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Cards In This Set
| Front | Back |
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Ecology
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the study of the ‘home life’ of living organisms
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Defined "Ecology" first
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Ernst Haeckel
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Ecology is
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the science by which we study how organisms (animals, plants, and microbes) interact in and with the abiotic environment.
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Califonia Sea Otter case demonstrates
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Importance of ecological understanding
(hunting sea otters, and harvesting kelp --> fish population decline due to lack of kelp forests) |
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Nile Perch case demonstrates
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Importance of ecological understanding
(Perch = predator; introduction lowered the overall biomass available to catch in Lake Victoria) |
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Levels of Organization in Ecology
(lowest --> highest) |
Individual- fundamental unit
Population- multiple ind. from 1 species Community- multiple species in one habitat Ecosystem- community + abiotic environment Biosphere- global ecosystem |
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Research questions about individuals
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1. Survival & reproduction
2. Unit of Natural selection |
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Research questions about populations
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1. Population dynamics
2. Unit of Evolution |
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Research questions about Communities
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1. Interactions among populations
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Research questions about Ecosytems
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1. Energy flux
2. Nutrient cycling |
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Research questions about Biosphere
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1. Global processes
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Approaches to Studying ecology
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1. Observation
2. Experimental - field or laboratory 3. Theoretical Models |
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Population Distributions
Explanation for species absence in a location |
1. Dispersal Limitations
2. Inter-species interactions (Predation, Competition) 3. Abiotic factors (Harsh physical or Chemical env) |
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Zebra Mussel case demonstrates
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Dispersal limitations
Once introduced to NA from Russia --> invasive |
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Gypsy Moth case demonstrates
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Dispersal limitations
Once introduced to NA from Europe--> invasive |
