Chapter 5: Population Dynamics Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a population?

A

A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same time

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2
Q

What does population dynamics mean?

A

The forces of growth or change within a population

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3
Q

What are 4 reasons to study population dynamics?

A
  • Allows us to determine a critical population size
  • To determine whether a population is thriving, stable or nearly extinct
    -Determine what factors are affecting the organisms
  • What we need to do to save the species and conserve wildlife
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4
Q

What is population density?

A

Number of individuals per unit area

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5
Q

What is abundance?

A

Number of organisms per unit area that live in a particualar part of the ecosystem

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6
Q

What is biomass?

A

Number of dry biomass per unit area

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7
Q

What is a critical population size?

A

The minimun size a population must be for it to surviv without help

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8
Q

Explain population growth in unstable environments

A

Unstable environments = ecosystems after natural disarsters. R-selected species inhabit quickly

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9
Q

Explain population growth in stable environments

A

Stable environments = consistent predictable pattens. Populated with K-selected species. Close to carrying capacity.

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10
Q

What are R-selected species?

A

Fast growing and reproducing species that quickly colonise an unstable environment, rapid population increase and decrease.

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11
Q

What are K-selected species?

A

Slow growing, long living species. Long term, sustainable population is maintained

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12
Q

Name 5 things that could limit population growth

A
  • Predators
  • Availability of resources
  • Spread of disease
  • Weather conditions
  • Nutrient supply
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13
Q

What is density?

A

Number of individuals in a given area

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14
Q

What is the capture mark recapture equation?

A

Number caught and initially tagged x Total number recaptured / Number of tagged individuals recaptured

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15
Q

What are the 3 types of distribution?

A
  • Random distribution
  • Uniform distribution
  • Clumped distribution
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16
Q

Explain random distribution

A

Organisms are spaced irregularly. The location of one does not affect the location of another

17
Q

Explain uniform distribution

A

Organisms are evenly spaced, presence of one organism determines how close or distant others will be.

18
Q

Explain clumped distribution

A

A number of individuals are grouped together and the groups make up the population as a whole, sometimes results from social behaviour

19
Q

What is carrying capacity?

A

The maximum size of a population that an ecosystem can support, can be affected byu abiotic and biotic factors.

20
Q

What are the 4 stages of population growth?

A
  1. Lag phase
  2. Acceleration phase (or exponential growth phase)
  3. Transitional phase
  4. Stationary phase (reached carrying capacity)
21
Q

When will exponential population growth occur?

A

In the idea environment with unlimited resources and no competition to limit growth

22
Q

When does logistical growth occur?

A

When a population nears carrying capacity

23
Q

When does cylical population growth occur?

A

When a predator has 1 main prey species, the population numbers depend on eachother.

24
Q

What is a pest?

A

A plant or animal that is detrimental to humans or human concerns, eg. livestock

25
Q

What is an invasive species?

A

A non-native species that causes harm

26
Q

What are 3 ways to control populations?

A
  • Chemical pesrticides
  • Biological control agents
  • Culling
27
Q

Name an advantage, disadvantage and example of a chemical pesticide.

A

Advantage: Quick and effective
Disadvantage: Often has ecological side effects and can damage non-target species
Example: 1080 Bait, used to control rabbit populations, not lethal to many native plants

28
Q

What are the 4 types of biological control agents?

A
  • General predators
  • Specialised predators
  • Parasites
  • Microbial diseases
29
Q

What are general predators in relation to biological control agents?

A

Organisms that consume a variaty of pest species, almost all biological control disatars are because of this

30
Q

What are specialised predators in relation to biological control agents?

A

Organisms that target 1 pest species

31
Q

What are microbial diseases in relation to biological control agents?

A

Bsacteria, fungi and viruses that target species and cause death

32
Q

What is culling?

A

Killing the target species

33
Q

What are 3 things that can cause native population decline?

A
  • Lack of resourses
  • Loss of habitat
  • Predation