Week 13

Chapter 45 and 47

Introduction
Ecology is the science that describes the interaction between living and non-living
components of the environment. Ecology is used to determine how ecosystems
function and how they will likely respond to human impact. One of the most important
goals is for conservation biology which will help preserve species and manage
ecosystems for human welfare.

Chapter 45

1. What are the two main characteristics of a community structure?

Two characteristics allow us to compare communities: species richness (aka
species composition and species diversity
- The species composition of a community is a listing of various species in the
community.
- Species diversity includes both species richness and the abundance of
different species.

2. List and briefly explain the four different types of community interactions
- Habitat and Ecological Niche: Habitat is the area where an organism lives
and reproduces. Ecological niche is the role a species plays in its community
- Competition between populations: occurs when members of different
species try to utilize a limited resource.
- Predator-Prey Interactions: One living organism, the predator, feeds on
another, the prey

3. What happens when you grow Paramecium aurelia and P. caudatum on the
growth media?
Competitive exclusion: no two species can indefinitely occupy the same niche at
the same time. When populations of P. aurelia or P. caudatum is grown alone in
separate pure culture, these organisms display a sigmoidal growth. However, when
they are grown together on the same growth media, P. aurelia is a better competitor
and dies out P. caudatum as both attempted to exploit the same resources which led
to competitive exclusion.

4. What is mimicry? Give two types of mimicry

- One species resembles another species that possesses an overt antipredator
defense
- Batesian Mimicry - Mimic lacks defense of the organism it resembles
- Müllerian Mimicry - Mimic shares a protective defense with other species

5. What are symbiotic relationships? Describe the three types and give an
example of each.
Symbiosis is an association between species in which at least one of the species is
dependent on the other
Types
Parasitism: parasite derives nourishment from a host, and may use host as habitat
and mode of transmission Example, small parasites tend to be endoparasites,
heartworms
Commensalism: a symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and the
other is neither benefited nor harmed. Example: Clownfish living within tentacles of
sea anemones
Mutualism: a symbiotic relationship in which both members of the association
benefit. Example, bacteria in human intestinal tract.

6. Explain what biotic components of an ecosystem are living categorized

according to their food source.
Biotic components of an ecosystem are living things
Autotrophs are organisms that require inorganic nutrients and solar energy to
produce organic nutrients
Heterotrophs are organisms that need preformed organic nutrients they can use as
energy source.

7. Explain the ecosystem two main processes:

Energy flows through ecosystems
Chemical cycling, matter cycles within them

8. Physical laws govern energy flow and chemical cycling in ecosystems.

Elaborate further.
- Conservation of Energy (first law of thermodynamics)
o Energy enters from solar radiation and is lost as heat
o Conservation of matter - Chemical elements are continually recycled
within ecosystems
o Ecosystems are open systems, absorbing energy and mass and
releasing heat and waste products.

9. Why can there be no more than five trophic levels in an ecosystem?

Transfer of Energy
- Energy lost from one trophic level (energy level) to the next level can be
represented by a pyramid
- Each level above only gets 10% of the energy from below
o Ex: 10,000 J of producers (plants) only give 10% of energy to primary
consumers
o 1,000 J to primary consumers (snails, minnows, dragonflies)
o 100 J to secondary consumers (small fish)
o 10 J to tertiary consumers (big fish)
o 1 J to quaternary consumers (fish hawk)

10. Define: the following terms: trophic levels, food chain, food web, ecological
pyramid, biogeochemical cycles, keystone species, flagship species

Chapter 47
 11. Define: biodiversity, conservation biology, biodiversity hotspots, extinction
rate, mass extinction

12. Describe the three levels of organization of biodiversity

Genetic diversity: which is genetic variation among members of a population
Community diversity: dependent on the interactions between species in the
community.
Landscape diversity which involves studying landscape interactions.

13. Distinguish between the two values of biodiversity.

Direct value where species that perform services that provide economic value
(example, medicinal value, agricultural value and consumptive use value).
Indirect value which is based on services they provide that do not have measurable
economic value .But rather have calming, restorative effect on people, also giving
physiological and psychological benefits to human health
Examples of indirect value, wild species serve as reservoirs of desirable genetic
traits that might be needed to improve domestic crop species. Other examples
include biogeochemical cycles, waste recycling (decomposers), provision of fresh
water, and prevention of soil erosion and regulation of climate

14. List and briefly explain ALL the factors that causes extinction
Human activities:
Habitat loss, if a habitat is destroyed or disrupted, the native species might have to
relocate or they will die.
Overexploitation, or excessive use, of species that have economic value is a factor
increasing the current rate of extinction.
Pollution and atmospheric changes threaten biodiversity and global stability.
Acid precipitation: sulfur and nitrogen compounds react with water and other
substances in the air to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Acid precipitation removes
calcium, potassium, and other nutrients from the soil, depriving plants of these
nutrients.
Eutrophication occurs when substances rich in nitrogen and phosphorus flow into
waterways, causing extensive algae growth. The algae use up the oxygen supply
during their rapid growth and after their deaths during the decaying process.
Ozone depletion is caused of ozone depletion is chlorine atoms that come from
breakdown of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Ozone shield absorbs most of the harmful
UV radiation
Climate change causes erratic temperature patterns, more severe storms, melting
glaciers
Introduced species are either intentionally or unintentionally transported to a new
habitat are known as introduced species. Introduced species often reproduce in
large numbers because of a lack of predators, and become invasive species in their
new habitat.
15. Briefly describe the ways which biodiversity can be conserved
Sustainable use means using resources at a rate in which they can be replaced or
recycled while preserving the long-term environmental health of the biosphere.
Corridors between habitat fragments improve the survival of biodiversity by
providing corridors, or passageways, between habitat fragments
Preserving biodiversity hotspots which are regions that contain a large
concentration of species.