Chapter 36: Population Ecology Flashcards

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1
Q

Population Ecology

A

The study of how members of a population interact with their environment,focusing on factors that influence population density and growth

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2
Q

What do population ecologists study

A

the interactions between biotic and abiotic factors that cause variation in population dynamics

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3
Q

Population Density

A

the number of organisms that exist in a given area

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4
Q

Dispersion

A

how the organisms in a population are spread out in a given area

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5
Q

How many types of dispersion are there

A

3

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6
Q

What are the 3 types of dispersion

A

1) Clumping Dispersion Pattern
2) Uniform Dispersion Pattern
3) Random Dispersion Pattern

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7
Q

Clumping Dispersion Pattern:

A

when organisms are located extremely close together/ in the same portion of an area

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8
Q

Uniform Dispersion Pattern:

A

organisms are spread out somewhat evenly

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9
Q

What causes clumping

A

resources in one area, body heat, safety/protection from predators, society and family units, to get prey more successfully

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10
Q

What is an example of clumping

A

ants in an ant colony

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11
Q

What is the most common type of dispersion

A

clumping

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12
Q

What causes Uniform Dispersion Pattern

A

territorial behavior, organisms need a certain amount of space to grow

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13
Q

What are some examples of organisms that might follow uniform dispersion pattern

A

birds - nest uniformly because they each need space to teach their young how to fly, etc.
trees - need roots to grow

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14
Q

Random Dispersion is caused by

A

resources available everywhere (fertile soil everywhere, or sun reaching everywhere[for photosynthesis] )

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15
Q

What is the rarest dispersion pattern

A

random dispersion pattern

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16
Q

Life Table

A

a table that monitors the chance of survival/death (survivorship) of organisms in different age groups in a certain cohort of a population

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17
Q

What does the data from a life table help with

A

Data helps develop effective measures for maintaining a viable population

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18
Q

What does the data from a life table help construct

A

survivorship curves

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19
Q

Survivorship Curve

A

plot survivorship as the proportion of individuals from an initial population that are alive at each age

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20
Q

How many types of survivorship curves are there

A

3

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21
Q

What are the 3 types of survivorship curves

A

1) Type I
2) Type II
3) Type III
isnt that crazy bro

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22
Q

Survivorship Curve ~ Type I

A

organisms in a population live for a relatively long time but begin to die at a certain age

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23
Q

What are some examples of organisms that follow Survivorship Curve ~ Type I

A

humans and other mammals

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24
Q

Survivorship Curve ~ Type II

A

survivorship curve is the same for the entire life of the organism; so the organisms have equal amount of chance to live and die at any age range

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25
Q

What are some examples of organisms that follows the Survivorship Curve ~ Type II

A

invertebrates, lizards, rodents, squirrels

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26
Q

Survivorship Curve ~ Type III

A

many births and many deaths

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27
Q

What are some examples of organisms that follow Survivorship Curve ~ Type III

A

fish and plants

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28
Q

In Survivorship Curve ~ Type I organisms produce _____ offspring but give them _____ care

A

few; good

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29
Q

In Survivorship Curve ~ Type III organisms produce _____ numbers of offspring and provide ____ care

A

large, little to no

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30
Q

True or False
Organisms follow the different types of survivorship curves exactly

A

False

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31
Q

Exponential Growth

A

the growth rate increases as the population increases

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32
Q

What is exponential growth caused by

A

unlimited resources, no predators, large area of land/space, no disease/natural disasters

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33
Q

Exponential Growth Model

A

an idealized picture of unlimited population growth

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34
Q

The slope of an exponential growth model becomes _____ as population increase

A

steeper

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35
Q

Limiting Factors

A

environmental factors that restrict population growth as the population reaches its maximum sustainable size and that stop it from growing forever

36
Q

What is the shape of an exponential growth model

A

J-shaped curve

37
Q

Logistic Growth

A

starts with exponential growth but then levels out

38
Q

What is the shape of the curve of a logistic growth model

A

S

39
Q

Logistic Growth Model

A

description of idealized population growth that is slowed by limiting factors as the population size increases

40
Q

Carrying Capacity

A

maximum population size that a particular environment can sustain

41
Q

Can populations go past the carrying capacity

A

yes most populations go above the carrying capacity and then back under and continue to fluctuate

42
Q

Carrying Capacity depends on

A

Depends on the species and resources available in the habitat

43
Q

When ____ rate equals ____ rate, the population stabilizes at carrying capacity

A

birth; death

44
Q

How many types of limiting factors are there

A

2

45
Q

What are the 2 types of limiting factors

A

1) Density-Dependent Factors
2) Density-Independent Factors

46
Q

Density-Dependent Limiting Factors

A

limiting factors whose intensity is related to population density

47
Q

What do Density-Dependent Factors limit

A

growth in a natural population

48
Q

With a Density-Dependent Factor, the more organisms the ____ the factor is

A

stronger

49
Q

Are more factors Density-Dependent Factors or Density-Independent Factors

A

Density-Dependent Factors

50
Q

What are some examples of Density-Dependent Factors

A

disease, space, food, limiting nutrients, competition, etc.

51
Q

Density-Independent Factors

A

the size of the factor is not based on the amount of organisms in a population

52
Q

What are some examples of Density-Independent Factors

A

Natural Disasters , seasonal changes in weather/temperature

53
Q

“Boom and Bust Cycles”

A

a recurring pattern of increases and decreases of a population

54
Q

What is a common example of the “boom and bust”cycle

A

Snowshoe hare and lynx the snow shoe hare first spikes (about every 10 years) because there are less predators
Then the lynx spikes because there is more prey
The snow shoe hare goes down because money predators eat them etc.

55
Q

What is another reason the lynx in the example Boom and Bust cycle spikes after the snowshoe hare

A

The lynx also spikes after because it has a slower reproductive time

56
Q

What also affects the snowshoe hare population going up in the Boom and Bust Cycle

A

UV radiation also affects because of the amount of food the hare gets

57
Q

Life History

A

traits that affect an organism’s schedule of reproduction and death

58
Q

life history traits are _____ and shaped by _____ ______

A

heritable; natural selection

59
Q

What does Life History divide organisms into

A

R-Selection and K-Selection

60
Q

R-Selection

A

reproduce a big amount of offspring hoping the majority survives.

61
Q

The R in R-Selection is a variable for

A

exponential growth

62
Q

When do organisms in R-Selection thrive

A

when there are many resources (because of exponential growth)

63
Q

Do organisms in R-Selection need their parents

A

no

64
Q

K-Selection

A

reproduce a few offspring and generally care for them (near carrying capacity)

65
Q

Where does R-Selection occur

A

Occurs in environments where resources are abundant, permitting exponential growth.

66
Q

What is an example of organisms that are in K-Selection

A

mammals

67
Q

What is the K in K-Selection

A

variable for carrying capacity

68
Q

Population growth is limited by _____ _____ ______ in a K-Selection group

A

Density-Dependent Factors

69
Q

Do organisms in K-Selection need their parents

A

yes to teach them how to get their own resources and care for them

70
Q

Are all organisms strictly K or R selection

A

no many organisms such as trees can be classified as both

71
Q

Demographic Transition

A

transition of a human population from high birth rate to low death rate

72
Q

What does demographic transition generally talk about

A

whole nations

73
Q

How many stages does demographic transition have

A

3

74
Q

What are the steps of Demographic Transition

A

1) Group has high life and death rate
2) Group has high life rate and low death rate
3) Group has low life rate and low death rate

75
Q

Why is the death rate high in stage 1

A

because of recent war, lack of sanitation, more elderly people,etc.

76
Q

Why is the birth rate high in stage 1

A

to populate a society so children can help out and make money

77
Q

Why is the death rate low in stage 2

A

better medicine, natural selection, increased agriculture, herding animals, technology

78
Q

Why does the birth rate go up in stage 3

A

because people have realized the deaf rate is not high so they need to make more children to work

79
Q

Age structure diagram

A

divides between males and femlaes and breaks down into ages usually into pre reproductive age, reproductive age, and past reproductive age

80
Q

Age Structure Diagrams are usually only made with _____

A

humans

81
Q

How many types of age structure diagrams are there

A

3

82
Q

What are the 3 types of age structure diagrams

A

1) Rapid Growth
2) Slow Growth
3) Negative Growht

83
Q

Ecological Footprint

A

the measure of the amount of natural resources being utilized and the amount of waste being produced in comparison to how nature can replenish those resources and recycle the waster

84
Q

is it good to have a large ecological footprint

A

no

85
Q

Sustainability

A

idea that we can live and thrive on the planet while leaving it in good shape for future generations.