Ecology testt Flashcards
Energy source used in photosynthesis
The sun
What is population density?
Average number of individuals in population per unit of area or volume
Clumped dispersion:
clustered together in groups
Uniform dispersion:
aligned in an orderly fashion
Random dispersion
Randomly thrown out, not in order and spaced over the area
2 ways a population can Increase
Birth rate and immigration
2 ways a population can decrease
Death rate, emigration
Difference between logistics and exponential growth?
Ex shows unrestricted increase while log shows rapid increase (log S shaped Ex J shaped)
Limiting factor;
Any environmental resource that restricts the growth of populations
Two types of limiting factors
Density independent and density dependent
Density independent ex-
Natural disasters, climate changed and pollution
Density dependent ex-
Competition for resources, predation and disease
Habitat fragmentation
Breaking up of a continuous habitat into smaller isolated patches
Describe the role of an invasive species into a new habitat.
Invasive species can outcompete native species for resources, disrupt food webs and alter habitats often causing decline in native biodiversity.
Role of greenhouse effect
Like the blanket around the earth, keeps us warm some is good but too much makes it too hot.
What is carrying capacity?
Max population an environment can support sustainably.
Role of an indicator species in its environment.
Like canaries in coal mine, health reflects the overall health of ecosystem.
What is a keystone species?
Species which other species depend on heavily, if removed ecosystems would change drastically.
Define global warming
Ongoing increase in earths temp due to human released green house gases like co2 causing climate change
Renewable resources
Replenish naturally; solar power from sun
