Ecology: Patterns of Population Growth Flashcards
Population size is affected by 4 factors
Natality, mortality, emigration, immigration
Density
of individuals per unit area/volume
Density is measured by
Total counts and sub-sampling methods
Patterns of dispersion
Clumped- discrete groupsUniform- minimum distance between indvRandom
Type 1 age structure and what does the curve look like?
HumanQuarter circle downward hitting 0
Type 2 age structure
BirdsLinear line downwards
Type 3
Plants and fishDownward invert of humans
All populations have the potential for exponential growth
False
Requirements for exponential growth
Unlimited resources
For a very short time some populations may grow at rates close to the intrinsic (max) growth rate
True
Population dynamics
How population sizes change over time
No natural populations can maintain exponential growth indefinitely
True
Population density typically fluctuates around a constant # of individuals
True
As population size increases, resources become limiting for growth and population
True
In the population equations, logistic growth adds what variable?
K (carrying capacity)
Carrying capacity is
The maximum population size an environment can support
Population growth slows as density approaches what?
Carrying capacity
When pop size is below (K) growth
Increases
When pop size is near (K) growth
Decreases
Logistic model fits well with what size organism?
Small
Do populations stabilize at (K)?
Most don’t
Logistic predictions are correct when
Environment is constantNo predatorsNo competition
3 assumptions that make logistic growth not fit well
Each individual added has a negative effect on population growth
The logistic curve is ____ shaped
S