Chapter 53- Population Ecology Flashcards
age structure
The relative number of individuals of each age in a population
carrying capacity
The maximum population size that can be supported by the available resources, symbolized as k
cohort
A group of individuals of the same age in a population
demographic transition
In a stable population, a shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates
demography
The study of changes overtime in the vital statistics of populations, especially birth rates and death rates
density
The number of individuals per unit area of volume
density dependent
Referring to any characteristic that varies with population density
density independent
Referring to any characteristic that is not affected by population density
dispersion
The pattern of spacing among individuals within the boundaries of a population
ecological footprint
The aggregate land and water area required by a person, city, or nation to produce all of the resources it consumes and to absorb all of the wastes it generates
emigration
The movement of individuals out of a population
exponential population growth
Growth of a population in an ideal, unlimited environment, represented by a J-shaped curve when population size is plotted over time
immigration
The influx of new individuals into a population form other areas
iteroparity
Reproduction in which adults produce offspring over many years also known as repeated reproduction
k-selection
Selection for life history traits that are sensitive to population density; also called density-dependent selection