Ecology 1
This level of ecological organization includes both abiotic and biotic factors
Ecosystem
This type of symbiotic relationship benefits both organisms
Mutualism
These structures are similar in function but different in appearance (do not share a common ancestor)
Analogous structures
This mechanisms involves changes in DNA that can be neutral, beneficial, or harmful.
Mutations
Why do human embryos have gill slits?
Because our ancestors had gills
This type of symbiotic relationship benefits one and harms the other
Parasitism
Give an example of a trophic cascade
Anything where a change in the population at the trophic levels affect the trophic levels below alternating between high and low at each level.
These structures were important in ancestral species but are no longer used in the currently living organism
Vestigial structures
This mechanism involves new genes or alleles coming into or out of a population
Gene flow
Term used to describe a geographic separation of species that then produces two different species?
Geographic isolation
Why are most organisms not able to use the Nitrogen that is in the atmosphere directly?
N2 is triple bonded to itself and requires a lot of energy to break apart. Only microbes can do it.
Give an example of an indirect interaction between species
Any example where two species have an interaction because of their interaction with a third species
What is directional selective pressure?
organisms on one end of a trait gradient curve dying so their traits are not passed on. This makes the curve shift toward the traits of the survivors.
This mechanism involves organisms choosing mates based on specific characteristics or interbreeding within a small species.
Non-random mating or sexual selection
What are the three criteria for Natural Selection?
1. Genetic variation 2. More offspring that can survive (death) 3. Genes for traits are inheritable
Why does the southern hemisphere have less terrestrial Net Primary Productivity away from the equator than the Northern Hemisphere?
There is less land mass in the southern hemisphere in areas away from the equator
If a forest is fragmented but the total woodland area remains the same. What is one potential negative consequence to the forest ecosystem?
There is an increase of edge creating the potential for invasive species and edge disruptions (example predator incursions like house cats)
A cat leg and human arm is an example of this type of evidence of evolution
Comparative anatomy OR homologous structure
This mechanism involves the elimination of genes from a species by random chance
Genetic drift
Instead of only the strongest/fastest/smartest surviving, it's actually the organism's ability to adapt to it's environment that allows it to survive....called this term
Fitness or fit
Biodiversity is composed of species richness and species evenness. What is the difference between those two measures?
Species richness is the total number of species in an area and evenness is the spread or distribution of those species compared to the total
Warblers species feed in different areas of a tree to avoid fighting over food. What is this a good example of?
Competitive Exclusion
What are three reasons why a mutation the DNA may NOT result in changes the individual?
1. Non-coding DNA 2. May not build a different amino acid 3. It has to occur in the gametes (sexual reproduction) 4. DNA repair 5. Large changes in a organisms make development unsuccessful
What are two evolutionary changes that occurred to allow plants to move onto land?
Cell walls, Cuticle and Stoma, Spores and seeds
There are more white cats in the cat population in the midwest than on the east coast. This called a difference in what?
Allele frequency (gene frequency)