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Questions and Answers
What is the primary factor that determines the composition of species in European phytochoria?
What is the primary factor that determines the composition of species in European phytochoria?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a biome?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a biome?
What is the term for populations of a species that differ in characteristics but can interbreed to produce fertile offspring?
What is the term for populations of a species that differ in characteristics but can interbreed to produce fertile offspring?
What is the term for the vegetation that should be present in a biome based on environmental conditions?
What is the term for the vegetation that should be present in a biome based on environmental conditions?
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What are the two main types of speciation?
What are the two main types of speciation?
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Which of the following is NOT a life form categorized by Raunkiaer's system?
Which of the following is NOT a life form categorized by Raunkiaer's system?
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Which of the following is an example of an endemic species?
Which of the following is an example of an endemic species?
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What is the term for the physiological response of a plant to a cold period, leading to germination?
What is the term for the physiological response of a plant to a cold period, leading to germination?
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What is the term for the product of temperature and time that determines the lifecycle of exothermic organisms?
What is the term for the product of temperature and time that determines the lifecycle of exothermic organisms?
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In the context of exothermic organisms, how does a 10-degree increase in temperature affect their rate of development?
In the context of exothermic organisms, how does a 10-degree increase in temperature affect their rate of development?
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Which of the following is a biotic resource?
Which of the following is a biotic resource?
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What is the term for the range of climate conditions in which a species can survive?
What is the term for the range of climate conditions in which a species can survive?
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Which of the following is an example of a plant functional type?
Which of the following is an example of a plant functional type?
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If climate change causes a shift in the climate envelope of an exothermic prey species, but the predator species is endothermic, what impact will this have on the predator?
If climate change causes a shift in the climate envelope of an exothermic prey species, but the predator species is endothermic, what impact will this have on the predator?
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What is the term for the process by which organisms evolve together in response to each other's selection pressures?
What is the term for the process by which organisms evolve together in response to each other's selection pressures?
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Which of the following is NOT a factor that contributes to the formation of ecotypes?
Which of the following is NOT a factor that contributes to the formation of ecotypes?
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Which of the following is NOT a significant event in the history of the Earth, according to the information provided?
Which of the following is NOT a significant event in the history of the Earth, according to the information provided?
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What is the term for the process by which individuals with traits that are better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce?
What is the term for the process by which individuals with traits that are better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce?
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Which of the following is an example of a homologous organ?
Which of the following is an example of a homologous organ?
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What is the primary cause of variation within a population?
What is the primary cause of variation within a population?
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What is the relationship between genotype and phenotype?
What is the relationship between genotype and phenotype?
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What is the term for the ability of an individual to express different phenotypes depending on the environment?
What is the term for the ability of an individual to express different phenotypes depending on the environment?
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Which of the following processes results in a decrease in genetic variation within a population?
Which of the following processes results in a decrease in genetic variation within a population?
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Which of the following is an example of convergent evolution?
Which of the following is an example of convergent evolution?
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Flashcards
History of the Earth
History of the Earth
Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old and has undergone significant changes.
Anaerobic organisms
Anaerobic organisms
Organisms that do not require oxygen to survive, first life forms on Earth.
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
Process by which organisms convert light energy into chemical energy, releasing oxygen.
Natural Selection
Natural Selection
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Divergent evolution
Divergent evolution
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Convergent evolution
Convergent evolution
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Genotype
Genotype
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Phenotypic plasticity
Phenotypic plasticity
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Co-evolution
Co-evolution
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Ecotypes
Ecotypes
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Speciation
Speciation
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Subspecies
Subspecies
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Ring species
Ring species
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Allopatric speciation
Allopatric speciation
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Sympatric speciation
Sympatric speciation
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Biomes
Biomes
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Potential vegetation
Potential vegetation
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Current vegetation
Current vegetation
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Raunkiaer’s life forms
Raunkiaer’s life forms
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Environmental conditions
Environmental conditions
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Resources in ecology
Resources in ecology
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Climate envelope
Climate envelope
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Physiological time
Physiological time
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Study Notes
History of Earth
- Earth is 4.5 billion years old.
- Early Earth had volcanic activity and a harsh environment.
- Anaerobic organisms (no oxygen) existed.
- Photosynthesis evolved.
- Oxygen was released into the atmosphere.
- Initially bound to iron-bearing rock, then saturated, and released into the air.
- Aerobic organisms emerged.
- Microbes developed, followed by sponges, fungi, corals, and vertebrates.
- Life moved onto land.
- Dehydration and gravity presented challenges.
- Key evolutionary events: anaerobic bacteria, photosynthesis, free oxygen, ozone layer, sexual reproduction, life on land.
- Key figures: Darwin and Wallace, natural selection.
Evolution
- Parallel Evolution:
- Shared ancestor, geographic separation.
- Analogous organs: similar structure and function.
- Homologous organs: similar ancestral origin, different structure and function.
- Divergent Evolution:
- Shared ancestor.
- Homologous organs (same as above).
- Convergent Evolution:
- Different ancestors.
- Analogous organs (same as above).
- Variation Causes:
- Mutations: Random, slow, add alleles, increase genetic variation.
- Selection: Environment-driven, slow, removes alleles, reduces genetic variation.
- Genetic drift: Random, fast, removes alleles, reduces genetic variation.
Evolution through Natural Selection
- Individuals within a population are not identical.
- Variation has a genetic basis and is heritable.
- Limited reproductive capacity.
- Differential contribution to future generations.
- Fitness: relative contribution to the next generation.
- Genotype: complete genetic characteristics.
- Phenotype: expressed characteristics.
- Phenotypic plasticity: environmental influence on phenotype expression.
- Coevolution: mutual selection of interacting organisms.
Evolution Within Species
- Little exchange, strong selection lead to ecotypes.
- Ecotypes: genetically adapted populations of a species to local conditions.
- Long-term isolation leads to speciation.
- Speciation: no fertile hybrids between species (e.g., different gull species).
- Subspecies: populations differing but with fertile hybrids.
- Ring species: interconnected subspecies, end populations cannot interbreed.
- Allopatric speciation: species arise in isolation.
- Sympatric speciation: species arise in the same geographic area.
Plate Tectonics and Species Dispersion
- Six zoogeographic regions are due to plate tectonics.
- 280 million years ago, only one continent (Pangea).
- Flora kingdoms are also related to continental drift but have different boundaries from zoogeographic regions (plants colonized land earlier).
- Local flora districts exist.
- Environmental factors determine species distribution.
- European phytochoria: climate mainly dictates species composition.
- Endemic species: found only in a particular area (e.g., Madagascar lemurs).
Biomes
- Biomes: groups of ecological communities.
- Ecological community: all living organisms in a specific area (e.g., desert, grassland, tropical forest, taiga, tundra).
- Eight terrestrial biomes.
- Tropical regions show greater rainfall variation.
- Biome vegetation structure is distinctive, not species composition.
- Potential vegetation: expected vegetation.
- Current vegetation: actual vegetation (often altered by humans).
- Replacement communities (instead of potential vegetation).
Plant Functional Types
- Raunkiaer's life forms categorize plants by growth points.
- Trees, shrubs, herbs, bulbs/rootstocks, annuals.
- Related to climate, suitable for biome distinction and models.
- Plant functional types are often better than species-level information.
Soils and Biome Distinction
- Soils also influence biomes, but less than plants.
- Different soils and vegetation exist with similar climates (e.g., West Africa, South America).
Resources and Conditions
- Environmental conditions: abiotic factors (e.g., temperature, humidity, pH, salinity).
- Resources: consumable abiotic and biotic factors (e.g., nutrients, water, light).
Environmental Conditions for Animals and Plants
- Environmental conditions and resources vary temporally and spatially and have different impacts on organisms.
- Animal conditions: temperature, humidity, pH, salinity, harmful substances, and light.
- Plant resources: temperature, pH, harmful substances, salinity, and light.
Climate Envelope
- Range of climate conditions in which a species can survive.
- Changes due to environmental shifts (e.g., climate change, ice ages).
Role of Temperature
- Signaling effects: Vernalization (germination after cold) or extreme factors (frost).
- Exothermic organisms (cold-blooded): Metabolic rate, lifecycle depends on temp.
- Endothermic organisms (warm-blooded): Less affected by temperature.
- Exotherm Temp Role: Temperature significantly influences metabolic rate, growth, development, Q10 effect.
- Physiological time: Temperature x time, determines lifecycles.
- Calculation: Accumulated temperature sums. Temperature sums are applicable to exothermic organisms, and not to endothermic organisms.
- Predator-Prey relationship: Climate change impacts exothermic prey, not endothermic predators.
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Description
Explore the fascinating history of Earth, from its origins 4.5 billion years ago to the emergence of life and significant evolutionary milestones. Understand the concepts of parallel, divergent, and convergent evolution alongside key figures in natural selection. This quiz covers the profound events that shaped life on Earth.
