Ecology of Populations Flashcards
What is ecology?
study of interactions of living and non living components
What is environmentalism?
using science to protect the enviornment
What is phenotypic plasticity?
change in the phenotype of an organism over their life time (not really inherited)
What is evolutionary adaptation?
inherited adaption to help the organism survive
What is a population?
a group of individuals of the same species that are separate from other populations
What is a metapopulation?
separated populations of the same species with limited exchange and interactions
What is a sub-population?
doing a study on a piece of a population
What is uniform distribution?
happens when theres competition amount individuals in a species (organisms are spread out across a landscape)
What is random distribution?
no strong interaction between organisms (RARE)
What is clumped distribution?
happens when resources are clumped
What happens to density of population as size of organism increases?
density decreases
What are the two population growth models?
- simple growth model
- logistic growth model
What is the equation for population growth?
(birth rate-death rate)+(immigration rate-emmigration rate)
What does the simple growth model assume?
theres no net immigration or emigration and no carrying capacity
What does the logistic growth model include?
carrying capacity
What is the equation for the simple growth model?
dN/dt=rN
What is the equation for logistic growth model?
dN/dt=rN(K-N/K)
What is r in the growth model equations?
max growth rate
What is N in the growth model?
number of individuals
What is K in the growth model?
carrying capacity
What are density dependent factors?
factors that depend on the density of population
What kind of feedback do density dependent factors provide?
negative feedback
Do density dependent factors cause fast or slow changes in population?
slow
What are some examples of density dependent factors?
food, disease
What are density independent factors?
factors that affect a population regardless of density
What are some examples of density independent factors?
fires, floods, natural disasters
What are k selected individuals?
individuals are good survivors and competitors
What type of factor are k selected individuals exposed to?
density dependent
What are r selected individuals?
individuals are good reproducers
What type of factor are r selected individuals exposed to?
density independent factors
