and long life spans, while r-selected species have many offspring and shorter life spans. Compare these in a way that shows what traits result and are prioritized when one is selected over the other
Density-independent factors influence population size regardless of density (e.g., natural disasters), and density-dependent factors are influenced by population density (e.g., disease).
Interspecific interactions occur between different species, and intraspecific interactions occur between individuals of the same species.
Examples of (+/-), (-,-), (+, 0), and (+/+) interactions. Examples of competitive exclusion and resource partitioning
Exploitative interactions include predation, parasitism, and herbivory.
Prey adaptations for avoiding predation include camouflage, mimicry, and defense mechanisms.
Food chains show a linear flow of energy, while food webs show the complex interactions in a community. Explain the concept of a trophic level and give examples. What is a keystone species.
Energy transfer between trophic levels is inefficient, with energy lost as heat.
The water cycle describes the continuous movement of water through the environment.
The carbon cycle describes the movement of carbon through the environment.
Restoration ecology aims to restore damaged ecosystems, using methods like reforestation and habitat restoration.

Evolutionary History of Life

Primates exhibit unique characteristics that are different from other mammals.
Common misconceptions about human evolution.
List the order that hominin characteristics evolved.
Diagram of the hominin phylogenetic tree.
Tiktaalik is an evolutionary link between fish and tetrapods.
Amphibian orders have unique characteristics; examples include salamanders, frogs, and toads.
Amniotes have adaptations for life on land.
Characteristics of reptiles (avian and nonavian).
Characteristics of mammals and their three orders.
Echinoderms have a water vascular system; examples include sea stars, sea urchins, and sand dollars.
Chordates have four key characters: notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and post-anal tail.
Invertebrate chordates.
Agnathans and gnathostomes, and their differences in characteristics
Chondrichthyans and osteichthyans, and their differences in characteristics.
Hox genes are important in development.
Animal classification methods and the factors used in classifying animals.
Phylum Porifera contains the simplest animals.
Cnidarians unique characteristics and examples include jellyfish, corals, and anemones.
Lophotrochozoa, Ecdysozoa, and Deuterostomia clades, and their shared characteristics.
Platyhelminthes characteristics and examples include flatworms.
Characteristics of Mollusca, examples of the four classes.

Plant Evolution and other topics

Four key steps in plant evolution, with details on each of the four groups of plants, their characteristics.
Fungi life cycle and structure.
Five phyla of fungi and their characteristics and examples.
Fungi's roles in ecosystems and human benefits.
Protists, their classification difficulties, and roles in ecosystems.
Mitosis and meiosis in life cycles and their functions.
Eukaryotic vs. prokaryotic cells, their differences and characteristics
Prokaryotic cell surface structures.
Examples of convergent evolution (e.g., flagella of eukaryotes and prokaryotes, marsupials and eutherian mammals).
Genetic recombination in prokaryotes.
Domain Archaea characteristics and habitats.
Prokaryotic benefits.

Speciation, Population Genetics, and Phylogenetics

Prezygotic vs. postzygotic isolation mechanisms.
Allopatric vs. sympatric speciation.
Classification hierarchy from largest to smallest. Explain binomial nomenclature.
Phylogenetic tree parts: outgroup, nodes, branches, root.
Reading relationships between taxa on a phylogenetic tree.
Homology vs. analogy.
Monophyletic, paraphyletic, and polyphyletic groups.
Fossils formation and dating methods.
Oxygen accumulation in the atmosphere.
Cambrian explosion significance.
Mass extinction events in Earth's history.
Biological species concept and pre/postzygotic barriers.
Adaptive radiation examples.
Genetic variation vs. phenotypic variation.
Microevolution vs. macroevolution.
Mutation's role in genetic variation.
Calculating allele and genotype frequencies using Hardy-Weinberg equations.
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium conditions.
Challenges to scientific belief by Darwin.
Sexual vs. asexual reproduction advantages and disadvantages.
Mechanisms generating genetic variation in populations.
Differences between a gene, an allele, and a genotype

Studying That Suits You

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

Description

Explore the fundamental concepts of ecology and evolution in this quiz. From the interactions of organisms with their environment to the impact of climate change on species distribution, test your understanding of various ecological principles and biomes. Dive into both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems as you learn how abiotic and biotic factors influence life on Earth.