Chapter 11: population distributions Flashcards
Fundamental niche
range of abiotic conditions under which species can persist
- Range of temp, humidity, salinity conditions that allow population for survive, grow, and reproduce
Realized niche
range of abiotic and biotic conditions under which a species persists
Geographic range
measure of the total area covered by population
- Climate, topography, soils, vegetative structure
ecological niche modeling
process of determining the suitable habitat conditions for a species
ecological envelope
range of ecological conditions that are predicted to be suitable for a species
- prediction of where a species could potentially live
- global warming impacts suitable habitats
5 important characteristics for population distributions:
geographic range, abundance, density, dispersion, and dispersal
Geographic range
all areas its members occupy during their life
- how large an area a population occupies
endemic species
species that live in 1 isolated location
- if restricted to specific area, population is susceptible to extinction by natural disaster
cosmopolitan
species w/ very large geographic ranges that can span several continents
abundance
total number of individuals in a population that exist w/in a defined area
- measure of whether a population is thriving or on brink of extinction
density
number of individuals (in 1 population) in a quantified area or volume
- density = (abundance) / (area)
- how many individuals packed into specific location
if density is greater than what habitat can support, individuals will have to ____
leave area or population will experience less growth and survival
dispersion
describes the spacing of individuals w/ respect to one another w/in geographic range of a population
3 different types of dispersion
clustered (aggregated/clumped), evenly space (uniformly), random
Dispersal
mvmt of individuals from 1 area to another to colonize areas outside of their geographical range
- w/ good conditions, can be a method for speciation
- To avoid competition or high predation
- NOT migration; dispersal = Do NOT return
Census
count of every individual in a population
Survey
counting a subset of the population
- Representative of population
Area-and-volume-based surveys
surveys define the boundaries of an area or volume and then count all the individuals in the space
- size = rated to abundance and density of population
- can estimate total population size
Line-transect surveys
surveys count the number of individuals observed as one moves along a set line (randomization and replication)
- sample survey technique
Mark-recapture surveys
researchers capture and mark a subset of a population from an area, return it to the area, and then capture a second sample population after time has passed
- sample survey technique
Lifetime dispersal distance
avg distance an individuals moves from where it was hatched/born to where it reproduces
Population abundance vs geographic range:
Populations w/ high abundance = large geographic range
Population density vs adult body size:
Density of a population is negatively correlated w/ body size
- Smaller individuals live in highest densities, larger individuals live in lowest densities