Ch. 46 Population Ecology

Question 1

ecology

Answer 1

the study of relationships of organisms to one another and to the environment

Question 2

do populations evolve or do individuals evolve?

Answer 2

populations evolve!

Question 3

population

Answer 3

all of the individuals of a species that live and reproduce in a particular place

Question 4

3 main characteristics that define populations

Answer 4

1. size
2. range
3. density

Question 5

population size

Answer 5

number of individuals of all ages alive at a particular time in a particular place

Question 6

geographic range

Answer 6

• how widely a population is spread out

- the geographic range that the population covers

Question 7

population density

Answer 7

population size/population range (geographic area)

Question 8

random population distribution

Answer 8

• a new individual has an equal chance of occupying any position in the range
• location of one individual has o impact on location of the next

Question 9

clumped population distribution

Answer 9

-resources are distributed patchily within the range OR chances of surviving are higher when with a group

Question 10

over dispersed population distribution

Answer 10

-resources limited or predators target a single species, individuals are better off when they are far away form others of the same species

Question 11

what formula summarizes change in population over time?

Answer 11

(Births - Deaths) + (Immigration - emigration)

Question 12

what formula is for the growth rate of population?

Answer 12

change in population/change in time

Question 13

per capita growth rate

Answer 13

= (change in pop/change in time) / (number individuals at start time)

Question 14

intrinsic growth rate

Answer 14

maximum rate of growth when no environmental factors limit population increase

Question 15

interspecific competition

Answer 15

(between 2 species) can result in population size increase/decrease

Question 16

intraspecific competition

Answer 16

(within same species) results in natural selection

Question 17

carrying capacity (k)

Answer 17

maximum amount of individuals that any habitat can support

Question 18

exponential growth is/is not sustainable?

Answer 18

is NOT sustainable!

Question 19

density dependent factors

Answer 19

affect birth/death rates depending on a population’s size

• competition for limited resources
• predation/parasitism
• diseases

Question 20

density independent factors

Answer 20

limit populations regardless of population density

• droughts or other serious events
• environmental conditions (light, weather, etc.)