Ch. 8 Key Terms Flashcards
Population
A group of organisms of the same species that live in a specific geographical area and interbreed
Density
The number of individual of the same species that live in a given unit of area
Dispersion
In ecology, the pattern of distribution of organism in a population
Growth rate
An expression of the increase in the size of an organism or population over a given period of time
Reproductive Potential
The maximum number of offspring that a given organism can produce
Exponential Growth
Logarithmic growth, or growth in which numbers increase by a certain factor in each successive time period
Carrying Capacity
The largest population that an environment can support at any given time
Niche
The unique position occupied by a species, both in terms of its physical use of its habitat and its function within an ecological community
Competition
The relationship between two species in which both species attempt to use same limited resources such that both are negatively affected by the relationship
Predation
An interaction between two organisms in which one organism, the predator, kill and feeds on the other organism, the prey
Parasitism
A relationship between two species in which one species, the parasite, benefits from the other species, the host, which is harmed
Mutualism
A relationship between two species in which both species benefit
Commensalism
A relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefit and the other is unaffected
Symbiosis
A relationship in which two different organisms live in close association with each other
