Environmental and Conservation Biology

The rivers of central Portugal have been invaded, and densely populated, by the

The rivers of central Portugal have been invaded, and densely populated, by the

The rivers of central Portugal have been invaded, and densely populated, by the Louisiana crayfish, Procambarus clarki, which looks like a freshwater lobster about 12 to 14 cm long. The otters of these rivers can easily catch and subdue these crayfis

colleen   944   1 Reply

bio_man

The data of Iriarte and colleagues (1990) suggest that prey size may favour a pa

The data of Iriarte and colleagues (1990) suggest that prey size may favour a pa

The data of Iriarte and colleagues (1990) suggest that prey size may favour a particular body size among pumas. However, this variation in body size also correlates well with latitude; the larger pumas live at high latitudes. Consequently, this varia

colleen   1234   1 Reply

bio_man

How is plant allocation to roots versus shoots similar to plant regulation of te

How is plant allocation to roots versus shoots similar to plant regulation of te

How is plant allocation to roots versus shoots similar to plant regulation of temperature and water? (We discussed these topics in chapters 5 and 6.) Consider discussing these processes under the more general heading of homeostasis. (Homeostasis is t

colleen   1654   1 Reply

bio_man

If herbivores are able to optimally forage, why do they not more efficiently ext

If herbivores are able to optimally forage, why do they not more efficiently ext

If herbivores are able to optimally forage, why do they not more efficiently extract resources from their food? Why has natural selection allowed for the majority of the biomass ingested by herbivores to be passed through the digestive system without

colleen   978   1 Reply

bio_man

Is a plant putting roots in a resource rich patch, but not in a low resource pat

Is a plant putting roots in a resource rich patch, but not in a low resource pat

Is a plant putting roots in a resource rich patch, but not in a low resource patch the same as a predator foraging in an area of high prey density but not in an area of low prey density? Is intelligence necessary for behaviour? Why or why not?

colleen   811   1 Reply

bio_man

The introduction to chapter 8 included sketches of the behaviour and social syst

The introduction to chapter 8 included sketches of the behaviour and social syst

The introduction to chapter 8 included sketches of the behaviour and social systems of several fish species. Using the concepts that you have learned in the chapter, revisit those
examples and predict the forms of sexual selection occurring in e

colleen   727   1 Reply

bio_man

One of the basic assumptions of the material presented in chapter 8 is that the

One of the basic assumptions of the material presented in chapter 8 is that the

One of the basic assumptions of the material presented in chapter 8 is that the form of reproduction will exert substantial influence on social interactions within a species. How might interactions differ in populations that reproduce asexually versu

colleen   925   1 Reply

bio_man

Is altruism likely to become a common trait within a species if there is no fitn

Is altruism likely to become a common trait within a species if there is no fitn

Is altruism likely to become a common trait within a species if there is no fitness benefit (in either short- or long-term) to the individual performing the altruistic act? Why?

colleen   573   1 Reply

bio_man

Endler (1980) pointed out that though field observations are consistent with the

Endler (1980) pointed out that though field observations are consistent with the

Endler (1980) pointed out that though field observations are consistent with the hypothesis that predators may exert natural selection on guppy colouration, some other factors in the environment could be affecting variation in male colour patterns am

colleen   1022   1 Reply

bio_man

Examine figure 8.22. While most of the male guppies that successfully mated were

Examine figure 8.22. While most of the male guppies that successfully mated were

Examine figure 8.22. While most of the male guppies that successfully mated were dominant, a substantial proportion of attractive males that sired broods were subordinate. How might we interpret this reproductive success by attractive but subordinate

colleen   716   1 Reply

bio_man

Locke Rowe and colleagues have explored sexual conflict between male and female

Locke Rowe and colleagues have explored sexual conflict between male and female

Locke Rowe and colleagues have explored sexual conflict between male and female water striders. What ecological and environmental conditions are likely to result in sexual conflict in other species?

colleen   895   1 Reply

lovezchoclabs

The results of numerous studies indicate nonrandom mating among plants at least

The results of numerous studies indicate nonrandom mating among plants at least

The results of numerous studies indicate nonrandom mating among plants at least under some conditions. These results lead to questions concerning the biological mechanisms that
produce these nonrandom matings. How might the maternal plant contro

colleen   1338   1 Reply

George

The details of experimental design are critical for determining the success or f

The details of experimental design are critical for determining the success or f

The details of experimental design are critical for determining the success or failure of both field and laboratory experiments. Results often depend on some small details. For instance, why did Jennifer Jarvis wait one year after establishing her la

colleen   1035   1 Reply

katey-grant13

Behavioural interactions are often difficult to study because an individual’s be

Behavioural interactions are often difficult to study because an individual’s be

Behavioural interactions are often difficult to study because an individual’s behaviour can be dependent upon the behavioural responses of other individuals of the same and different species. How does this differ from the physiological responses of o

colleen   623   1 Reply

bio_man

What is genetic drift? Under what circumstances do you expect genetic drift to o

What is genetic drift? Under what circumstances do you expect genetic drift to o

What is genetic drift? Under what circumstances do you expect genetic drift to occur? Under what circumstances is genetic drift unlikely to be important? Does genetic drift increase or decrease genetic variation in populations?

colleen   4697   2 Replies

wockaflock123

What aspects of life in a bog may have favoured selection for carnivory in plant

What aspects of life in a bog may have favoured selection for carnivory in plant

What aspects of life in a bog may have favoured selection for carnivory in plants? Why are carnivorous plants relatively rare in all other types of communities, such as temperate forest, salt marshes, and even the tropical forest?

colleen   639   1 Reply

duddy

Contrast the approaches of Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel to the study of popu

Contrast the approaches of Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel to the study of popu

Contrast the approaches of Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel to the study of populations. What were Darwin’s main discoveries? What were Mendel’s main discoveries? How did the studies of Darwin and Mendel prepare the way for the later studies reviewed

colleen   2761   1 Reply

duddy

What environmental variable did Ted Case determine to be the best predictor of v

What environmental variable did Ted Case determine to be the best predictor of v

What environmental variable did Ted Case determine to be the best predictor of variation in body size among populations of chuckwallas? Did Case’s studies of chuckwallas demonstrate genetic differences among his study populations? What did the more r

colleen   803   1 Reply

duddy

Suppose you are a director of a captive breeding program for a rare species of a

Suppose you are a director of a captive breeding program for a rare species of a

Suppose you are a director of a captive breeding program for a rare species of animal, such as Siberian tigers, which are found in many zoos around the world but are increasingly rare in the wild. Design a breeding program that will reduce the possib

colleen   1425   1 Reply

duddy

Colonization of new habitat brings with it certain genetic risks. How can these

Colonization of new habitat brings with it certain genetic risks. How can these

Colonization of new habitat brings with it certain genetic risks. How can these risks be reduced if a large population, rather than a small population, establishes in a new area?

colleen   763   1 Reply

duddy

How did the studies of Scott Carroll and his colleagues demonstrate rapid evolut

How did the studies of Scott Carroll and his colleagues demonstrate rapid evolut

How did the studies of Scott Carroll and his colleagues demonstrate rapid evolutionary adaptation to introduced soapberry plants? What advantages do a group of organisms, such as soapberry bugs, offer to researchers studying natural selection compare

colleen   1011   1 Reply

duddy

What are the main advantages of using DNA-based methods in studies of genetic di

What are the main advantages of using DNA-based methods in studies of genetic di

What are the main advantages of using DNA-based methods in studies of genetic diversity relative to protein based methods?

colleen   772   1 Reply

duddy

DNA barcoding will not be effective if traditional taxonomists no longer exist.

DNA barcoding will not be effective if traditional taxonomists no longer exist.

DNA barcoding will not be effective if traditional taxonomists no longer exist. Why?

colleen   567   1 Reply

duddy

Suppose you are in charge of constructing the harvesting rules for a large fishe

Suppose you are in charge of constructing the harvesting rules for a large fishe

Suppose you are in charge of constructing the harvesting rules for a large fishery. How could you use information on changes in body size and age of maturity as potential indicators of the effects of harvesting on the population? Would you expect to

colleen   788   1 Reply

duddy

Many species of plants and animals that are associated with boreal forests also

Many species of plants and animals that are associated with boreal forests also

Many species of plants and animals that are associated with boreal forests also occur on mountains far to the south of the boreal forests. Using what you have learned about microclimates, predict how aspect and elevation would influence their distrib

colleen   1789   1 Reply

duddy

Figure 5.10 shows how temperature influences the activity of acetylcholinesteras

Figure 5.10 shows how temperature influences the activity of acetylcholinesteras

Figure 5.10 shows how temperature influences the activity of acetylcholinesterase in rainbow trout. Assuming that the other enzymes of rainbow trout show similar responses to temperature, how would trout swimming speed change as environmental tempera

colleen   571   1 Reply

duddy

The Ecological Tools section reviews how the studies of Bruno Baur and Anette Ba

The Ecological Tools section reviews how the studies of Bruno Baur and Anette Ba

The Ecological Tools section reviews how the studies of Bruno Baur and Anette Baur (1993) have documented the local extinction of the land snail Arianta arbustorum. Their research also shows that these extinctions may be due to reduced egg hatching a

colleen   832   1 Reply

duddy

Butterflies, which are ectothermic and diurnal, are found from the tropical rain

Butterflies, which are ectothermic and diurnal, are found from the tropical rain

Butterflies, which are ectothermic and diurnal, are found from the tropical rain forest to the Arctic. They can elevate their body temperatures by basking in sunlight. How would the percentage of time butterflies spend basking versus flying change wi

colleen   2399   1 Reply

duddy

Some plants and grasshoppers in hot environments have reflective body surfaces,

Some plants and grasshoppers in hot environments have reflective body surfaces,

Some plants and grasshoppers in hot environments have reflective body surfaces, which make their radiative heat gain, Hr, less than it would be otherwise. If you were to design a beetle that could best cope with thermal challenges associated with liv

colleen   1224   1 Reply

duddy

In most of the examples discussed in chapter 5, we saw a close match between the

In most of the examples discussed in chapter 5, we saw a close match between the

In most of the examples discussed in chapter 5, we saw a close match between the characteristics of organisms and their environment. However, natural selection does not always produce an optimal, or even a good, fit of organisms to their environments

colleen   845   1 Reply

duddy

Turn back to chapter 5 and examine figure 5.6. Notice that the body temperature

Turn back to chapter 5 and examine figure 5.6. Notice that the body temperature

Turn back to chapter 5 and examine figure 5.6. Notice that the body temperature of the isopod Ligia oceanica is 30°C under stones, but 26°C on the surface, where it is exposed to full sun. Edney (1953) proposed that the isopods in the open had lower

colleen   631   1 Reply

duddy

Why do species exhibit different strategies for coping with extreme temperatures

Why do species exhibit different strategies for coping with extreme temperatures

Why do species exhibit different strategies for coping with extreme temperatures? Why hasn’t evolution resulted in all species doing the “right” thing under these conditions?

colleen   732   1 Reply

duddy

Distinguish between vapour pressure deficit, osmotic pressure, and water potenti

Distinguish between vapour pressure deficit, osmotic pressure, and water potenti

Distinguish between vapour pressure deficit, osmotic pressure, and water potential. How can all three phenomena be expressed in the same units of measure: pascals?

colleen   2473   1 Reply

duddy

Leaf water potential is typically highest just before dawn and then decreases pr

Leaf water potential is typically highest just before dawn and then decreases pr

Leaf water potential is typically highest just before dawn and then decreases progressively through midday. Should lower leaf water potentials at midday increase or decrease the rate of water movement from soil to a plant? Assume soil water potential

colleen   1903   1 Reply

duddy

Compare the water budgets of the tenebrionid beetle, Onymacris, and the kangaroo

Compare the water budgets of the tenebrionid beetle, Onymacris, and the kangaroo

Compare the water budgets of the tenebrionid beetle, Onymacris, and the kangaroo rat, Dipodomys, shown in figures 6.11 and 6.12. Which of these two species obtains most of its water from metabolic water? Which relies most on condensation of fog as a

colleen   1314   1 Reply

duddy

Many animals huddle together in extreme cold. What is the possible energetic ben

Many animals huddle together in extreme cold. What is the possible energetic ben

Many animals huddle together in extreme cold. What is the possible energetic benefit of this behaviour? Under what climatic conditions is huddling likely to be disadvantageous?

colleen   682   2 Replies

de1234

You observe a species of bird that, upon hatching, has contact with its parents

You observe a species of bird that, upon hatching, has contact with its parents

You observe a species of bird that, upon hatching, has contact with its parents only while being fed. You also never hear the parents sing during the feeding process. What would you propose about song learning in this species of bird?
A) Song l

ppk   4437   1 Reply

how_mendel

Which would be the best way to obtain evidence of a bird's cognitive abilities?

Which would be the best way to obtain evidence of a bird's cognitive abilities?

Which would be the best way to obtain evidence of a bird's cognitive abilities?
A) Observe the bird solving problems in the wild.
B) In captivity, have the bird solve problems like those it would face in the wild.
C) In captivi

ppk   1330   1 Reply

how_mendel

You see young spiders hatch from eggs, and within 5 hours, they are dispersing f

You see young spiders hatch from eggs, and within 5 hours, they are dispersing f

You see young spiders hatch from eggs, and within 5 hours, they are dispersing far from their parents and forming webs. What can you hypothesize about their behavior?
A) Web-building is innate since there is no parental involvement.
B) We

ppk   980   1 Reply

how_mendel

Learning has the most influence on behavior when ________.

Learning has the most influence on behavior when ________.

Learning has the most influence on behavior when ________.
A) making mistakes does not result in death.
B) animals have parents or other sources to learn from.
C) animals have enormous cognitive ability.
D) making mistakes doe

ppk   4457   1 Reply

how_mendel