Themes of Biology
What defines life? (7 properties)
1. Organization
2. Transmission of genetic information
3. Energy use
4. Maintenance of internal constancy
5. Reproduction
6. Growth & development
7. Evolution
Define a Hypothesis (what are the 2 things it must be?)
Proposed explanation for the observation based on available data
- must be testable & falsifiable
List the 5 areas of ecological study (provide brief explanation of each)
1. Organismal
2. Population
3. Community
4. Ecosystem
5. Global (Biosphere)
List & define the two types of competition (hint: 2 words)
Intraspecific competition - competition between individuals of the same species
Interspecific competition - competition between individuals of different species
Define Organic vs Inorganic compounds
Organic
- complex mol derived by a living organism
- have carbon-hydrogen bonds
Inorganic
- simple molecules derived from non living components
- lack carbon-hydrogen bonds
- most don’t contain carbon
What do ALL cells have?
- membrane
- cytosol
- ribosomes
- genetic instructions
What are Experimental Treatments? What kind of treatment must be included?
Experimental treatments - The factor being tested in the study is altered from normal
- must include a Control Treatment
List the 4 types of Species Interactions discussed in class (provide the signs for each relationship)
• Consumption/Exploitation (+/-)
• Competition (-/-)
• Mutualism (+/+)
• Commensalism (+/0)
Define an Ecological Niche. What's the difference between a Realized Niche & a Fundamental Niche?
Niche - organism's role in the ecosystem along with the resources it utilizes
Realized Niche - niche used when competition occurs
Fundamental Niche - niche used in the absence of competition
How do producers/ autotrophs get their energy?
Sustain themselves without eating anything derived from living beings; produce organic molecules from CO2 & other inorganic materials derived from environment
What are Emergent properties?
New, complex functions resulting from the interaction of parts
List the 7 steps of the Scientific Method
1. Make observations
2. Ask a question
3. Formulate hypothesis
4. Make prediction
5. Design controlled experiment
6. Collect & interpret data
7. Draw conclusion
What are the 3 types of consumption?
1. Predation
2. Herbivory
3. Parasitism
Competitive exclusion - one species is eliminated from the area
- occurs because two species with identical ecological requirements (niches) cannot coexist indefinitely
Define Consumers / heterotrophs. List some examples
Organisms that obtain their food from organic sources (other organisms)
- herbivores (plant eaters)
- carnivores (meat eaters)
- omnivores (plants & meat)
- scavengers (eat things left behind by carnivores/herbivores)
- detritivores (eat soil & other small bits of organic matter)
- decomposes (break down dead plant or animal matter; primarily bacteria & fungi)
What are the two types of cells? What are the two types of reproduction?
Eukaryotic & Prokaryotic
Sexual & Asexual reproduction
List the 3 Experimental Variables you must have in an experiment
* Independent variable – factor that an investigator directly manipulates to determine whether it causes another variable to change
* Dependent variable – (response variable) what you measure in an experiment to determine if it changes in response to the independent variable
* Standardized variables – anything that the investigator holds constant for all subjects in the experiment
List the 3 types of Prey Defenses discussed in class (provide an example of each)
1. Behavioral (playing dead, fleeing, hiding)
2. Chemical (spray with toxins, venom)
3. Morphological (armor or coloration)
Define Species Richness, Evenness, and Diversity
Species richness - # of species in an area
Evenness - the extent to which the species in a community are equally abundant (
Diversity - includes both measures (richness & evenness)
Define Productivity? Define GPP & NPP
Productivity - measure of how much photosynthesis is occurring in an ecosystem
Gross primary production (GPP): total amount of carbon fixed by autotrophs per unit area per year
Net primary production (NPP): fixed carbon left after autotroph respiration; amount available for consumers
What is the organizational hierarchy of life? (in order)
Atom, molecule, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, multicellular organism
Describe different kinds of Morphological Defenses (think about coloration/camoflauge)
* Cryptic coloration vs Warning coloration
* Mimicry - Mullerian (two unpalatable species mimic each other) & Batesian (one harmless species mimics a toxic species)
* Mimicry Rings - large amounts of species exhibiting same color pattern
What is Succession? List & define the 2 types of succession discussed in class
Succession - Change in species composition and/or structure of a community through time
Primary succession - disturbance that removes everything, including soil
Secondary succession - disturbance that doesn't completely destroy area; soil and some organisms remain
Define a tropic level & list the order of the food chain (what direction do the arrows go in?)
Tropic level - feeding level that represents organisms obtaining energy from the same source
Primary producers -> primary consumers -> secondary consumers -> tertiary consumers -> quarternary consumers