Ch8 Key Terms Flashcards
population
A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area
density
the number of individuals of the same species that live in a given unit of area
dispersion
the pattern of distribution of organisms 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
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
largest population than 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 physical use of its habitat and its function within an ecological community.
competition
the relationship between two species (or individuals) in which both attempt to use the same limited resource such that both are negatively affected by the relationship
predation
an interaction between 2 organisms in which one organism, the predator, kills and feeds on the organism, the prey
parasitism
a relationship between 2 species in which 1 species, the parasite benefits other species the host, which is harmed
mutualism
a relationship between 2 species in which both species benefit
commensalism
a relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefit and the other is unaffected
symbolism
a relationship in which 2 different organisms live in close association with each other