eco 11 Flashcards
occurs when population size approaches the carrying capacity, leading to a decrease in growth rate due to limited resources.
logistic population growth
the maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely due to limited resources.
carrying capacity (k)
when population growth slows as resources become less available to individuals, leading to lower birth rates, increased mortality, and reduced population growth.
density-dependent regulation
can limit population growth by restricting access to space and resources, as individuals defend their territory from others.
territoriality
helps alleviate pressure on resources by allowing individuals to move to new areas, reducing competition in high-density populations.
dispersal
the defense of a space by an individual or group. It limits population density by restricting access to resources like food and space, thereby reducing reproduction and survival rates.
TERRITORIALITY
are groups of populations separated by space but connected by dispersal. These populations can fluctuate in size and interact, allowing for recolonization of areas where populations have declined.
METAPOPULATIONS
occurs when individuals compete for mates, which can limit population growth as not all individuals successfully reproduce.
REPRODUCTIVE COMPETITION
The maximum sustainable population size for a species in a given environment, where the birthrate equals the death rate.
carrying capacity (K)
density-dependent factors
Factors that influence population growth in relation to the population density, such as resource availability, competition, and predation.
A model that describes how populations grow more slowly as they approach their carrying capacity, represented by the equation dN/dt = rN(1 - N/K).
logistic model
A phenomenon where population growth rates decline at low population densities due to difficulties in finding mates or cooperative behaviors.
allee effect
Competition among individuals of the same species for limited resources such as food, space, and mates.
intraspecific competition
The process where population density decreases and the average size of individuals increases due to density-dependent mortality and competition for resources.
self-thinning.
Competition among individuals of different species for limited resources such as food, space, and mates.
interspecific competition
density-independent factors
Environmental factors that affect population growth regardless of population density, such as climate, natural disasters, and disease.
A type of competition where all individuals in a population are equally affected by resource limitation, leading to reduced growth and reproduction.
scramble competition
Competition where some individuals gain access to resources while others are excluded, leading to unequal resource distribution within a population.
contest competition
The smallest isolated population that has a 99% chance of remaining extant for 1000 years, despite demographic and environmental stochasticity.
minimum viable population (MVP)
A statistical method used to assess the risk of extinction for a population by integrating biological and environmental data.
population viability analysis (PVA)
A group of spatially separated populations of the same species that interact through immigration and emigration.
metapopulations.
A type of competition where individuals indirectly compete for resources by depleting them, affecting the availability for others.
exploitation competition
A type of competition where individuals indirectly compete for resources by depleting them, affecting the availability for others.
interference competition
A model that describes population growth under ideal conditions with unlimited resources, represented by the equation dN/dt = rN.
exponential model of population growth
Increased death rates in a population as density rises, often due to resource limitations or increased competition.
density-dependent mortality
The reproductive capacity of an individual or population, often measured as the number of offspring produced.
fecundity
The distribution of energy and nutrients by plants to various functions such as growth, reproduction, and defense, which can shift under competitive conditions.
resource allocation
The area in which an animal lives and moves on a regular basis, which may or may not be defended.
home range
The defense of a specific area against intruders, which can limit access to resources and mates for other individuals.
territoriality
Variability in population growth rates due to random differences in birth and death rates among individuals.
demographic stochasticity
