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Ecology 333- Final Exam
Community and Ecosystem Ecology
173
Biology
Undergraduate 3
12/08/2013

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Term
Biodiversity
Definition
The variety of life in a given environement
Term
Why is biodiverity important?
Definition
1) Biodiverisy is known to effect ecosystem processes and services (insurance policy for envi change) 2) Inherant value of living organisms 3) All reasons are not yet understood (The first rule of intellegent tinkering is to save all parts!)
Term
Factors that define diverstiy
Definition
Species richness (# of spp in comm.) and species evenness (relative abundance of each spp.)
Term
Shannon-Wiener Index
Definition
*Quantifies spp. Richness and evenness *Minimum value of zero *Increases as richness and evenness increase *Can use # of individual of % cover (vegetation)
Term
Simpsons diversity index
Definition
* Quantifies spp. Richness and evenness * values range from 0-1 * Increases as richness and evenness increase *Can use # of individual or % cover (veg)
Term
Rank Abundance Curve
Definition
Graph of realative abundance vs. it's rank in abundance (most abundant spp. To least abundant spp.) *Lenth of curve shows richness * Slope indicates evenness. *Greater slope= LESS evenness *Lower slope= GREATER evenness * When spp. Are tied, average ranks to get more accurate representation
Term
General diversity patterns
Definition
FEW highly abundant spp. FEW rare spp. MOST spp. Are moderatly abundant
Term
Alpha diversity
Definition
Diversity within habitat *small-scale *sensitive to definiton of habitat
Term
Gamma diversity
Definition
Landscape diversity *Total diversity observed in ALL habitats within a geographic area
Term
Beta Diversity
Definition
Between-habitat diversity * Spp. Tunover across a environemtnal gradient *The extent to which the various habitats within an area support different spp. *Indicates the degree to which habitats have been partitioned by spp.
Term
Scales of diversity
Definition
Alpha, Gamma, and Beta
Term
Global diversity
Definition
The total number of Spp. Of all different taxa in the whole world * Don’t know exact number!
Term
Factor that effect diversity
Definition
* Environmental complexity *Disturbance *Productivity * Nutrient/Resource Avaliability *Human impact
Term
Environemtnal Complexity
Definition
More complex ecosystems can provide habitat for a greater variety of spp. And/or life history stages *Ex. Foliage height and birds *Plant niches are defined by habitat requirements and limiting factors *Spatial differences in limiting factors = GREATER envi. complexity
Term
Plant diversity increases in proportion with increasing_
Definition
Spatial variation in limiting factors! *Ex. Nutrient Avaliability, moisture, sunlight, temp, pH, salinity, …
Term
Disturbance vs. Stress
Definition
Distubance= discrete event that disrupts ecosystems and changes the resources avaliable or the physocal environment Stress= External constraints that limit rates of production (CHRONIC CONDITION)
Term
Intermediate disturbance hypothesis
Definition
Diversity is geatest at intermediate levels of disturbance (Maximun spp. Present)
Term
High disturbance results in_
Definition
Community dominated by resistant/resiliant or opportunistic, pioneer spp.
Term
Low disturbance results in_
Definition
Community dominated by the most effective competitors
Term
Intermediate disturbance hypothesis graph
Definition
Plot of Species richness (Y) vs. frequency of disturbance (X) * Should result in a half-circle graph peaking at intermediate disturbance levels.
Term
Ex. Supporting IDH
Definition
1)Algae and invertebrates growing on boulders in intertidal zone. Larger boulders require more forcea nd are moved less frequently. Intermediate sized boulders support MORE diversity of spp. 2) Floods and plant spp. Greater diversity of spp. In areas that flood intermediatly.
Term
Intermediate productivity hypotheses
Definition
Maximum diversity occurs at intermediate ecosystem productivity levels! (Low productivity results in dominance by stress tolerant plants, high productivity results in dominance by competitive spp.)
Term
Diversity and Nutrient avaliability
Definition
NEGATIVE realtionship! *Adding nutrients to water of soils DECREASES the diversity of plants and algae! *Increasing nut. Avaliability reduces the number of limiting nutrients, when nutrients are not limiting light becomes the only limiting fatctor. Dominated by spp. most effective at competing for light! * Demonstrated by the DECLINING phase of the unimodal IPH curve!!
Term
Nut. Avali and plant diverity scale influences
Definition
Productivityrelationship only holds at REGIONAL and GLOBAL scales! *There is no consistant relationship at plot scales!
Term
Dynamic Equilibrium Model
Definition
Predits that there will be maximum diversity when there is a balance between productivity and disturbance *LESS productive sites need less disturbance for max. diversity *MORE productive sites need more disturbacne for max. diversity,
Term
Food Webs
Definition
*Summarize feeding relationships within a community *represent energy flow *represent community structure
Term
Trophic Levels
Definition
Primary producers (Plants)>Primary consumers (herbivores)>Secondary consumers (Predators)
Term
Trophic pyramid
Definition
Shows that biomass and productivity generally decrease with higher trophic levels
Term
Specific Food Web
Definition
Diagram that has spp. Grouped into trophic levels *MUCH more complex *Ex. Bear island food web!
Term
Strong Feeding Interactions
Definition
Feeding activities of a few spp. Have dominant influence on community structure *Criteria is degree of influence on community
Term
Tropic Cacades
Definition
When food chain is disrupted by change in # of a spp., cascades down/up food web. *Bottom up cascade when primary producer is changed * Top down cascade when predator is changed *More likley to occur in ecosystems with lower spp. Diversity and spatiotemporal complexity *Mostly seen in lakes and ponds
Term
Trophic Cascade Debate
Definition
*Potentially confounding variables have unpredicted effects on traphic cascades (Nut. Status, climate, shading, prey prefrences) *Likley functional AS WELL as numerical factors at work! *Likley that top-down and bottom-up effects both at work in most systems!
Term
Food web weakest links
Definition
All trophic links that comprise less than 1% of a consumers diet
Term
Examples of trophic cascades
Definition
*Hathery salmon released>alewife fish decreases>daphina pop increases
Term
Keystone species
Definition
Certain species that disproportionalty exert an important influence on the ecosystems in which they live
Term
Piaster ochraceus
Definition
*Keytone species! *Predatory starfish that influences spp. Competition and pop. Density of intertidal ecosystem by eating mass barnacles. Prevents copetitive exclusion by dom spp. And creates open space to be colonized by many spp.
Term
More diversty communities tend to have_
Definition
_a higher proportion of predatory spp!
Term
Sanils and algae diversity
Definition
Intertidal snails feed on green algae. Green algae is competitivly dominant with red algae. When snails are not present, green algae takes over red algae. Snails keep green algae in check and allow red algae to be released by competition.
Term
Competition vs. Diversity
Definition
*Intermediate density of keystone predator species leads to the highest diversity of prey.
Term
Other mechanisms of keystone species
Definition
*Exploitation *Competition *Mutualisms ("mobile link" pollinators, seed dispersal) *Facilitation (positive interactions that maintain ecosystem structure and function.) *Spatial Subsidies (bird guano) *ecosystem engineers (beavers)
Term
Points about keystone species
Definition
*Regulate productivity, structure, or diversity of their communities *Unique in community function *Exceptionally important in their relevance to other species *Have disproportionately large effects on their communities relative to their abundace
Term
Keystone species vs. dominance
Definition
Keystone species are those that exert strong effects on community structure DESPITE relativly low abundance/biomass
Term
Exotic Species
Definition
Oftern have disproportionatly large impacts on community structure and dynamics BECAUSE: *Outside evolutionary experience of local predator/prey/competitor populations *Opportunistic colonizers *Tolerant of WIDE range of conditions
Term
Introduced predators can_
Definition
*Impose more intense suppression on popoulations of native prey spp. Than native predators preying on coexisting prey. *Bridge aquatic and terrestrial food webs
Term
Population
Definition
A collection if individuals of the same species
Term
Community
Definition
An assembladge of populations in an area or habitat
Term
Ecosystem
Definition
A biological community and the physical environment in which it lives
Term
Ecosystem Ecology
Definition
The study of how energy, water, and nutrients move through ecosystems
Term
Fundamental areas of ecosystem ecology
Definition
*Primary production *Energy flux *Nutrient cycling
Term
Production
Definition
Creation of new organic matter
Term
Primary Production and how it is measured
Definition
Fixation of energy by autotrophs Measured By: Rate of CO2 uptake, biomass, or O2 produced
Term
Gross Primary Production
Definition
The total amount of energy fixed by all autotrophs in an ecosystem
Term
Net primary production
Definition
The amount of energy left over after autotrophs have met their own energetic needs (The amount of energy avaliable to consumers)
Term
Factors that control primary production in ecosystems
Definition
*Temperature *Moisture *Nutrients *Sunlight
Term
Highest primary production occurs in_
Definition
Warm, moist environements
Term
AET
Definition
Actual evapotranspiration -The amount of water that evaporates and transpires off a landscape during the course of a year (mmH20/yr)
Term
Ecosystems with high AET
Definition
Tend to be WET and WARM (Tropical Rainforests)
Term
Ecosystems with low AET
Definition
Tend to be cold and dry (hot deserts, and cold tundra)
Term
AET vs. NPP
Definition
AET and net primary production are correlated and have a linear relationship. The greater the AET, the greater the NPP!
Term
PP in terrestrial areas
Definition
When temperature is similer, primary production is conrolled by moisture. The great the annual precipitation, the greater the PP
Term
PP vs. nutriant avaliability
Definition
When temp and moisture are silimalr, patterns of soil fertility can cause significant variation in NPP among ecosystems.
Term
Nutrient avaliability controls_
Definition
Pattern sof primary production in agricultural ecosystems AND in natural ecosystems!
Term
PP responds to_
Definition
addition if limiting nutrients
Term
Phytoplankton
Definition
*Dominant primary producers in aquatic ecosystems
Term
Aqutic NPP
Definition
*Is generally limited by nutrient avaliability due to less: Shading, variable moisture, temp variation.
Term
Algal biomass and NPP have a _ relationship
Definition
Linear correlation
Term
Lakes are often limited by_. Whereas marine evi. Are limited by_
Definition
Lakes are limited by P, Marine environments are limited by N
Term
What determines the limiting nutrient
Definition
The limiting nutrient will be the one with the LOWEST ration of supply:demand! IN LAKES: N-limitation when N:P <10 P-limitation when N:P >17
Term
Most observed variation in NPP can be explained by_
Definition
TERRESTRIAL- Temperature and nutrient avaliability AQUATIC- Nutrient avaliability
Term
Top-down factors that control NPP
Definition
*Herbivory and trophic cascades *Compensitory growth *Grazing effects on nutrient cycling
Term
Energy Flux
Definition
The transfer/transport of matter or energy
Term
In ecosystems energy flux is mediated by_
Definition
TROPHIC INTERACTIONS! *Feeding (herbivory, predation, detritivory)
Term
Trophic dynamics
Definition
The transfer of energy from one part of an ecosystem to another
Term
As energy id transferred from one trophic level to another, it is lost due to_
Definition
*Limited assimilation *Consumer respiration *Heat production
Term
Allochthonous vs. Autochthonous food webs
Definition
Allochthonous food webs incorporate food that was found in a place other than where they or their constituents were formed. Autochthonous food webs only rely of energy from within the ecosystem
Term
Ex. Of allochthonous and Autochthonous energy
Definition
Allochthonous-Leaf litter floating down steam to new area and feeding microorganisms Autochthonous- Periphyton (algae) growing on rocks in stream
Term
Energy losses in ecosystems limit the_
Definition
Number of trophic levels that an ecosystem can support
Term
Nutrient
Definition
An element required for the development, maintenance or reproduction of an organism
Term
Elements that comprise 93-97% of living organisms
Definition
Carbon, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorous, and Sulfur
Term
Avaliable Nutrients
Definition
Nutrients in forms that can be readily absorbed into plant roots and contribute to plant performance and/or growth.
Term
Animals vs. Plant forms of nutrients
Definition
Animals typically use ORGANIC forms while plants typically use INORGANIC forms
Term
Nutrient Cycling
Definition
The use, transformation, movement, and reuse of nutrients in an ecosystem.
Term
Energy flux vs. Nutrient cycling
Definition
Energy flux is typically one-way (UP trophic levels) while Nutrient cyclins constantly recycles nutrients through the ecosystem
Term
Nitrongen cycling
Definition
*N is essential to the structure an functioning of organisms (amino acids, DNA) *78% of earths atmosphere is N, major atmospheric pool that is oconverted by N fixers *ONLY N-fixers can use atmospheric N; other organsisms use other forms *Converting N2 to other forms is a VERY energy-demanding process!
Term
Sources of NH3 and Nox
Definition
Volcanic eruptions, lightning, forest fires, microbial processes, anthropogenic sources (fossil fuels, fertilizers, livestock)
Term
N cycling processes
Definition
Organic N, Minerlization, Volitization, Nitrification, Leaching, Denitrification, N fixation , N immobilization, anthropogenic emmissions, diffusion, assimilation, sorption, diffusion, resuspention.
Term
P cycling
Definition
P is necessary to energetics, genetics, and the structure of living organsisms *NOT very abundant in the atmosphere *NO substaintial pool of P *Largest quantities found in mineral deposits and marine sedimanets *limiting nutrient in most lakes.
Term
P cycle
Definition
*Slowly released in ecosystems by the weathering of rocks *Released by mineral deposits absorbed by plants and recycled through ecosystem *Washed into rivers/oceans where is remains dissolved and settles into marine sediments *Sediments are eventually formed into new rock, starting the process over again.
Term
Main forms of P
Definition
Organic (P) and Mineral (PO43-)
Term
Mineralization
Definition
The conversion of nutrients from organic form to inorganic forms
Term
Decompistion
Definition
The breakdown of organic matter by fungi and bacteria
Term
Decomp rates
Definition
PRIMARY influences- Temperature and moisture SECONDAY influences- soil fertility and chemical composition of litter.
Term
AET and decomp rates
Definition
Have a POSITIVE linear relationship and are highly correlated
Term
Nutrient Spiraling
Definition
The cycling of nutrients as they are carried downstream *LITTLE nutrient cycling occurs in one place!
Term
Spiraling length
Definition
The length of stram required for a nutrient atom to complete one cycle
Term
S=VT
Definition
S-spiraling length V-Average dowstream velocity T-Average time to takes to complete a cycle
Term
Where S is small_
Definition
The steam system is MORE efficient
Term
Shredders
Definition
Stream insects that break down leaf matter into smaller parts. *VERY important key process in stream nutrient cycling
Term
In aquatic ecosystems 3 factors effects decomp
Definition
1. Temperature @. [nutrients] in water 3. Chemical composition of the water
Term
Increased shredder diversity leads to_
Definition
Increased rate of nitrient cycling. WHY?
Term
Large mammel grazing increases_
Definition
*Primary productivity *Plant biomass turnover * Nutrient cycling
Term
Without grazing Nutrient cycling is_
Definition
SLOWER. It is influenced only by decomposition
Term
Small animals effect nutrient cycling and productivity by_
Definition
*digging holes, building mounds, and altering topography *Bringing N-poor soil to the surface creating a mosaic of soil fertility *Alters patterns og plant community composition
Term
N fixing
Definition
*Fix atmospheric N and convert it to NH3 which is then converted to NH4 which can then be incorporated into plant activities. *Then transferred through soils for succession
Term
Deforestation vs. Nutrients
Definition
* Loss of evirontranspiration, nutrient uptake, nutrient storage *Greater nutrients in soil water that can then run off, peak flows, erosion, losses
Term
Life cycle of the pacific salmon
Definition
born in stream, travel out to ocean for lifespan, return to stream to spawn and die. Colelcts N15 in marine environment and bring it back to stream.
Term
N15
Definition
Naturally-occuring stable isotope, 0.37%average terrestrial abundace. More abundant in marine ecosystems
Term
Isotopic ration
Definition
The ration of N15:N14. Useful in determining the N enrichment of returning salomn
Term
MDN
Definition
Marine-derived Nitrogen
Term
How is MDN transferred to terrestrial ecosystyns
Definition
*Bears eat salmon with MDN, bear waste and salmon carcases transfer MDN to soils where it is incorporated into trees.
Term
Effect of increased MDN on terrestrial ecosystems
Definition
*Causes increased growth in trees near the stream and spawning sites. NOT in alder, already N rich species * Alters spp. Composition
Term
Salkmon benefits to tree biomass increase form MDN
Definition
*Roots stabalize banks and filter sediments, control erosion and siltation *Tree shading controls temperature
Term
Salmon/Bear MDN study was an example of_
Definition
*Exploitation * Trophic Dynamics *Complex food webs *Animal influence on nutrient cycling *Mutualism *Keystone spp.
Term
Succession
Definition
A sequence of compositional or structural changes in a community over time
Term
Primary Succession
Definition
Follows the colonization of unvegetated, geologically fresh terrain (After glacier retreat, newly formed volcanic surface, SLOWER than secondary succession)
Term
Secondary Succession
Definition
Follows the colonization of previously vegetated area following a disturbance (After fire, flood, windfall, logging, pathogens) *Soil/Seed bank is still intact *FASTER than primary succesion
Term
Sere
Definition
A stage in the sequence of succession
Term
Pioneer Spp.
Definition
A spp. That colonizes newly disturbed sites
Term
Climax community
Definition
A reletivly stable, steady-state community at the end point of succession. *Self replacing *Remains stable until disturbed
Term
Equilibrium
Definition
A state of balance in which opposing forces cancel each other out, so that conditions remain more or less stable
Term
Chronosequence
Definition
A series of communities or ecosystems representing a range of ages or times since disturbance (Used in space-for-time substitution)
Term
Dsiturbance
Definition
A relativly discrete event that disrupts ecosystem, communtiy, or population structure and changes resource avaliability or physical structure
Term
Disturbance sets_in motion
Definition
Seconday succession
Term
Concept of facilitation
Definition
Each serial community modifies the environemtn so that it becomes more sutable for the next. *Later colonists replace earlier ones through competitive exclusion *Climaz comm. Reached when modifications no longer favor subsequent comm.
Term
Possible mechanisms of facilitation
Definition
*Soil ammendment *Shading
Term
Individualistic concept of sucession
Definition
Sucession is driven by individual spp. Life histories *Spp. Respond independantly to envi. Change *NO superorganismal associations or inevitable climax community *Spp. Present at any given time are there due to an interply of many factors
Term
Factors that influence the spp. Present at a given site
Definition
*Timing of disturbance *Dispersal *Presence in seed bed *Life history/adaptation *competitive dynamics *env. Conditions *Variability *random processes
Term
Important concepts of individual concept of sucession
Definition
*Disturbance is natural and common *Sucession may follow different trajectories *Trajectories may diverge OR converge *Various climax communities are possible
Term
Implications of individualistic concept of sucession
Definition
*Contributed to the development of non-equilibrium views of ecology *Emphasized the importance of change and disturbance *Was ofter misinterpreted by envoronemtnalists (If nature is not highly organized, why worry about human impact)
Term
What shifted view from facilitative to individualistc view
Definition
1) Prarie drought 1933-1940 (Prarie grass was considered true climax comm, but was replaces with different spp. After drought 2)American Chestnut blight (Loss of dom spp. Didn’t result in a collapse of eastern northern american forests, other spp. Just increased in abundaces)
Term
3 proposed models of sucession
Definition
1)Facilitation 2)Inhibition 3)Tolerance
Term
Facilitation MODEL
Definition
*Only certain spp pioneer after disturbance, earlier spp. Modify envi so it becomes more suitable to later spp. *Later spp. Outcompete and exclude earlier spp. *Climax comm establish when resident spp. No longer facilitates colonization by other spp.
Term
Inhibition MODEL
Definition
*Initial colonization driven by dispersal, timing, and chance *Earlier spp. Modify envi for later spp. *Later spp come in when earlier spp are removed by physical/biological factors that cause mortaility *Climax comm made up of long-living spp. Able to withstand damage by physical/biological factors
Term
Tolerance MODEL
Definition
Initial colonization driven by dispersal, timing, and chance *early spp. DO NOT facilitate OR inhibit later spp. (might alter envi and make it less suitable for themselves ex. Density dependant) *Later spp. Are those tolerant of envi. Conditions during sucession *CLimaz comm. established when all possible tolerant spp. have been recruited
Term
Stand age vs. spp richness
Definition
Spp. Richness tends to increase with stand age NOT ALL GROUPS!
Term
Ewx. Of sucession
Definition
*Sessile organisms in intertidal zone *Clear-cutted forest
Term
Sucession and soil properties
Definition
*Soil depth of ALL major soil layers increase with each sere *N, moisture, and organic matter all increase with subsequent sucession *P, pH, and bulk density all DECREASE with sucession
Term
Biomass accumulation model (BAM
Definition
Model for ecosystem recovery following disturbance in 4 PHASES!
Term
Four stages of BAM
Definition
Following a disturbance! 1) Reorginization phase- ecosystem continues to lose biomass and nutrients 2) Aggradation phase- Biomass increases 3)Transition phase- Biomass will decline 4) Steady-state phase- biomass is now constant
Term
Stability
Definition
Absence of change
Term
Resistance
Definition
The ability of a community or ecosystem to maintain structure/function in the face of a potential disturbance
Term
Resilience
Definition
The ability of a comm/ecosystem to return to its ORIGINAL structure/function after a disturbance
Term
Chief mechanism for resilience
Definition
SUCESSION
Term
Major characteristics of disturbance
Definition
*Frequency *Intensity *Duration *Spatial Extent *Seasonality
Term
The rlationship between frequency and intensity
Definition
INVERSLY proportional *In areas of frequent disturbance, organisms tend to be well-adapted to withstanding and recovering from disturbace *In areas with infrequent disturbance, orgs are not well adapter to dealing with them.
Term
Disturbance MUST entail
Definition
a departure from average conditions *Sometimes average conditions entail a substantial variation! Org wil adapt to normal conditions even if they have HIGH variation
Term
Changes in disturbance regime
Definition
Can be viewed as a type of disturbance itself! EX. Suppressing fires in area that naturally have forest fires!
Term
River and riparian ecosystems vs. disturbance
Definition
River and riparian ecosystems are dependant on periodic disturbance! *Old trees wil not get replaced *Pop decline resulting from age distribution being dominated by older individuals
Term
Island spp. Richenss is determined by_
Definition
*Rate of immigration vs. rate of extirpatrion *Distance from mainland *Size of island
Term
Island Biogeography can be applied to_
Definition
Actual island as well as ecological reserves
Term
# of spp. Present on an island represnets_
Definition
A dynamic equilibrium between the rate of immigration and the rate of extinction/extirpation *Graph look similar to an X (intersecting J-shaped curves) Number of spp. Is the point of intersection
Term
SLOSSS debate
Definition
That one large island is better tha several small islands EVEN if the total area is equal. *Spp. Richness is increasing with habitat area! *Debate on the extent to which smaller reserves share spp.
Term
Fragmentation
Definition
Discontinuity in habitat *limits dispersal *Reduces access to mates *Diveds popoulations into isolated subpopulations
Term
Smaller popoulations are at greater risk for_
Definition
*Inbreeding depression *Genetic Drift
Term
Edge Effects
Definition
The portion of island near its perimeter *Area is influienced by the adjacent environemtn *Microclimate that is different from the interior
Term
Fragementation favors_
Definition
*Easily dispersed, r-selected spp. *generalists tolerant of open conditions Ex. Mule Deer
Term
Genetic Variation of Island pop.
Definition
*Genetic variation is lower in isolated, smaller, island popoulations
Term
Why are corridors important
Definition
They are important for maintaining genetic variability, viability of island populations
Term
Extinction facts
Definition
*Extinction is a natural process *99% of all spp. That were once alive are now extinct *Current rate of extinction is abnornmally high (on par with 5 catestrophic mass extinctions in earths history.)
Term
The big 5 mass extinction events
Definition
1) Cretaceous-Tertiary Extinction 2) Triassic-Jurassic Extinction 3)Permian-Triassic Extinction 4) Late Devonian Extinction 5)Ordovian-Silurian Extinction
Term
Todays extinction can be understood by looking back at the _ era
Definition
Pleistocene era! (aka. ICE AGE!)
Term
Potential causes of pleistocene extinction
Definition
*Climate change *Habitat loss *predation *Meterorites
Term
The clovis period
Definition
Characterized by the manufacture of the "clovis" point and distinctive bone and ivory tools. *Clovis people were specialized hunters of big mammels *End of clovis perios coincides with big mammel extinction
Term
"Blitzkrieg" theory
Definition
Intensive hunting caused megafaunal crash within <1000 years.
Term
Summary points of Pleistocene Extinction
Definition
*Between 50-10 thousand years ago most large land mammels became extint everywhere but africa *Extinction focused on large, slow moving and bredding animals *Evidence that human activities (esp. hunting) helped precipitat extinction *Climate change affected timing, geography, and magnitude
Term
Anthropocene
Definition
*Extinctions continue due to habitat loss and overkill *Debate on the beginning of the period *Currently in the middle of a marine mass-extinction
Term
Three evolutionary ghost stories
Definition
Speed demons - Strange fruit -Chondor Chow
Term
Speed demon
Definition
Pronghorns in western US can run faster than any predator because the evolved to escape fast predators that are now extinct
Term
Strange Fruit
Definition
Trees with tasty fruits that have big pits and are not easily dispersed or eaten are now endangered because they evolved to be dispersed by large mammels that are now extinct
Term
Chondor Chow
Definition
Chondors used to feed on the carcasses of large mammels that are now extinct. They are drawnto cattle ranches and populations are on the brink of extinction due to poaching, lead shot, and habitat destruction.
Term
Re-wilding North America
Definition
Proposed to create a facismal of spp. That have dissapeared
Term
Problems with the re-wilding proposal
Definition
*Ecosystems have changed since late pleistocene *Modern day decendants are not the same *Re-wild fauna not adapted to life on the plains *Unforseen ecosystem effects *Possibel eating of people *Expensive?
Term
Siberias pleistocene park
Definition
*Reintorduction of large herbivores *Plans to reintroduce large prpedators *Cloned mammoth?
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