This is the review for UNIT IV (Ecology).

It is in two parts because I originally wrote part for before the quiz and part for after. There is some overlap because I didn’t get as far in my lecture notes as I had expected.

1. What is ecology?

2. What properties do populations have that individuals do not, and what can these tell us about populations (e.g. different patterns of distribution)?

3. Know the 2 models of population growth that we discussed: for each, know name, the pattern of growth, recognize the equations and know the meaning of each term. Be able to tell how the models differ from one another.

4. What does it mean to say that a population is regulated? What are density independent and density independent factors.

5. How does population structure affect dynamics?

6. What are the common patterns of age-specific survival and reproduction (be able to interpret graphs with respect to age-specific mortality)?

7. Be able to interpret age-structure diagrams

8. How would you manage a population for maximum sustainable yield and why would you do it this way?

9. How would you attempt to control the size and/or growth of a pest population and why would you do it this way?

10. What are the 4 classes of 2-species interactions and how are they alike and different?

11. What is competition and how does it affect population growth rates

12. What does Gause's work illustrate about the effects of competition on population growth rates?

13. What is the niche concept and how is it useful in the study of competition?

14. What did Connel's study, in which he removed each of 2 competing species of barnacles, demonstrate? Remember that he got different results for the two species.

15. Be able to interpret Connel's results in terms of the fundamental and the realized niche of each species.

16. What is predation and what kinds of effect does it have on population dynamics?

17. What do Huffaker's mite experiments and moose and wolves on Isle Royale illustrate about the effects of predation on population growth rates of predators and prey?

Definitions:

intrinsic rate of increase niche

population growth rate fundamental niche

carrying capacity realized niche

survivorship curve

life history

maximum sustainable yield

competition (interspecific and intraspecific)

competitive exclusion principle

predation

mutualism

PART 2

1. What is the niche concept and how is it useful in the study of competition?

2. What did Connel's study, in which he removed each of 2 competing species of barnacles, demonstrate? Remember that he got different results for the two species.

3. Be able to interpret Connel's results in terms of the fundamental and the realized niche of each species.

4. What is a food web and what does it tell you about the relationships among species in a community?

5. How do competition and predation influence species diversity in a community?

6. What did Paine's work involving the removal of a predatory starfish from an intertidal community illustrate? Would you expect the same result if you removed any predator from any community - why or why not?

8. What are the 2 major processes of interest in the study of ecosystems? How are these proceses alike and how are they different?

9. Be able to describe and explain how energy enters and flows through a community. Know the ultimate source of that energy.

10. How is each of the trophic levels in a food chain defined and what is the role of each in ecosystem processes?

11. What processes determine how much energy enters and flows through a community.

12. Be able to explain what factors do and do not limit the net primary productivity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and the evidence that supports this conclusion.

13. What are the different kinds of biogeochemical cycles and how are they distinguished from each other?

*14. For each of the major biogeochemical cycles (water, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus), know the major reservoirs and the major processes responsible for the cycling of these nutrients.

*15. For the carbon cycle, know how cycling differs in aquatic and terrestrial systems.

16. What determines the biome that is characteristic of a particular location on Earth?

17. What determines the major zones of climate on Earth?

18. Be able to explain the relationships between air temperature, air density, and the ability of air to hold moisture.

19. Be able to explain exceptions to latitudinal determination of climate.

*20. Recognize the major features of the 8 major terrestrial biomes and the climate associated with each.

Definitions:

fundamental niche decomposer (detritivore)

realized niche gross primary productivity

community net primary productivity

species diversity ecological efficiency

biogeochemical cycles producer

ecosystem