9.1 Study Guide Flashcards
Population Definition
a group of individuals of the same species living and interbreeding within a given area.
Population Density Definition
the concentration of individuals within a species in a specific geographic location.
Population Distribution Definition
describes how the individuals of a population spread out across their habitat.
Random distribution?
Random distribution, also known as unpredictable spacing, is the least common form of distribution in nature and occurs when the members of a given species are found in environments in which the position of each individual is independent of the other individuals: they neither attract nor repel one another. Example - wild flowers
Why populations might be in either of the three distribution patterns?
It depends on the amount and type of food available, territorial behavior, environmental conditions, if the organism has seeds that germinate where ever they happen to fall, or there is an uneven distribution of nutrients or other resources in the environment.
Clumped Distribution?
Clumped dispersion is when individuals in a population are clustered together, creating some patches with many individuals and some patches with no individuals. In uniform dispersion, individuals are spaced evenly throughout an area. And in random dispersion, individuals are arranged without any apparent pattern. Example - Wolves
Unique Distribution?
In biology, random distribution is when individuals in a population are spread out without a pattern. Examples of random distribution include dandelions and other plants with wind-dispersed seeds. Example - Penguins
Ways to count a population
- Direct count
- Indirect count
- Random sampling (has formula)
- Mark recapture (has formula)
Abiotic
- Sunlight&temperature
- Precipitation/water
- Soil/nutrients
Biotic
- Other living organisms
- Prey
- Competitors
- Predators, parasites, and disease
