Biodiversity Flashcards
the variety of life forms in a particular ecosystem
Biodiversity
the maximum number of organisms that an environment can support
Carrying Capacity
a community of organisms that live, feed and interact with the environment
Ecosystem
a constant increase in the number of a population
Exponential Growth
factors that control the growth of a population
Limiting Factor
population growth in which the growth rate decreases with increasing number of organisms, until it becomes zero when the population reaches its carrying capacity.
Logistic Growth
total number of organisms belonging to the same species in a particular environment
Population
measurement of population per unit area
Population density
the ability of an ecosystem to be self regulating and again become steady after a disturbance
Stability
A factor that regulates a population’s growth and is influenced by
population density
density-dependent limiting factor
If the population’s density does not directly influence changes in population’s growth
density-independent limiting factor
can stop a population from growing can be such things as natural disasters, temperature, sunlight, and the activities of humans in the environment. Natural disasters such as tropical cyclones, floods, earthquakes and fires will stop a population from growing no matter how many organisms are living in a certain area
density-independent limiting factor
come into play when a population reaches a certain number of organisms. For example, when a population reaches a certain size, there won’t be enough resources (food, shelter, water) for all of
the organisms. This could cause the population to stop growing when it reaches the maximum number of organisms that can be supported, or “carried,” by the environment
density-dependent limiting factor
Before a population reaches its carrying capacity, it experiences a period of rapid growth. This period of growth, there are plenty of resources available for all organisms, so more births are recorded than deaths in organism. Results in a J shaped curve
Exponential Growth
When resources are limited, populations exhibit this growth.
In this growth, population expansion decreases as resources become scarce, and it levels off when the carrying capacity of the environment is reached, resulting in a S-shaped curve.
Logistic Growth
occurs when, as a population approaches its carrying capacity, and individual organisms leave and go to a new area where they can find enough resources for survival and reproduction. This will obviously cause a decrease in the amount of organisms in a population.
Emigration
The species is considered to have this if their products are sources of food, medicine, clothing, shelter, and energy. For example, some medicines being used nowadays have formulations extracted from plants or animals. Vinblastine and vincristine are two chemicals that have been extracted from rosy periwinkle (tsitsirika in Tagalog) and are used in chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s disease and some form of cancer, including lymphocytic leukemia. Another common plant, Vitex negundo (lagundi) is extracted for cough syrup production.
Direct Economic Value
A species has an this if there are benefits produced by the organism without using them. For example, certain species maintain the chemical quality of natural bodies of water, prevent soil erosion and floods, cycle materials in the soil, and absorb pollutants.
Indirect Economic Value
A lot of species provides visual or artistic enjoyment, like a forested
landscape and the calming beauty of a natural park; or they may be
used for spiritual meditation like the Prayer Mountains.
Aesthetic value
