Population Ecology Concepts Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary difference between immigration and emigration in terms of population dynamics?

Immigration refers to the arrival of individuals into a population, while emigration involves individuals leaving a population.

What defines the carrying capacity (K) of an environment, and how does it vary?

The carrying capacity (K) is the maximum population size that an environment can sustain, and it varies based on available resources and environmental conditions over time.

Explain the difference between density-dependent and density-independent factors affecting population growth.

Density-dependent factors are influenced by population density, such as resource limitation and disease, while density-independent factors, like weather events, are not affected by how many individuals are in the population.

What are survivorship curves and what do the three types (Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3) represent?

<p>Survivorship curves graphically represent the survival patterns of a population; Type 1 shows low death rates, Type 2 shows a constant death rate, and Type 3 shows high death rates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines a population in ecology?

<p>A population is defined as a group of individuals of the same species living in the same area and time, capable of breeding with one another.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain what a metapopulation is.

<p>A metapopulation consists of a group of geometrically separated populations of the same species that interact at some level.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe the three patterns of dispersion in populations.

<p>The three patterns of dispersion are clumped spacing (grouped due to resource unevenness), uniform spacing (even distribution due to competition), and random spacing (independent distribution of individuals).</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do abiotic factors play in determining a species' range?

<p>Abiotic factors, such as water availability and temperature, can set the limits on a species' range if interactions with other species do not impose restrictions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do immigration and emigration affect population density?

<p>Immigration increases population density by bringing in new individuals, while emigration decreases it by reducing the number of individuals in the population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Outline the steps involved in the mark-recapture method for estimating population size.

<p>The mark-recapture method involves capturing a random sample, marking and releasing them, allowing them to mix, then capturing a second sample to count marked individuals and the total captured.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What two conditions lead to population growth?

<p>Population grows when the birth rate exceeds the death rate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of understanding species range in population ecology?

<p>Understanding species range is significant for predicting distribution, studying habitat requirements, and assessing the impact of environmental changes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between gross primary production (GPP) and net primary production (NPP)?

<p>GPP is the total amount of light energy converted to chemical energy by autotrophs, while NPP is GPP minus the glucose used by primary producers for cellular respiration.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain how herbivores contribute to nutrient cycling in an ecosystem.

<p>Herbivores consume primary producers and convert some of that energy into their biomass, while the undigested parts are excreted, returning nutrients to the soil.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is production efficiency and how is it calculated?

<p>Production efficiency is the fraction of energy stored in food that is used for secondary production, calculated as PE = (net secondary production / assimilation of primary production) x 100%.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of greenhouse gases in climate change?

<p>Greenhouse gases absorb and emit radiation, contributing to the greenhouse effect which leads to global warming.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe what happens during eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems.

<p>Eutrophication occurs when excess nutrients runoff into water bodies, leading to algal blooms that deplete oxygen and result in the death of aquatic life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does climate change impact species distribution?

<p>Climate change causes species to shift their ranges or distributions to adapt to more tolerable climates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does climate change affect precipitation patterns?

<p>Climate change leads to more extreme precipitation patterns, resulting in increased likelihood of floods and droughts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are two strategies organisms use to minimize competition in their ecological niches?

<p>Resource partitioning and character displacement are two strategies to minimize competition among species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is biological magnification and its implications for higher trophic levels?

<p>Biological magnification is the process where toxins become concentrated at higher trophic levels, leading to increased exposure and potential harm to organisms at these levels.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do photosynthetic organisms play in the carbon cycle?

<p>Photosynthetic organisms convert CO2 into organic molecules, forming the basis of the food web for heterotrophs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of phenological shifts due to climate change?

<p>Phenological shifts alter the timing of life history events, which can disrupt food webs and mating patterns.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Differentiate between weather and climate.

<p>Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions on a given day, while climate represents long-term atmospheric patterns over an extended period.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What adaptations might predators develop to improve their hunting success?

<p>Predators may develop sharp teeth, claws, poison, or camouflage to enhance their ability to capture prey.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do aposematic and cryptic coloration function as predator defenses?

<p>Aposematic coloration serves as a warning to predators, while cryptic coloration aids in camouflage to avoid detection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of human activity on carbon dioxide emissions?

<p>Human activities such as industry, transportation, and electricity generation significantly increase carbon dioxide emissions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe one method to help reduce the impacts of climate change.

<p>Increasing energy efficiency is one way to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do herbivores influence the evolution of plant defenses?

<p>Herbivores drive the evolution of plant mechanical and chemical defenses, leading to adaptations such as spines and tough leaves.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes mutualism from commensalism?

<p>Mutualism involves both species benefiting from the interaction, while in commensalism, one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain what a keystone species is and its ecological importance.

<p>A keystone species is not the most abundant but plays a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Define species richness and relative abundance in the context of biodiversity.

<p>Species richness refers to the number of different species in a community, while relative abundance is the proportion of each species compared to the total number of individuals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between bottom-up control and top-down control in food webs?

<p>Bottom-up control suggests that lower trophic levels influence higher ones, while top-down control indicates that predators regulate herbivore populations, which in turn affects plant communities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are trophic cascades and how do they affect primary producers?

<p>Trophic cascades occur when predators increase the abundance of primary producers by limiting herbivore populations, leading to ecological balance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe how disturbances can affect a biological community.

<p>Disturbances such as storms or floods can alter resource availability and remove organisms, impacting community structure based on the nature and severity of the disturbance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is productivity in an ecosystem and why is it significant?

<p>Productivity refers to the rate at which biomass is generated in an ecosystem, and it is significant because it affects energy flow and food availability for various organisms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Population

A group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time, capable of interbreeding.

Metapopulation

A group of spatially separated populations of the same species that interact with each other.

Population density

The number of individuals per unit area or volume.

Species range

The geographical area where a species can be found.

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Dispersion

The spacing of individuals within a population.

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Immigration

Movement of individuals into a population from another area.

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Emigration

Movement of individuals out of a population to another area.

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Mark-recapture

A method to estimate population size by capturing, marking, releasing, and recapturing individuals.

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Carrying capacity ( K )

The maximum population size that an environment can sustainably support. It can change over time and space.

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Demography

The study of how populations change over time, focusing on birth, death, and migration rates.

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Survivorship curves

A graphic representation showing how the survival rate of a population changes with age. Three types exist: Type 1 (low death rates early), Type 2 (constant death rates), and Type 3 (high death rates early).

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Exponential population growth

A population where individuals have access to abundant resources, leading to a constant rate of growth.

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Logistic population growth

A population growth pattern where the rate of growth slows down as the population approaches the carrying capacity. Think of a population hitting a limit.

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Primary Production

The amount of light energy converted to chemical energy by autotrophs, like plants.

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Gross Primary Production (GPP)

The total amount of primary production in an ecosystem, including energy used by the producers themselves.

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Net Primary Production (NPP)

The amount of energy remaining after the producers use some for their own cellular respiration. NPP = GPP - Respiration.

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Secondary Production

The amount of energy from food that consumers convert into their own biomass, like growth and reproduction.

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Production Efficiency

The fraction of energy stored in food that is used for secondary production. PE = Net Secondary Production / Assimilation of Primary Production x 100%.

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Nutrient Cycling

The process of nutrient cycling between the living organisms (biotic) and non-living parts (abiotic) of an ecosystem. A good example is the water, carbon, or nitrogen cycle.

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Eutrophication

A form of pollution caused by excess nutrients like fertilizers, often ending up in water bodies.

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Biological Magnification

The increasing concentration of toxins at higher trophic levels in a food chain, due to the accumulation of toxins in each level.

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Ecological niche

The total way an organism utilizes biotic and abiotic resources in its environment.

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Interspecific competition

When different species compete for limited resources, leading to either one species outcompeting the other or both adapting to minimize competition.

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Competitive exclusion

The elimination of one competing species due to another species being more successful in acquiring resources.

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Resource partitioning

When species adjust their resource use to minimize competition, often by specializing in different food or nesting areas.

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Character displacement

When species evolve adaptations to use different resources, leading to distinct traits over time.

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Predation

A relationship where one species (the predator) kills and eats another species (the prey).

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Predator camouflage

Camouflage that helps predators blend in with their surroundings to ambush prey.

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Prey camouflage

Camouflage that helps prey blend in with their surroundings to avoid predators.

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Commensalism

One species benefits while the other is unaffected, like barnacles on a whale.

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Mutualism

Both species benefit from the interaction, like bacteria in the human gut.

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Parasitism

The parasite benefits by obtaining resources from the host, which is harmed in the process, like a tapeworm in an animal's gut.

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Shannon Diversity Index

A measure of biodiversity that considers both the number of species present and their relative abundances.

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Productivity

The rate at which biomass is produced in an ecosystem, including primary and secondary production.

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Stability

The ability of a community to remain stable over time, resist change, and recover from disturbances.

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Keystone Species

A species that has a significant impact on the structure and function of a community, even if it is not the most abundant.

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Food Chain

The transfer of energy through different trophic levels in an ecosystem, starting from primary producers and going up to top predators.

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Study Notes

Population Ecology

  • Population: a group of individuals from the same species living in the same area at the same time, capable of breeding with each other
  • Described by boundaries and size
  • Metapopulation: a group of geographically separated populations of the same species that interact at some level
  • Density: number of individuals per area; a result of immigration and emigration
  • Species range: the area where a species is found
  • Dispersion: the spacing between individuals within a population's boundaries
    • Clumped spacing: uneven distribution of resources; individuals group together
    • Uniform spacing: behavioral interaction/resource competition; evenly distributed
    • Random spacing: individuals do not interact strongly; independent of each other
  • Types of interactions
    • Abiotic: how organisms react with non-living components
      • Physical and chemical factors (e.g., water availability, temperature) may limit species range
    • Biotic: how organisms react with other organisms
      • Negative effects: predation, diseases
      • Positive effects: food sources
  • Immigration: arrival of new individuals from other areas
  • Emigration: movement of individuals out of a population

Population Sampling

  • Methodology to determine population size
  • Sampling: counting in an area of constant density
  • Mark-recapture: for mobile populations
    • Capture a random sample (S)
    • Mark and release
    • Wait for random distribution
    • Capture a second sample
    • Count the number of marked animals (X) in the second sample and total animals captured (n)
    • Calculate population size (N) using the formula: N = (sn/X)

Population Dynamics

  • Factors affecting population size: birth, death, immigration, and emigration
  • Exponential population growth: rapid increase when resources are abundant
    • Per capita rate of increase (dN/dt) = rN -dN= change in population size -dt= change in time -r= intrinsic rate of increase -N= number of population
  • Logistic population growth: population growth slows as it approaches the carrying capacity
    • Per capita rate of increase approaches 0 as population size gets closer to K -Carrying capacity (K): maximum population size that a particular environment can sustain, varies over time and space

Demography

  • Study of population characteristics and how they change over time
  • Life table: cohort survival pattern of a population over time, grouped by age
  • Cohort: a group of individuals of the same age

Species diversity

  • Biological community: includes species that interact with each other
  • Species richness: number of species
  • Relative abundance: proportion of each species
  • Shannon diversity index (H): a measure of diversity, indicating how diverse a community is

Ecosystem Ecology

  • Energy flow: transfer of energy among organisms

Nutrient Cycling

  • Carbon Cycle: how carbon compounds move through living organisms and the non-living environment
  • Anthropogenic global environmental changes: pollution from human activity and its impacts on the environment (e.g., eutrophication, chemical pollution)

Climate Change

  • Weather: short-term atmospheric conditions, daily or seasonal changes
  • Climate: long-term weather patterns in a region
  • Climate change: significant lasting change in climate patterns
  • Greenhouse gases: gases in the atmosphere (e.g., water vapor, CO2, CH4) that absorb and emit radiation, influencing Earth's temperature
  • Anthropogenic climate change: human activities are the primary cause of climate change.

Interspecific interactions

  • Competition (-/-): organisms compete for limited resources
  • Predation (+/-): one organism (predator) hunts and kills another (prey)
  • Herbivory (+/-): animals (herbivores) feed on plants (herbivory)
  • Parasitism (+/-): one organism (parasite) benefits at the expense of another (host)
  • Mutualism (+/+): both organisms benefit
  • Commensalism (+/0): one organism benefits, the other is neither harmed nor helped

Community Ecology

  • Ecological niche: the total of an organism's use of biotic and abiotic resources
  • Trophic cascades: changes in the abundance of one trophic level (e.g., top predator) influencing the abundance of lower trophic levels - Bottom-up control: influence from lower to higher trophic levels - Top-down control: predation controls community because predators limit herbivores, which limits plants, and hence nutrients
  • Disturbance: Events that change a community by removing or altering resources (e.g., storms, fires, floods)
  • Ecological succession: the transition in species composition in a disturbed area
    • Primary succession: on lifeless areas, such as bare rock
    • Secondary succession: on sites where existing vegetation has been removed

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