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Questions and Answers
What distinguishes C4 plants from CAM plants in the process of carbon fixation?
What distinguishes C4 plants from CAM plants in the process of carbon fixation?
What is a common adaptation of C4 plants to hot, dry climates?
What is a common adaptation of C4 plants to hot, dry climates?
During which part of the day do CAM plants primarily fix carbon?
During which part of the day do CAM plants primarily fix carbon?
Which enzyme is specifically used by C4 plants to capture CO2?
Which enzyme is specifically used by C4 plants to capture CO2?
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What type of compounds do CAM plants store carbon in during the night?
What type of compounds do CAM plants store carbon in during the night?
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What does the concept of punctuated equilibrium in speciation imply?
What does the concept of punctuated equilibrium in speciation imply?
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In the context of natural selection, what role do beneficial alleles play?
In the context of natural selection, what role do beneficial alleles play?
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What characterizes adaptive radiation?
What characterizes adaptive radiation?
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Which statement accurately describes the impact of natural selection on adaptive evolution?
Which statement accurately describes the impact of natural selection on adaptive evolution?
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What is speciation primarily concerned with?
What is speciation primarily concerned with?
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What fundamental characteristic defines species according to the morphological species concept?
What fundamental characteristic defines species according to the morphological species concept?
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How does the ecological species concept categorize species?
How does the ecological species concept categorize species?
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Which statement best describes allopatric speciation?
Which statement best describes allopatric speciation?
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What is a potential flaw of the morphological species concept?
What is a potential flaw of the morphological species concept?
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What characterizes sympatric speciation?
What characterizes sympatric speciation?
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How does the process of speciation challenge traditional views on geographic isolation?
How does the process of speciation challenge traditional views on geographic isolation?
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In the context of ecological species concept, what does 'niche' refer to?
In the context of ecological species concept, what does 'niche' refer to?
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What factor does the morphological species concept ignore that can be significant in defining species?
What factor does the morphological species concept ignore that can be significant in defining species?
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What does Darwin's phrase 'descent with modification' primarily refer to?
What does Darwin's phrase 'descent with modification' primarily refer to?
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Which statement accurately reflects Darwin's view on species evolution?
Which statement accurately reflects Darwin's view on species evolution?
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What is the primary mechanism of descent with modification according to Darwin?
What is the primary mechanism of descent with modification according to Darwin?
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Which of the following best describes speciation?
Which of the following best describes speciation?
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How does natural selection act on traits within a population?
How does natural selection act on traits within a population?
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In what way does convergent evolution differ from Darwinian evolution?
In what way does convergent evolution differ from Darwinian evolution?
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Why are adaptations considered related to the origin of new species?
Why are adaptations considered related to the origin of new species?
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Which factor is crucial in determining which traits are favored by natural selection?
Which factor is crucial in determining which traits are favored by natural selection?
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What characterizes a paraphyletic group?
What characterizes a paraphyletic group?
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What occurs during the light reactions of photosynthesis?
What occurs during the light reactions of photosynthesis?
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How does a plant adapt to hot or dry conditions regarding its stomata?
How does a plant adapt to hot or dry conditions regarding its stomata?
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What is the main consequence of closed stomata in a plant?
What is the main consequence of closed stomata in a plant?
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What role does Rubisco play in the Calvin cycle?
What role does Rubisco play in the Calvin cycle?
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What defines photrespiration and its effect on the Calvin cycle?
What defines photrespiration and its effect on the Calvin cycle?
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Which statement about improving photosynthetic efficiency is true?
Which statement about improving photosynthetic efficiency is true?
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What is the impact of high O2 concentrations on Rubisco's function?
What is the impact of high O2 concentrations on Rubisco's function?
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What is a significant characteristic of tropical forests?
What is a significant characteristic of tropical forests?
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Which adaptation is common among desert plants?
Which adaptation is common among desert plants?
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What type of vegetation dominates the savanna biome?
What type of vegetation dominates the savanna biome?
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What describes the climate of the chaparral biome?
What describes the climate of the chaparral biome?
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Which statement accurately describes the northern coniferous forest, or taiga?
Which statement accurately describes the northern coniferous forest, or taiga?
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What phenomenon is described as the evolution of similar features in unrelated groups?
What phenomenon is described as the evolution of similar features in unrelated groups?
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Which of the following roles do vestigial structures serve in modern organisms?
Which of the following roles do vestigial structures serve in modern organisms?
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How do evolutionary trees contribute to our understanding of species relationships?
How do evolutionary trees contribute to our understanding of species relationships?
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What does Darwin's phrase 'descent with modification' refer to?
What does Darwin's phrase 'descent with modification' refer to?
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What is a key characteristic of temperate broadleaf forests?
What is a key characteristic of temperate broadleaf forests?
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Study Notes
Ecology Midterm Study Guide
- Ecology: The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and the environment. The biosphere is the combined parts of the planet where life exists (land, water, atmosphere).
Levels of Organization in an Ecosystem
- Species: A group of organisms similar enough to breed and produce fertile offspring.
- Individual: One organism.
- Population: A group of the same species living in the same area.
- Community: All the different populations living in a defined area.
- Ecosystem: All the organisms living in a particular place and their nonliving environment.
- Biome: A group of ecosystems with the same climate.
- Biosphere: The sum of all Earth's ecosystems.
Factors That Affect an Ecosystem
- Biotic Factors: Living factors that influence an ecosystem. Examples include plant life and animal life.
- Abiotic Factors: Physical, non-living factors that influence an ecosystem. Examples include temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind, nutrients, and sunlight.
- Habitat: The area where an organism lives.
- Niche: The full range of physical and biological conditions and resources in which an organism lives and the way in which an organism uses those conditions and resources. It is essentially an organism's occupation.
- Symbiotic Relationships:
- Mutualism: Two or more organisms live closely together and benefit from each other (e.g. pollination).
- Commensalism: Two or more organisms live closely together and one benefits, but the other is neither helped nor harmed (e.g. remoras and sharks).
- Parasitism: One organism benefits at the expense of the other (e.g. head lice).
Cycles That Affect Ecosystems
- Water Cycle: Describes the movement of water through the environment (evaporation, condensation, precipitation, transpiration, runoff, infiltration).
- Carbon Cycle: Describes the movement of carbon through the environment. Carbon is taken in by photosynthetic organisms and eventually released during respiration. Excess excess CO2 in the atmosphere leads to problems.
- Nitrogen Cycle: Describes the movement of nitrogen through the environment. Nitrogen is needed to make amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids but nitrogen gas cannot be used by most organisms. Specialized bacteria are important components of the nitrogen cycle.
Ecological Succession
- Ecological Succession: The process by which the mix of species and habitat in an area changes over time.
- Primary Succession: Occurs on the surface where no soil exists (e.g., lava flows).
- Secondary Succession: Occurs after a disturbance destroys a community without removing the soil (e.g., fire, flood).
- Pioneer Species: First species to populate an area.
Physical Environment
- Temperature: An important factor in the distribution of organisms, affecting biological processes and the tolerance limits of species.
- Water availability: Influences species distribution and organisms' adaptations (such as in deserts)
- Salinity: Salt concentration influences organisms through osmosis (e.g., terrestrial organisms adapted to high-salinity habitats are rare).
- Sunlight: Provides energy for Earth.
- Rocks and soil: Physical structure, pH, and mineral composition that influences plant distribution and animal communities.
- Climate: Long-term weather patterns; key components are temperature, water, sunlight, and wind. Global climate patterns are determined largely by solar energy and the planet's movement in space.
Terrestrial Biomes
- Tropical Forest: High rainfall, vertically layered, warm, and moist.
- Desert: Low precipitation, variable temperature, drought-resistant plants, and specific adaptations for water conservation.
- Savanna: Seasonal precipitation, warm temperature, grasses, and large grazing mammals.
- Chaparral: Seasonal precipitation, warm dry summers, and cool rainy winters.
- Temperate Grassland: Cold winters, dry summers, grasses, and grazing animals.
- Northern Coniferous Forest (Taiga): Long cold winters, coniferous trees, and migratory birds
- Temperate Broadleaf Forest: Warm summers, cold winters, deciduous trees, and mammals
- Tundra: Cold, treeless, permafrost, short growing season, and hardy plants.
Aquatic Biomes
- Aquatic Biomes: Diverse and dynamic systems of different zones (littoral, benthic, aphotic, photic) with varying combinations of biotic and abiotic factors.
- Estuaries: Transition zone between rivers and sea; salt variation; productive for organisms with special adaptations.
- Intertidal Zones: Periodically submerged and exposed by tides; organisms adapted to variations in temperature and salinity and to the mechanical forces of wave action.
- Oceanic Pelagic Zones: Vast open ocean, constantly mixed by wind; phytoplankton and zooplankton are dominant.
- Coral Reefs: Formed from calcium carbonate skeletons of corals; Mutualistic relationship between corals and unicellular algae.
- Marine Benthic Zone: Seafloor; organisms adapted for significant pressure.
Genetics and Natural Selection
- Natural Selection: Individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, causing changes in allele frequencies over time.
- Microevolution: Evolution within a population (allele frequencies).
- Macroevolution: Broad patterns of evolutionary change above the species level.
Speciation
- Speciation: The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.
- Allopatric Speciation: Populations become geographically isolated, and diverge by natural selection, genetic drift, or sexual selection
- Sympatric Speciation: Subset of a population forms new species without geographic separation, often by polyploidy or sexual selection.
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Prepare for your Ecology midterm with this comprehensive study guide. Explore levels of organization within ecosystems, various biotic and abiotic factors, and the biosphere's components. This quiz covers essential terminology and concepts critical for success in your course.
