Environmental Science Test 2

True or False: Within a community, species interactions have no effect on species survival.

FALSE

What determines community complexity?

Community complexity is determined by the number of species in a trophic level and how many trophic levels there are

Which of the following most accurately defines the term carrying capacity?
a. The maximum number of individuals of a particular species that can be supported by a given ecosystem on a long-term basis.
b. A long-lasting self-sustaining community resulting

a. The maximum number of individuals of a particular species that can be supported by a given ecosystem on a long-term basis.

The carrying capacity is the theoretical barrier that turns _______________________________________

exponential growth ('J'-shaped curves) into logistic ('S'-shaped curves).

This can limit where a species exists:

environmental factors

Once a population has been separated, the DNA structure of that population begins to diverge as a result of ______ and _____, which may lead to speciation.

random mutation & genetic drift

A species that exhibits early maturity, rapid growth, and many offspring is a(n):

r-selected species

What is taxonomy (2)?

(1) It is important in scientific research
(2) The study of types of organisms

What is adaptation?

The acquisition of advantageous traits in a species.

Adaptation involves changes in a population, with characteristics that are passed from one generation to the next.

Adaptation involves changes in a population, with characteristics that are passed from one generation to the next.

Adaptation is different from ________.

Acclimation - an individual organisms changes in response to an altered environment.

Who explored to process of adaptation?

Charles Darwin in his book: On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection

What was Darwin's conclusion?

Species change over generations because species compete for limited resources. Better competitors in a population are likely to survive - giving them more potential to produce offspring.

What is natural selection?

The process in which individuals with useful traits pass on those traits to the next generation, while others reproduce less successfully.

Occassionally, random changes occur as DNA is replicated - "mutations." What happens if those changes happen in reproductive cells?

They are passed on to offspring.

What are tolerance limits?

Chemical or physical factors that limit the existence, growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism.
Minimum and maximum levels beyond which a particular species cannot survive or is unable to reproduce.

What is a species?

A group of organisms that have common characteristics, breed with one another, and produce fertile offspring.

What is a population?

A group of individuals of a species that live in a particular area.

What is biological evolution?

Genetic change in a population (not individual) over time --- affect appearance, functioning, behavior, etc.

What is speciation?

The development of a new species.

What is a habitat?

The place or set of environmental conditions in which a particular organism lives.

What is a generalist?

A species that tolerates a wide range of conditions or exploit a wide range of resources.

What is a specialist?

Species that have a narrow ecological niche; i.e. panda

Give an example of a generalist vs. a specialist...

American black bear -- generalist
Giant panda -- specialist

Give an example of a species that has gone through speciation...

Galapagos finches -- they come from the original seed-eating finch species

What helps the shape a species traits and behaviors?

Its interactions with other species

________ leads to resource allocation.

Competition

What types of resources do organisms compete for?

energy & matter, living space, growing space (plants), nesting sites, feeding sites, mates

What is intraspecific competition?

Competition among members of the same species.

What is interspecific competition?

Competition between members of different species.

_______ leads to adaptation.

Predation

What strategies have prey organisms developed to avoid predators?

hiding, speed, toxic or bad-tasting compounds, body armor

What is coevolution?

The process in which species exert selective pressure on each other and gradually evolve new features or behaviors as a result.

Give an example of a species that uses its ability to hide to avoid predators...

The walking stick

_______ involves cooperation.

Symbiosis

What is symbiosis?

When 2 or more species live intimately together with their fates linked.

What are the 3 types of symbiosis?

Mutualism
Commensalism
Parasitism

Symbiotic relationships often enhance the survival of 1 or both partners.

Symbiotic relationships often enhance the survival of 1 or both partners.

What is mutualism?

Symbiotic relationship is which both species benefit.

What is commensalism?

Symbiotic relationship in which 1 member benefits and the other is neither benefited nor harmed.

What is parasitism?

A relationship in which 1 organism feeds on another without immediately killing it.

What is community structure?

The patterns of spacial distribution of individuals, species, and & communities.

Distribution can be _____, ______, or ______.

random, ordered, or patchy

In randomly distributed populations, individuals live wherever resources are available and chance events allow them to settle.

In randomly distributed populations, individuals live wherever resources are available and chance events allow them to settle.

Uniform patterns arise from the physical environment also, but more often are caused by competition and territoriality.

Uniform patterns arise from the physical environment also, but more often are caused by competition and territoriality.

Other species cluster together for protection, mutual assistance, reproduction, or access to an environmental resource.

(i.e. ocean & freshwater fish form "schools", wolves & humans hunt in "packs")

Individuals can also be distributed vertically in a community.

(i.e. forests with many layers have different environmental conditions & combinations of species)

What are the types of species interactions again???

Symbiosis
Predation
Competition
Coevolution