ecology
What does macroclimate refer to?
Climate of a large geographical area
What type of climate is typically found in deserts?
arid
What type of growth occurs when resources are unlimited? What does K represent in the LOGISTIC growth equation?
exponential growth
Carrying capacity
define all elements of the exponential growth model equations
dN/dt=rN
Nt=Noe^rt
dN/dt=rate of population change (change in number over change in time)
r=intrinsic rate of increase
N=population size
Nt=population size at time t
No=initial population size
r=intrinsic rate of increase
t=time
describe the difference between r and K strategists
r strategists= many offspring, unstable environment, external fertilization, less input as parents
k strategists = fewer offspring, stable environment, internal fertilization
Which factors are key in determining terrestrial species distribution?
Temperature, precipitation and soil
What causes seasonal variations in temperature? (2)
Earths tilt and solar energy variation
Define population ecology
a group of individuals of a single species inhabiting a specific area at a specific time.
what happens if r>0 and r<0
r>0 population increase
r<0 population decrease
describe type I,II,III survivorship curves
Type I: Humans (us) survive early years, undergo steep decline in last part of life-span
II:small mammals, birds, tend to lose numbers steadily throughout their lives
III: fishes frogs, many do not survive early in life, but those that do only show slow additional declines.
What is the primary focus of ecology?
The study of how organisms interact with one another and with their physical environment.
Which biomes are characterized by high temperature and moisture? (also high diversity)
tropical rainforest
Describe the three different population growth distribution patterns and what they mean.
rectangle --> stable population
Inverted pyramid--> shrinking population
when does logistic growth occur and define all elements of the following logistic growth equation:
dN/dt=rN((K-N)/K)
when resources are limited
N=population density
r=maximum per capita growth rate
k=carrying capacity
Going up a mountain is kind of like...?
going up in latitude.
Explain the rain shadow effect?
The reduction of moisture on the leeward side of mountains.
Explain the concept of seasonality and its effects on ecological systems. (define seasonality, 2 effects on ecological systems)
Seasonality is the predictable variation in temperature and climate throughout the year, affecting ecological systems by:
-influencing species behavior and reproduction
-altering food availability
-shaping habitat conditions
-impacting migration patterns
overall seasonality affects biodiversity and ecosystem health
describe clumped, uniform and random distribution
Random- no clear pattern (trees in forest)
Clumped-when resources are clustered or spatial proximity to other individuals enhances fitness
uniform- when resources are limited or predators target a single species, species will try to get as far from other individuals as possible. creating uniform pattern.
what happens to the growth rate at N approaches K
The growth rate slows due to crowding and competition for resources
Define eutrophic and oligotrophic
eutrophic--> nutrient rich (algal blooms)
oligotrophic --> nutrient poor
How would you classify the group of trees, birds and insects observed in the forest?
community
Explain Hadley cells
Warm air rises at the equator, cools, and drops again at 30 degrees latitude, creating desert areas 30 degrees north and south of equator.
what is basic population growth model
growth = births + immigration - deaths-emigration
Define allee effects
when small populations grow slowly.
what is the most productive biome per area?
rain forest