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Ecology Exam 2
N/A
50
Environmental Studies
Undergraduate 2
11/09/2009

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Cards

Term
Amensalism
Definition
One individual is harmed, the other is unaffected.
Term
Casual Encounters
Definition
Neither organism is harmed or benefits from interaction.
Term
Competition/Defense
Definition
Both organisms are harmed.
Term
Trophism
Definition
One organism benefits, the other is harmed.
Term
Commensalism
Definition
One organism benefits, the other is unaffected.
Term
Mutualism
Definition
Both organisms benefit.
Term
Joseph Grinnell
Definition
Coined the word niche; an organism's habitat.
Term
Charles Elton
Definition
Redefined niche; an organism's role in the environment.
Term
G. Evelyn Hutchinson
Definition
Redefined niche; all physical and biological variables that affect organisms. Coined the term hypervolume.
Term
Fundamental Niche
Definition
Conditions under which an organism can theoretically survive.
Term
Realized Niche
Definition
Conditions where an organism actually does live.
Term
Scramble Competition
Definition
Exploitative; siblicide in raptors and egrets.
Term
Contest Competition
Definition
Interference; territoriality in songbirds.
Term
Intraspecific Competition
Definition
Between individuals of the same species (males vs. females, adults vs. young, etc.).
Term
Density Dependent Factor
Definition
Influence increases with increasing population density (disease).
Term
Asymmetric Competition
Definition
One individual loses more than the other (most common in interspecific competition).
Term
Symmetric Competition
Definition
Intense Competition.
Term
Character Displacement
Definition
Natural selection favors changes that lessen competition.
Term
Methods of Reducing Intraspecific Competition
Definition
Territoriality (birds), prolonged breeding season (frogs), dispersal of male or female offspring (cheetahs, African wild dogs).
Term
Exponential Growth
Definition
Unchecked growth (humans, theoretical growth without environmental restrictions).
Term
Logistic Growth
Definition
Exponential growth limited by carrying capacity (most organisms). Also known as sygmoidal growth.
Term
Carrying Capacity (k)
Definition
Number of individuals capable of being supported by the environment.
Term
Interspecific Competition
Definition
Between individuals of different species.
Term
Competitive Exclusion
Definition
If resource requirements between individuals are similar, extinction or range shift occurs.
Term
Niche Partitioning
Definition
Using different resources, in different areas, or at different times.
Term
Allopatry
Definition
One species takes over entire ecosystem.
Term
Competitive Release
Definition
Competing species are removed from an area, eliminating competition.
Term
True Predators
Definition
Kill and eat another organism.
Term
Parasitoids
Definition
Lay eggs on/in host, offspring consume host (Hymenoptera, Diptera). Sex of eggs can be controlled by parent.
Term
Parasites
Definition
Predators that take nutrients from another organism. Usually live in several hosts throughout life, shouldn't kill host.
Term
Herbivores
Definition
Consume (but usually do not kill) vegetation.
Term
Predator-Prey Relationships
Definition
Late 1800's - focus on pest control, continued later as theoretical interest.
Term
Components of Predation
Definition
Search, pursuit, handling times.
Term
Hudson's Bay Company
Definition
Fur trading company that recorded lynx/hare populations around Hudson's Bay. Discovered population cycles (oscillations).
Term
Gause (1934)
Definition
Studied effect of refuges, immigration, and emigration on predator prey relationships in microorganisms.
Term
Huffaker (1958)
Definition
Studied effect of environmental complexity on predator-prey oscillations using mites and oranges.
Term
Lotka and Volterra (1929)
Definition
Created equations to explain predator-prey oscillations.
Term
Type I Functional Response
Definition
Proportion of prey consumed remains constant with increase in prey population.
Term
Type II Functional Response
Definition
Proportion of prey consumed drops with increase in prey population.
Term
Type III Functional Response
Definition
Proportion of prey consumed increases with increase in prey population, until a limit is reached and the proportion of prey consumed decreases.
Term
Search Image
Definition
Ability to locate prey easily after a few trials.
Term
Functional Responses
Definition
Eating at different prey densities.
Term
Numerical Responses
Definition
Breeding at different prey densities.
Term
Optimal Foraging Theory
Definition
Feeding as efficiently as possible given other constraints (what to eat and where to eat).
Term
Specialists
Definition
Long search time, lots of calories.
Term
Generalists
Definition
Short search time, less calories.
Term
Prey Model (OFT)
Definition
Predator decides what to eat.
Term
Patch Model (OFT)
Definition
Predator decides where to eat.
Term
Time Minimizer
Definition
Minimizes time used to find food (hummingbird).
Term
Energy Maximizer
Definition
Consumes as many calories as possible with no time constraints.
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