Chapter 2 Flashcards
Species
Group of organisms (living things) sharing common characteristics that interbreed and produce fertile offspring
Population
Group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time, and which are capable of interbreeding
Habitat
Environment in which a species normally lives
Population density
Average number of individuals in a stated area
Abiotic factors
Non-living, physical factors that influence the organisms and ecosystem, eg temperature, sunlight
Biotic factors
Living components of an ecosystem - organisms, their interactions or their waste - that directly or indirectly affect an organism
Niche
Describes the particular set of abiotic and biotic conditions and resources to which an organism or population responds
Fundamental niche
Describes the full range of conditions and resources in which a species could reproduce and survive
Realised niche
Describes the actual conditions and resources in which a species exists due to biotic interactions
Limiting factors
Factors which slow down the growth of a population as it reaches its carrying capacity
Carrying capacity
The maximum number of a species or ‘load’ that can be sustainably supported by a given area
Population dynamics
The study of the factors that cause changes to population sizes
Butterfly effect
Refers to small changes that happen in a complex system that lead to seemingly unrelated results that are impossible to predict
Intraspecific competition
Individuals of the same species competing for the same resources
Interspecific competition
Individuals of different species competing for the same resources
Predation
When one animal (predator) eats another animal (prey)
Herbivory
An animal (herbivore) eating a green plant
Parasitism
A relationship between two species in which one species (parasite) lives in or on another (host), thus harming the host
Mutualism
A relation between two or more species in which all benefit and none suffer
S and J population curves
Describe a generalized response of populations to a particular set of conditions (biotic and abiotic factors)
S curve
Also known as a logistic growth curve, which begins with an exponential growth and then slows down as it reaches its carrying capacity
J curve
Also known as an exponential growth curve, in which the population fluctuates at a rapid rate
Carrying capacity
The maximum population size of the ecosystem
Environmental resistance
The area between the exponential growth curve and the S-curve