Ecology- Factors that Regulate Natural Populations Flashcards
Consumers
Organsims that take in nutrients
Herbivores
Plant eating organisms
Carnivores
Meat eating organisms
Omnivores
Both plant and meat eating organisms
Autotroph
Makes their own food
Heterotroph
Has to go find food, cannot make it themselves
Density independent factors
An abiotic event that affects population growth in the same way, regardless of population density
Density dependent factors
A biotic interaction that varies in its effect on population growth, depending on the density of the populations involved
Intraspecific competition
A situation in which members of the same population compete for resources
Interspecific competition
A situation in which two or more populations compete for limited resources
Co-evolution of prey and predator adaptations
The interactions between producers and consumers typically result in co-evolution. Ex. milkweed plant produces bittter-tasting chemicals that discourage many herbivores. However, some have adapted to tolerate it
What are the three types of defence mechanisms?
- Warning colours
- Mimicry
- Camouflage
Symbiosis
An ecological relationship between two species living in direct conatct; includes parasitism, mutualism and commensalism
What are the different the three types of symbiotic relationships?
- Parasitism
- Mutualism
- Commensalism
Parasitism
A symbiotic relationship in which a symbiont lives off and harms the host. Ex. parasites, including viruses, unicellular organisms, insects and various types of worms
