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Foundations of Physiological Ecology Study Guide

This guide explains the fundamental principles of animal energy balance and thermoregulation. It covers the equation for heat exchange, the differences between ectotherms and endotherms, and various physiological and behavioral strategies animals employ to maintain their internal temperature. Key concepts include surface area-to-volume ratio, insulation, evaporative cooling, the thermoneutral zone, and energy conservation states like torpor and hibernation. This content is suitable for understan

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Individuals to Populations: Ecology and Dynamics

Ecology Individuals to Populations Study Guide

This guide covers physiological ecology, population structure, population dynamics, life histories, behavioral ecology, and predation.

  • Physiological ecology
  • Acclimation
  • Adaptation
  • Temperature in plants and animals
  • Water potential
  • Population spatial structure
  • Geometric growth
  • Exponential growth
  • Density independence
  • Density dependence
  • Carrying capacity
  • Logistic growth
  • Life histories
  • Survival and mortality rates
  • Behavioral ecology
  • Foraging behavior
  • Group living
  • Predator avoidance
  • Predation
  • Co-evolution

Physiological Ecology and Environmental Responses

Foundations of Physiological Ecology

The study of interactions between organisms and their environment and how these interactions influence survival and determine geographic ranges.

  • Physiological ecology
  • Environmental tolerances
  • Geographic distribution
  • Energy and water balance
  • Acclimation
  • Adaptation
  • Optimum
  • Stress
  • Tolerance
  • Avoidance
  • Environmental gradients
  • Tradeoffs
  • Climate envelope
  • Fundamental niche
  • Realized niche

Temperature Effects and Plant Adaptations

Physical Limits and Plant Thermal Adaptations

Temperature affects physiological activity, enzymatic activity, and cell membranes, influencing energy balance through conduction, convection, latent heat transfer, and radiation.

  • Physical limits of organisms
  • Protein denaturation
  • Enzymatic activity
  • Isozymes
  • Lipid membrane fluidity
  • Energy balance
  • Conduction
  • Convection
  • Latent heat transfer
  • Solar and infrared radiation
  • Transpiration
  • Stomates
  • Pubescence
  • Boundary layer
  • Evapotranspiration

Physiological Ecology and Population Fundamentals

Physiological Ecology and Water Relations

Individual dependence on and species' adaptations to the environment regarding water balance and regulation.

  • Physiological ecology
  • Species' adaptations
  • Water balance
  • Water regulation
  • Endothermy
  • Ectothermy
  • Spatial partitioning of roots
  • Desert ephemerals
  • Drought deciduous
  • Drought dormant
  • Drought avoiders
  • Morphological adaptations
  • Sunken stomata
  • Thick cuticle
  • Sclerophyllous leaves
  • Succulents
  • Transpiration

Osmoregulation and Osmosis in Aquatic Organisms

This content explores osmoregulation, osmosis, and how isosmotic, hyperosmotic, and hyposmotic organisms manage solute balance and water gain or loss.

  • Osmoregulation
  • Osmosis
  • Isosmotic organism
  • Hyperosmotic
  • Hyposmotic
  • Solute balance
  • Diffusion
  • Active transport
  • Freshwater fish osmoregulation
  • Marine fish osmoregulation

Ecological Sampling and Population Estimation

Methods for sampling and estimating population size include quadrats, transects, and mark-recapture studies.

  • quadrats
  • transects
  • mark-recapture studies
  • population size estimation
  • mobile and sessile organisms
  • sampling methods

Wildlife Monitoring and Detection Methods

Methods for wildlife monitoring include camera traps, sonograms, walk transects, scat counting, molecular methods, and conservation detection dogs.

  • camera traps
  • wildlife monitoring
  • biodiversity monitoring
  • sonograms
  • avian bioacoustics
  • walk transects
  • scat counting
  • molecular methods
  • conservation detection dogs

Animal Energy Balance and Thermoregulation

Animal Energy Balance and Thermoregulation

Animals regulate heat through energy exchange with the environment as ectotherms or through internal heat generation as endotherms.

  • Endotherm
  • Metabolic heat generation
  • Evaporative cooling
  • Surface area to volume ratio
  • Boundary layer
  • Thermoneutral zone
  • Lower critical temperature
  • Torpor
  • Hibernation
  • Cryoprotectant
  • Insulation

Processes Influencing Distribution and Population Dynamics

Logistic Growth and Carrying Capacity

The logistic growth equation models density-dependent population growth and how a population may stabilize at carrying capacity based on available resources.

  • Carrying capacity (K)
  • Logistic growth equation
  • Exponential growth
  • Density-dependent population growth
  • Per capita growth rate (r)
  • Population density (N)
  • Ecological footprint
  • Mutualisms

Adaptations and Effects of Exploitation

Co-evolution and Predation Mechanisms

This content explores co-evolution, parasite host manipulation, and species interactions including mutualism, mimicry, and predation.

  • Parasite host manipulation
  • Co-evolution
  • Species-specific mutualism
  • Biological defense mechanisms
  • Müllerian mimicry
  • Batesian mimicry
  • Warning signals
  • Predation
  • Herbivory
  • Pathogens

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