Download Remember when we . . Students should be able to

Name: _____________________________
What do I have to know to feel confident and prepared for the Ecology Quiz?
Please respond in complete and meaningful sentences.
Remember when we . . Students should be able to . . .
Mutations and Adaptations
..tried to make our way through
life as a bird with a funny beak?
. . pretended to be a blue jay
who had to eat peppered moths
to stay alive?
1. Describe the science of Ecology.
Ecology is the study of organisms interacting with each other and their environment.
2. Describe a mutation.
A change, without any human effort, to DNA.
3. Describe 3 ways mutations occur.
Mutations to DNA can be the result of a mistake when DNA is copies, or by chemicals, radiation or viruses in
the environment.
4. Are all mutations bad?
All mutations are not bad. Most are repaired and have no effect at all. Some have a very bad effect like
causing cancer, but some give the organisms and advantage in survival. Mutations that give and organism an
advantage for survival are called adaptations.
5. Describe how trait variations occur.
Variation occurs randomly and is caused by random changes (mutations) to DNA. The DNA changes
may be copying mistakes in the DNA code or code changes caused by radiation, chemicals or viruses.
An animal cannot intentionally cause any variation.
6. Describe a variation of an organism that might have been caused by a DNA mutation.
Birds that have beaks that are longer are likely caused by a mutation to DNA. Moths that have coloring that
is darker are likely created by a mutation to DNA. Lizards that have coloring that allows them to camouflage
themselves in their environment are likely created by a mutation to DNA>
7. Describe the difference between a variation and an adaptation (use strict science definition).
A variation is a particular version of a trait, the way that dark hair is a version of hair color. However,
variations that give an organism an advantage in survival are called adaptations.
8. Describe an example of an adaption.
An adaptation is any variation that helps the organism survive.
9. Explain why finches in the Galapagos Island have different beak shapes. Be able to interpret data from
the Bird Beak Lab.
Finches on the Galapagos Islands have beaks that match the food in the area because a beak that
makes it easier to get food will have a higher chance of having babies, so their population would grow.
10. Describe an example where the environment affects the benefits of a variation.
The most famous example is the peppered moths Before the Industrial Revolution; the trees were light
colored so light colored moths have a variation that helped them survive. However, when the trees became
dark because of soot in the air, the dark colored moths were better camouflaged and had a better variation
to help them survive.
11. Describe the reason why the light and dark peppered moth populations changed over time.
The Industrial Revolution increased the amount of black soot on trees where moths rest and gather
food. Before the soot, light colored moths were camouflaged by the lichen on the trees and didn’t get
eaten as often as dark colored moths. This resulted in a large population of light moths. The light
colored moths lost their camouflage as black soot covered the light colored lichen, making it easier for
dark colored moths to survive, causing their population to be larger than the light colored moth.
.. listened to Tim and Moby
describe the life of Charles
Darwin, then expanded our
understanding to appreciate
the controversy in Darwin’s
work?
Charles Darwin & Natural Selection
12. What are some similarities and differences between Gregor Mendel and Charles Darwin?
Gregor Mendel and Charles Darwin were both naturalists and created revolutionary ideas in science,
but Darwin traveled and studies plants and animals while developing his theory and Mendel studied
just plant at his monastery. Mendel’s rules of inheritance were eventually accepted, but Darwin’s
theory of Natural Selection is still controversial.
13. Did our societies’ knowledge of DNA influence the conclusions drawn by either Mendel or Darwin?
Mendel and Darwin’s work happened before the link between traits and DNA was established and before
the structure of DNA was discovered, so their explanations did not include the influence of what we
know about DNA today.
14. Describe a trait that could change over several generations and how it would happen.
Eye color and hair color could change over several generations as dominant genes are passed, which
could result in fewer recessive genes. Any trait based on DNA could change over several generations if
there is a DNA mutation.
15. How were changes in animals explained before the Theory of Natural Selection?
Before the Theory of Natural Selection was developed, scientists believed that traits developed during
an organism’s lifetime, like bigger muscles, could be passed to offspring.
. . . . . .played the good
buddies game?
Relationships Between Organisms
16. Explain the difference between organism cooperation and competition.
Cooperation can exist between animals of the same species to do specialized jobs or help hunt or care
for the young. If cooperation happens between DIFFERENT species it is SYMBIOSIS.
Competition may be between animals of the same or different species for limited resources, most often
food, but also territory.
17. Identify and explain the three types of symbiotic relationships found in nature and give examples of each.
Mutualism is a relationship when both animals benefit. The yucca moth getting nectar while it pollinates
the yucca flower is an example.
Commensalism is a relationship where one animal benefits, but the other is not helped or harmed. A
fern using a tree to anchor itself is an example of commensalism.
Parasitism is a relationship where one animal benefits, but the other is harmed. A tick drawing blood
from a cheetah benefits from the blood, but harms the cheetah by taking the blood and possibly passing
along an infection.
18. Think of an environmental change that could affect an existing symbiotic relationship.
If a change in the environment caused the ostrich to leave the area, they would not be able to support
the gazelle and protect them while they eat.