Download Ecology

Ecology
First quiz
Understand the following concepts/terms/issues, being prepared to offer a brief definition or
explanation of each.
Evolution
Population
Natural selection
Adaptation
Fitness
Quantitative
inheritance
Heritability
Genotype
Allele
Allele frequency
Genetic variation
Genetic drift
Heterozygosity
Directional selection
Stabilizing selection
Disruptive selection
Brood parasitism
Dispersal
Habitat selection
Fundamental niche
Realized niche
Geographic range
Ecological range
Be able to explain at some (moderate) length:
Factors that restrict the process of natural selection, and why they do.
How genetic variation is maintained in populations, and why small populations are of
particular concern in that regard.
Evidence that is necessary for us to conclude that: 1) evolution has occurred; 2) natural
selection has occurred. What's the difference?
Factors that may limit distributions, and how to distinguish among them
Relationships among Fundamental & Realized Niche, Geographic and Ecological Range.
Be able to:
Recognize these key ideas within the context of a situation described to you.
Interpret results of hypothetical experiments aimed at determining what are the limiting
factors on a species' distribution.
Format:
A mixture of short answer and medium-length essay questions. The full class period will be
alloted to the quiz, although many of you may be finished in less time than that.