Professor Nick Cutter (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
itsananomaly) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2025-02-19 07:04 pm
itsananomaly) wrote in fandomhigh2025-02-19 07:04 pm
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Introduction to Paleontology - Period 1
“Good morning,” Cutter began that week’s class, looking a little sheepish as he held onto his morning cup of coffee, “sorry about missing last week,” he apologised, “this week we’re looking at limiting Factors and Biogenic Controls and what promotes species distribution/change and what keeps species in certain areas),”
“A limiting factor refers to any of the factors or variables in an environment capable of limiting a process, such as the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population of organisms in an ecosystem. Limiting factors may be density-dependent or density-independent. Those that are density-dependent tend to limit the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population depending on how dense a population is. Conversely, a density-independent limiting factor is capable of limiting population growth, abundance, or distribution irrespective of population density,” he explained, “Limiting factors may also be single-limiting, i.e. when only one factor limits the system. When a factor causes an indirect restrictive effect or increases the effect of a direct limiting factor, it is termed a co-limiting factor. Examples of limiting factors that could limit the size of a population are food, nutrients, shelter, and mate. These resources are limited in the ecosystem and as a result they could drive living things to compete for them,” he finished, smiling over at Connor for him to continue the lecture.
Connor was also looking a little sheepish as Cutter apologized about missing the previous week. He had a good idea. Most knew why, so there was no point in trying to make up excuses. Instead, he nodded, and as he took another drink from the coffee he held, he continued the lecture.
“Biogenic controls in nature include biological processes that control where and how far a certain species gets- both in their evolutionary transformation as well as their habitat and physical spread and scope. It is these biogenic controls that for example keep deep sea creatures from survive the shallower waters or what keeps polar bears from being a common sight further south. Now, there are many different types of controls that can be seen in nature and that we can see and theorize about from the past as well.”
Connor glanced down at his notes for a moment before continuing. “Biogenic controls can be thought of as roadblocks as such that keep certain bio-organics within a certain confined space. These include things such as food source requirements- kolas and pandas will always struggle because of their very limited dietary needs. Environmental needs also control where a species can live- camels cannot live where there is snow and creatures not adapted for the deserts will not survive the heat and lack of water. Genetics and DNA will play a large role as well- we see this today with Cheetahs who are suffering from genetic bottlenecks and inbreeding due to small population sizes.”
“ These biogenic controls also include things like predation, birth rates, growth and metabolism levels, habitat space, as well as changes that impact these. We see these trends today and studying them can help us better understand what evolutionary path some creatures took millions of years ago.” Conner gave a small nod as he finished and looked back to Cutter with a smile, handing the lecture back over to him.
Cutter smiled as he prepared to finish the class, “for the rest of the day’s class I would like you to go over the worksheets that we’ve laid out for you,” he said, “and as always myself and Mr. Temple are available if you have any questions that need answering,”
“A limiting factor refers to any of the factors or variables in an environment capable of limiting a process, such as the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population of organisms in an ecosystem. Limiting factors may be density-dependent or density-independent. Those that are density-dependent tend to limit the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population depending on how dense a population is. Conversely, a density-independent limiting factor is capable of limiting population growth, abundance, or distribution irrespective of population density,” he explained, “Limiting factors may also be single-limiting, i.e. when only one factor limits the system. When a factor causes an indirect restrictive effect or increases the effect of a direct limiting factor, it is termed a co-limiting factor. Examples of limiting factors that could limit the size of a population are food, nutrients, shelter, and mate. These resources are limited in the ecosystem and as a result they could drive living things to compete for them,” he finished, smiling over at Connor for him to continue the lecture.
Connor was also looking a little sheepish as Cutter apologized about missing the previous week. He had a good idea. Most knew why, so there was no point in trying to make up excuses. Instead, he nodded, and as he took another drink from the coffee he held, he continued the lecture.
“Biogenic controls in nature include biological processes that control where and how far a certain species gets- both in their evolutionary transformation as well as their habitat and physical spread and scope. It is these biogenic controls that for example keep deep sea creatures from survive the shallower waters or what keeps polar bears from being a common sight further south. Now, there are many different types of controls that can be seen in nature and that we can see and theorize about from the past as well.”
Connor glanced down at his notes for a moment before continuing. “Biogenic controls can be thought of as roadblocks as such that keep certain bio-organics within a certain confined space. These include things such as food source requirements- kolas and pandas will always struggle because of their very limited dietary needs. Environmental needs also control where a species can live- camels cannot live where there is snow and creatures not adapted for the deserts will not survive the heat and lack of water. Genetics and DNA will play a large role as well- we see this today with Cheetahs who are suffering from genetic bottlenecks and inbreeding due to small population sizes.”
“ These biogenic controls also include things like predation, birth rates, growth and metabolism levels, habitat space, as well as changes that impact these. We see these trends today and studying them can help us better understand what evolutionary path some creatures took millions of years ago.” Conner gave a small nod as he finished and looked back to Cutter with a smile, handing the lecture back over to him.
Cutter smiled as he prepared to finish the class, “for the rest of the day’s class I would like you to go over the worksheets that we’ve laid out for you,” he said, “and as always myself and Mr. Temple are available if you have any questions that need answering,”
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