BIOSC 0370 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Human Ecology, Gaia Hypothesis, Ernst Haeckel

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16 Oct 2018

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What is ecology least understood science not environmental science. Some basic observations ( coined ecology ") many species. Each has a unique , limited distribution (geographic ) no species occurs everywhere on. Abundance of each species varies in space and time . Why occur species is the world organized in limited sets , like this or communities eneraldefintons. G- ecology is i ) scientific natural history. Natural history : the study of nature and natural phenomenon . not quite appropriate as a definition includes topics peripheral to ecology. Ii ) structure i. function of nature ( we use this in how homeostasis is maintained the " working of nature. Implies homeostasis are earth "s systems homeostatic? ( the. January nth ( lecture 2) earth has intrinsic. Unspecific members of the same species . (antonym is hetero specific ) * states that environment is both biotic and a biotic.

Related Questions

It's a quiz for my life science class.

QUESTION 1

Organisms that have descended from the same initial group and have the ability to interbreed belong to the same

	A.	species.
	B.	family.
	C.	class.
	D.	genus.
	E.	order.

5 points

QUESTION 2

The simplest entity that exhibits all of the properties of life is called a(n)

	A.	molecule.
	B.	cell.
	C.	organism.
	D.	tissue.

5 points

QUESTION 3

In populations, adaptation usually arises through

	A.	responsiveness.
	B.	heredity.
	C.	metabolism.
	D.	natural selection.
	E.	development.

5 points

QUESTION 4

Scientists have found that ancient fossils

	A.	are less similar to present-day organisms than more recent fossils.
	B.	are just as similar to present-day organisms as more recent fossils.
	C.	are more similar to present-day organisms than more recent fossils.
	D.	are very similar to present-day organisms.
	E.	bear no resemblance to present-day organisms.

5 points

QUESTION 5

What is the term that describes the study of the relationship between living things and components of their environment?

	A.	herpetology
	B.	analogy
	C.	zoology
	D.	ecology
	E.	ichnology

5 points

QUESTION 6

Characteristics usually associated with life include all of the following except:

	A.	motility.
	B.	a high degree of organization.
	C.	lack of change from generation to generation.
	D.	reproduction.
	E.	responsiveness to stimuli.

5 points

QUESTION 7

The scientific name for the black-footed ferret is Mustela nigripes. The name Mustela indicates the _____________________ to which the organisms belongs.

	A.	phylum
	B.	class
	C.	family
	D.	species
	E.	genus

5 points

QUESTION 8

Which of the following is considered to be the most basic living unit?

	A.	organ system
	B.	molecule
	C.	organelle
	D.	cell
	E.	tissue

5 points

QUESTION 9

Which of the following concepts best describes the wide variety of dog species we observe, ranging from the domesticated golden retriever or the basset hound, to the wild dogs of Africa, to foxes?

	A.	preadaptation
	B.	special creation
	C.	inheritance of acquired characteristics.
	D.	taxonomy
	E.	evolution

5 points

QUESTION 10

If an ecologist is studying the cycling of carbon through a particular environment (which involes the movement of carbon through living things as well as through rock, air, and water), the scientist is studying at what level of ecology?

	A.	organismal
	B.	community
	C.	ecosystem
	D.	population
	E.	biosphere

5 points

QUESTION 11

Which list is organized from smallest to largest level of organization of life?

	A.	organisms, organ systems, organs, tissues, cells, organelles
	B.	organelles, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms
	C.	organelles, tissues, cells, organ systems, organs, organisms
	D.	tissues, cells, organelles, organs, organ systems, organisms
	E.	cells, tissues, organ systems, organelles, organs, organisms

5 points

QUESTION 12

When examining the hierarchy of life, which of the following terms is most inclusive?

	A.	biosphere
	B.	population
	C.	species
	D.	ecosystem

5 points

QUESTION 13

The units of inheritance are

	A.	evolutions.
	B.	heredities.
	C.	genes
	D.	twins.
	E.	metabolic activities.

5 points

QUESTION 14

Organisms that undergo asexual reproduction

	A.	require another organism to reproduce.
	B.	are usually very complex.
	C.	produce offspring that are different from each other.
	D.	do not require energy to reproduce.
	E.	produce offspring that are identical to each other and to the parent.

5 points

QUESTION 15

All the living organisms in a particular area at a particular time make up a

	A.	biosphere.
	B.	community.
	C.	biosystem.
	D.	population.
	E.	ecosystem.

5 points

QUESTION 16

The first step in the scientific method is to

	A.	identify a problem.
	B.	predict the results of an experiment.
	C.	propose a solution.
	D.	draw a conclusion.
	E.	perform an experiment.

5 points

QUESTION 17

Young multicelled organisms usually start out small, then grow in size, and increase in complexity. This process is called:

	A.	heredity.
	B.	metabolism.
	C.	development.
	D.	evolution.
	E.	heredity.

5 points

QUESTION 18

To maintain order within their cells and organs, all living things must

	A.	carry on metabolism.
	B.	reproduce.
	C.	constantly change.
	D.	be able to move.
	E.	extract energy from sunlight.

5 points

QUESTION 19

Which of the following includes Highest levels of hierarchy?

	A.	family
	B.	phylum
	C.	domain
	D.	kingdom
	E.	order

5 points

QUESTION 20

Fungi are classified into which domain?

	A.	Archaea
	B.	Eukarya
	C.	Bacteria
	D.	Fungi

erinhare264

Question1.1. Accidental alterationsduring DNA replication that give rise to variations in organismsare __________. (Points : 1)

adaptive traits
mutations
symbioses
random distributions

Question2.2. The largest reservoir ofcarbon in the carbon cycle is comprised of _________. (Points :1)

freshwater systems andoceans
plants and animals
sedimentary rock andfossil fuels
atmosphere

Question3.3. The principle of utility________. (Points : 1)

holds that any naturalresource should be available for use in manufacturing
holds that something isright when it produces the greatest benefit for the greatest numberof people
is not an ethicalstandard
cannot be used toestimate the value of natural resources

Question4.4. The two processes thatdetermine current biodiversity on a global scale are __________.(Points : 1)

allopatric speciation andimmigration
mutation and habitatselection
mutation and globalclimate change
extinction andspeciation

Question5.5. The conservation ethicholds that we should ________. (Points : 1)

exploit natural resourcesfor economic gain regardless of sustainability
be prudent and efficientin the use of natural resources
consider the environmentthe ultimate servant of mankind
maintain the environmentin a pristine, unaltered state

Question6.6. The preservation ethicholds that we should ________. (Points : 1)

be responsible for wisemanagement while using natural resources
protect areas againstdevelopment while allowing public access
harvest naturalresources
maintain the naturalenvironment in a pristine, unaltered state

Question7.7. Trophic levels and foodchains diagram __________. (Points : 1)

logistic curves
energy flow in anecosystem
population density
natural resourcefluctuations

Question8.8. A hypothesis is ________.(Points : 1)

a prediction
an educated guess thatexplains a phenomenon or answers a question
an instrument that isused to examine environmental conditions
the design of anexperiment that can be used for the process of science

Question9.9. A biocentric view of theworld emphasizes ________. (Points : 1)

the role of corporationsin environmental law
the importance ofconsidering environmental impacts on all living things
the importance ofeconomics in environmental decisions
the dual-natured view ofhumans and animals as environmental controls

Question10.10. Malthus was responsiblefor ________. (Points : 1)

the book The PopulationBomb that described the disastrous effects of human populationgrowth
the idea that theincrease in human population would lead to famine and war
the concept that humanpopulation growth would lead to greater industry and prosperitythrough education
instituting fertilizeruse for agriculture

Question11.11. Ecology is ________.(Points : 1)

the study of how to solveenvironmental problems
the study of organismsand their interactions with each other and the environment
a subfield ofenvironmentalism
the study of the E. colifamily of bacteria

Question12.12. The scientific processis based on ________. (Points : 1)

observations thatresearchers keep in a scientific journal
testing hypotheses builton observation, and revising them based on results
intuitive understandingof natural laws and processes
the ancient writings ofHeraclitus

Question13.13. Which of the followingis an abiotic factor? (Points : 1)

Amphibians
Wood
Mammals
Water

Question14.14. In environmentalscience, "carrying capacity" means the ___________. (Points :1)

maximum population sizethat a given environment can sustain
average number of viableoffspring produced within a population
potential number ofspecies in a given area
limitation on the numberof species in an ecosystem

Question15.15. The Cuyahoga River madepeople aware of environmental problems because __________. (Points: 1)

people in manycommunities became sick when using water from the river
the drinking water inelementary schools near the river became contaminated
the river caught onfire
the river stoppedsupporting any plant or animal life

Question16.16. The conversion processwhere nitrogen gas combines with hydrogen to form ammonium ions,which is accomplished through the intense energy of lightening orwhen air in the top layer of soil comes into contact with certainbacteria, is known as ________. (Points : 1)

the carbon cycle
nitrogen fixation
ionic conversation
bacterial ionization

Question17.17. The fresh water wedepend on for survival accounts for approximately __________ of allwater on Earth. (Points : 1)

two-thirds
one-third
10%
3%

Question18.18. A paradigm is ________.(Points : 1)

a group of severalhypotheses that can be tested together
a dominant view inscience
the same as ahypothesis
synonymous with thescientific method

Question19.19. The degree of disorderin a substance, system, or process is called ________. (Points :1)

chaos
entropy
energy
electricity

Question20.20. A population is definedas ___________. (Points : 1)

a group of individuals ofmultiple, interacting species that live in a particular area
a group of similarspecies that inhabit various ecosystems
a group of individuals ofa single species inhabiting a particular area
(crude birth rate +immigration rate) - (crude death rate - emigration rate)

periwinklecoyote319

Read the information on exotix and invasive species and answer this question;

writing assignment : Maximum 1 page answer is needed for the below question

Question:Should the government work to prevent the introduction of exotix species to Canada??

From Freeman et al. 2019. Biological Sciences.

Global trade and global travel have vastly increased the rate of exchange of plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms around the world. A nonnative species that is introduced into a new area is called an exotic species. Exotic species do not necessarily pose problems, and they can even be beneficial in some circumstances. But some exotic species pose a direct threat to native species by eating them, competing with them, causing disease, or other types of interactions. For example, a lethal fungus is spreading from Asia in the exotic salamander pet trade, endangering native salamanders worldwide. Exotic species can also pose indirect threats by changing the local biotic or abiotic resources.

If an exotic species is introduced to a new area, grows to large population size, and disrupts species native to the area, it is called an invasive species. For example, Burmese pythons were set free by pet owners into the Florida Everglades and are now dramatically affecting native wildlife there. Argentine ants have dispersed around the world in food shipments and are forming supercolonies that outcompete native ants. The round goby, a small benthic fish from Eastern Europe first detected in Ontario rivers in 1990, has since spread to all five Great Lakes. The round goby competes for food and spawning habitat with native fishes and is thought to be responsible for the local extinction of native sculpin species from areas of Lake Michigan.

The impact of invasive species can also be beneficial. McMaster University biologist James Quinn and his colleagues investigated the diet of double-crested cormorant chicks in Lake Ontario to determine whether the parent birds were taking advantage of the newly abundant round goby to feed their young. They found that the round goby was the second most frequent fish species eaten by cormorant chicks, suggesting that piscivorous birds are changing their diet to feed on this invasive fish.

Genetic analysis carried out by Tony Einfeldt, a researcher at the University of New Brunswick, suggests that Hediste diversicolor, an abundant polychaete worm in the Bay of Fundy, is an invasive species that originated in France. H. diversicolor is an important prey item for birds and fish in the mud flats in the Bay of Fundy. The polychaete is a poor swimmer with low dispersal ability and could not have made its own way to Canadian waters. The polychaetes live in mud, so they would not end up in ballast water taken in by ships to balance the mass of their cargo. Einfeldt suggests that these species were likely carried to Canada in the early 1600s by ships used by early European explorers such as Samuel de Champlain and Henry Hudson. Prior to 1880, ships lacked ballast tanks, and sailors loaded ships with intertidal material, including rocks, sticks, and mud, as âdry ballastâ. Hediste diversicolor likely arrived in the Bay of Fundy in this intertidal mud. The worms form burrows and bring water currents through their burrows as they feed. As a result, H. diversicolor acts as an ecosystem engineer, altering nutrient flow and restructuring the muddy intertidal where it lives. The invasive polychaete is also a major food source for millions of birds and fish in the Bay of Fundy and plays a key role in the ecology of the area. âThe reason that many of these birds and fish come to our mud flats is to feed on these prey. There are so many of them,â says Einfeldt. âThe idea that so much of what our ecosystem runs on came from our history â it's very exciting.â

Modified from Breining. 2009. A New View on Exotic Species. Yale Environment 360

When biologist Mark Davis talks about invasive species, he eventually comes to LTL, his shorthand for Learn to Love them. Invasive species are here to stay, says Davis, so get used to them, and forget about ripping out the fast-spreading plant purple loosestrife on a large scale or throwing Asian carp on the bank to die. If newcomers are only changing the ecosystem but ânot causing significant harm,â then âaltering oneâs perspective is certainly much less costly than any other sort of management program.â

Davis claims that assuming that invasive species are inherently bad, that ecosystem integrity can be measured by the number of alien species, or even that newly arrived species are functionally different from longtime residents, simply isnât supported by science. Many introduced species have proven valuable and useful, including crops (from apples to wheat), horticultural plants (hostas and Norway maples), and game species (ring-necked pheasants and brown trout). He holds firm to that position, while conceding that some newcomers can be terribly destructive.

âSome invasive species are causing problems,â admits Davis, who says he supports control programs where damage is great and controls stand a chance of success. One highly destructive invasive species causing great economic harm, for which Davis supports eradication programs, is the emerald ash borer, a beetleârecently introduced into eastern Canada from Asiaâthat typically kills 99% of ash trees in affected areas.

Today, biologists continue to wage a war on alien species that have taken root by accident or design. Zebra mussels, Dutch elm disease, purple loosestrife, Eurasian water milfoil, American bullfrogs, gypsy mothsâCanada is beset by exotic species invading native forests, spreading across prairies, and clogging streams and lakes. Davis takes issue with some conventional views of exotic species.

Because native species evolved in a specific ecosystem and exotics didnât, natives are better suited to their environment. In fact, says Davis, a scientist who didnât know the history of individual organisms would have difficulty in distinguishing natives from non-natives. The Galapagos Islandsâa world heritage site of biodiversityâprovide just such an example. For years, conservationists fretted over invasive weeds overrunning the islands. Because the weeds were out of control, conservationists assumed they were non-natives, recently introduced by humans. Research showed, however, that the plants were native and had been present since prehistoric times.

Diverse communities of native species resist invasions by alien species. While carefully controlled experiments on small plots have confirmed this idea, studies in natural forests and grasslands show the opposite, says Davis. Natural disturbances, such as disease or fire, and fluctuations in resources in diverse communities offer plenty of footholds for invaders.

Pristine ecosystems are highly evolved and well-ordered. Again, ecologists have little evidence for this, Davis says. Ragtag assemblages of exotics and natives quickly adapt and perform about as well. âIf you view [nature] as a continually changing tumult, the introduction of new species isnât necessarily looked at as a huge threat.â He cites the example of regeneration of forests in Puerto Rico, where non-native species are facilitating the re-establishment of native species.

The spread of invasive species threatens to drive natives extinct. Rarely happens, Davis says, except on islands, in lakes, or in other insular environments. Usually itâs the oppositeâthe appearance of exotics increases species richness, he maintains. Throughout Canada, local ecosystems have roughly 20 percent more plant species than they once did because of the addition for foreign species.

Exotics signify a âdegradedâ ecosystem. âThere isnât such a thing as a healthy ecosystem or a sick ecosystem,â Davis says. âEcosystems have no goal or purpose. Theyâre just the species and the physical and chemical processes taking place.â

In some cases, invasions of invasive species do threaten native species with extinction. Chestnut blight, caused by an introduced fungus, swept across southern Ontario in the 1950s and virtually exterminated the native chestnut tree. Ecologist Dan Simberloff says, âWe know it caused total global extinction of at least seven species of moths that were host-specific only on North American chestnuts.â

Even if exotics donât drive native species to extinction, they can completely transform ecosystems. âThere are some biotic communities that have entirely disappeared because of invasive species,â says Simberloff. âThere are others that have drastically changed over large areas.â For example, Eurasian cheat grass now dominates millions of hectares of Western range, displacing native bunch grasses and reducing the value of the range for livestock.

James Carlton, Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation, contends that biologists can distinguish natives from exotics. âWe can easily distinguish natives from many (not all!) non-natives many times in many ways, based very much on how they function in an ecosystem. Native species are often finely tuned physiologically to the environment, whereas nonnative species may possess a repertoire of adaptations that clearly do not match the environment.â

Conservation biologist Dov Sax became positive about the impact of invasive species as an undergraduate at the University of California, Berkeley. A professor leading a field trip described the Bay Areaâs abandoned plantations of Australian eucalyptus trees as a âbiological desert.â Says Sax, âThere was all kinds of stuff growing in there. I found there were really a similar number of species in both [native oak and eucalyptus] woodland types. Exotics werenât always doing the awful things people thought they were doing.â Land managers canât begin to control the thousands of exotics that reach native ecosystems through globalized trade and travel. âConservation biology in the past has been built around the idea of preventing change,â says Sax, âbut itâs impossible to do.â

In a matter of decades, researchers believe, animals and plants are adapting to life in a warmer world. Some species will be unable to change quickly enough and will go extinct, but others will evolve, as natural selection enables them to carry on in an altered environment. With global warming pushing some animals and plants to the brink of extinction, conservation biologists are now saying that the only way to save some species may be to move them. The future landscape will be home to ânovel ecosystems,â never-before-seen agglomerations of species, of which exotics will be a key â and often valued component, Sax and others say. âIf we lump them into this category of all being evil or awful in some way,â he says, âwe may blind ourselves to those situations where theyâre actually providing a benefit either for humans or for biological conservation.â For example, a recent study of two nonnative wetland plants, suggests they provide waterfowl habitat, biomass production, and nitrogen retention that equals that of native species. Davis feels we should focus instead on disease organisms, agricultural pests, and other threats and says, âItâs important to distinguish harm from change.â

BIOSC 0370 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Human Ecology, Gaia Hypothesis, Ernst Haeckel

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