JD L1 Flashcards
Define ecology
The branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to on another and to their environment
Define biotic interactions
how interactions between individuals and populations determine the species composition and functioning of habitats, systems and biomes
How do biotic interactions drive evolution?
Through natural selection
What is intraspecific competition?
When many individuals of the same species try to exploit the same resource
Intraspecific competition is “density dependent”. What does this mean?
It intensifies as numbers increase
What is the “self-thinning” rule?
It is the consistent, predictable reduction in progeny number over time
Define carrying capacity “K”
The number of people, animals or crops which a region can support without environmental degradation
i.e. the max number/biomass of a species population in given habitat
What are population growth models used for?
To express the growth of populations in a density-dependent manner
What are population growth models used for?
To express the growth of populations in a density-dependent manner
