ecology lecture 5

Question 1

logistic growth model

Answer 1

quetelet’s theory and verhulst’s eq: s shaped as pop reached carrying capacity growth rate slows

Question 2

carrying capacity (K)

Answer 2

max pop size an environment can support

Question 3

how well does the logistic model fit the growth of natural pops ?

Answer 3

very small organisms fit fairly well (most insects/microbes), many pops do not stabilize at K, predictions correct only when environment is constant/no predators/ no competition but assumes each individual added has same neg effect on pop growth and doesn’t account for lag/overshoot

Question 4

density-dependent control

Answer 4

can stabilize pop density: parasitism, predation, competition