Term
What is the purpose of phylogenetics? |
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Definition
| Determine the evolutinoary relationships among a group of taxa and answer evolutionary questions driven by curiosity. |
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Term
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Definition
| Graphical depiction of the evolutionary relationships among taxa |
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Term
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Definition
| Method by which a phylogeny can be generated |
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Term
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Definition
| Assumption that if two processes are possible, the simplest is most likely true |
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Term
| Does homology or homoplasy provide information regarding evolutionary relationships? |
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Definition
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Term
Compare homology and homoplasy. |
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Definition
Homology--a character that is found in a variety of species and is derived from a structure from a common ancestor Homoplasy--a character that is found in a variety of taxa and is NOT dereived from a common ancestor. |
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Term
What is naturalistic phalosy? |
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Definition
| Justifies human immoral actions because it happens in nature |
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Term
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Definition
| When an organism dies and its organic structure is replaced by inorganic minerals |
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Term
| What are the seven things that must be true for a fossil to be formed? |
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Definition
1. Organism is not completely eaten 2. Organism is not completely decomposed 3. Organism is in favorable environment for fossilization (marine environment) 4. Organism has "hard parts" that do not lose their structure 5. Fossil has not been destroyed by geologic processes (volcanoes) 6. Fossil is uncovered by geological processes (erosion) 7. WE STUMBLE ACROSS IT! |
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Term
| Who used the Bible to establish 4004 BC as the time of Earth creation? |
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Definition
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Term
What did Lord Kelvin estimate Earth's age to be? |
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Definition
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Term
| How old is Earth, what are the two things we used to determine this? |
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Definition
4.6 billion years old Radioactive dating and fossil corals, changing day length |
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Term
| What are the three possiblities of every mutation? |
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Definition
1. Increase the bearers fitness 2. Decrease the bearers fitness 3. Leave it unchanged (Most mutations are silent on fitness) |
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Term
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Definition
| The study of interactions between organisms with their environment |
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Term
| Give examples of both holistic and reductionistic sciences. |
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Definition
Holistic--animal behavior, biogeography, ecology Reductionistic--chemisty, physics, cell biology |
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Term
| List the six groups of an ecology and describe each. |
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Definition
Organism--an individual living thing Population--a group of conspecifics living in the same place at the same time Community--a group of heterospecific populations that affect each other, directly and indirectly for resources Ecosystem--similar to community, except includes physical environment Biome--very large scale groups of ecosystems that are largely influenced by climatic factors Biosphere--small portion of earth that supports life |
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Term
| List the seven major terrestrial biomes. |
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Definition
1. Temperate deciduous forest 2. Coniferous forest 3. Tropical forest 4. Grassland 5. Tundra 6. Desert 7. Inland waters |
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Term
| Give characteristics of a temperate deciduous forest. |
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Definition
Vegetation is deciduous, strong seasonal variation (temperature, rain, and daylight) |
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Term
| What are the two major things affecting biomes? |
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Definition
Climate and Geographical Location |
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Term
Give characteristics of a coniferous forest (taiga). |
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Definition
| Vegetation of evergreen, shorter growing season, less seasonal variation |
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Term
| Give characteristics of a tropical forest. |
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Definition
| Relatively constant temperature, seasons are divided into rainy vs. dry (almost rain everyday), extremely high species diversity |
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Term
| Describe the grassland biome. |
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Definition
| Major vegetation is grass species and forbs, strong seasonality, many different grasses (switch grass, indian grass) |
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Term
| Describe the tundra biome. |
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Definition
| "Not tough" (tundra is intolerent of being walked on), permafrost, very short growing season |
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Term
| Describe the desert biome. |
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Definition
| Low rainfall/moisture, extreme daily changes in temperature, cacti and other plants with reduced foliage |
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Term
| Give characteristics of inland waters biome. |
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Definition
Fresh water (2.5% of all water), rivers, lakes, wetlands (we should allow rivers to flood in a managed way, would save $$ in damages) |
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Term
| When did the continental drift occur? |
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Definition
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Term
| What were the three continents included in the continental drift? |
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Definition
Pangaea--super continent Laurasia--included North America Gondwanaland--Southern Super continent (The continental drift explains a lot of questions--India created the Hemalayas by hitting Asia, Appalachians caused by the same type of force) |
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Term
| Explain the difference between carnivore, herbivore, omnivore, insectivore, frugivore, and detritivore |
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Definition
Carnivore--animal obtains its energy/nutrients by eating other animals. Also is an order of mammals (Carnivora) Herbivore--Animal is primary consumer (2nd trophic level)
Omnivore--animal eats a variety of foods, including plant and animal parts Insectivore--insects Frugivore--fruit Detritivore--obtains energy/nutrients from dead/decaying organismal parts. Does not kill the organism...decomposer |
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Term
| What are the two types of competition and describe. |
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Definition
Scramble Competition--individuals attempt to use the resource more quickly/more efficiently than their competitiors Interference Competition--individuals directly interfere with conspecific or heterospecific competitors. This can be through territoriality and outright aggression |
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Term
| Why is competition predicted to be more intense among conspecifics rather than heterospecifics? |
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Definition
| Same species are going to need exact same foods, physical space, EVERYTHING! |
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Term
| What are three things a species niche in a particular community is composed of? |
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Definition
1. its role in the community 2. its habitat 3. its basic requirements |
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Term
| What prevents a species from living all over a habitat? |
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Definition
| Interactions with other organisms, outcompeted by other interactng species |
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Term
| Fundamental niche is reduced to realized niche by ___________. |
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Definition
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Term
| What are density-dependent factors? |
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Definition
| The effect these factors have upon the population depends upon population density--biotic factors (predators, disease) |
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Term
| What are density-independent factors? |
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Definition
| The effect these factors have upon the population does not depend on population denisty--abiotic factors (huuricane) |
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Term
| What is carrying capacity? |
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Definition
The largest population of a particular species that can be supported by the ecosystem/community, is defined by the most limiting resource |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| What happens when two species exhibit niche overlap? |
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Definition
| It is possible that one species outcompetes the other so well that it excludes the other species from the habitat. |
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Term
| What are some possible outcomes of competitive exclusion? |
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Definition
Results (sometimes) in extinctiono f lesser competitior, results in character displacement of one or more competitors |
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Term
| What are the three animal body plans? |
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Definition
| Spherical, Radial, Bilateral |
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Term
| Name the five levels of organization and describe. |
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Definition
Protoplasmic--all functions occur within a single cell (Protista) Cellular--aggregation of cells that are functinoally differentiated for different 'jobs' but not organized into tissues (P. Porifera) Cell-Tissue--organized layers or patterns of tissues (P. Cnidaria) Tissue-Organ--organs made up of multiple tissues that carry out specialized function Organ-System--multiple organs coordinated to perform a function |
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Term
| What are the two types of tissue layers? |
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Definition
Diploblastic---two germ layers (P. Cnidaria) Triploblastic--three germ layers (other phyla) |
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