C4.1 - populations and communities Flashcards
positive and negative association
positive - two species live together
negative - species tend not to be found together
ecosystem
interactions of a community with the abiotic environment
endemic species
species that are native to a geographic region
interspecific
interaction between organisms of two different species
intraspecific
interactions between organisms within the same species
natality
reproduction and birth
negative feedback control
when one even causes a decrease in the other event to return it to the original level
quadrat
square frame used to sample an ecosystem by counting the number of organisms
reliability
data is stronger as measurements are repeated
sessile
cannot move
species
group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring
symbiotic
close and long-term interaction between two species
secondary metabolites
molecules that an organism produces but is not needed for basic life functions
population
a group of individual organisms in the same species living and interacting in the same area
what is the relationship between sampling size and accuracy?
the larger the sample size, the more accurate the population estimate
how can we estimate population sizes?
we can use random sampling to avoid bias in selection and identifying numbers in small areas and extrapolating to estimate real populations
how can a quadrat be used to estimate populations of sessile organisms?
- use a 0.5 x 0.5, quadrat and create x and y co-ordinates for the area you are testing
- generate random co-ordinates and place the quadrat in that area, counting the number of plants in several different areas
- calculate the population by multiplying the mean number of species per m2 by the area of the field
what information does standard deviation give about the spread of organisms?
standard deviation tells us about the variability which is how evenly the population is spread
- the larger the standard deviation, the less evenly the population is spread
how can we estimate population size of motile organisms?
using the capture-mark-release-recapture method
how do you calculate the Malcolm Index?
M x (N/R)
M - number of individuals marked initially
N - number of individuals recaptured
R - number of marked individuals recaptured
what are assumptions of the capture-mark-release-recapture method?
- assumes large enough sample size
- assumes no migration
- assumes no birth or deaths
- assumes marking doesn’t affect organisms survival
- assumes marked organisms don’t lose their marks
- assumes no mis-identification of species
- assumes marked and unmarked species have an equal chance of being captured
carrying capacity (K)
maximum population size that an ecosystem can support due to limited resources which promote competition
what factors can affect the carrying capacity?
plants - water levels, light availability, nutrients, soil salinity
animals - disease, habitats, food, oxygen, predation
what are density-independent factors?
same no matter the population
- weather, climate, natural distasters
what are density-dependent factors?
larger impact as the population increases
- competition, predation, diseases
what factors cause a negative feedback cycle?
density dependent factors as when population size increases, there is a greater or lesser impact of a factor, causing more death or birth
what are the stages of the population growth curve?
Sigmoidal growth curve (s-shaped)
1. Exponential growth phase
2. Transitional phase
3. Plateau phase
what are characteristics of the exponential growth phase?
- ideal environment with unlimited resources
- absence of limiting factors
- little disease and few predators
- high immigration and natality
- population can double on a regular basis