Lecture 20

Question 1

groups

Answer 1

multiple organisms (not limited by species). Can be ephemeral/consistent. Can be social (positive grouping), indirect (sharing common resources) or accidental (random chance)

Question 2

population

Answer 2

a number of individuals of the same species in a defined geographic area. Can be mobile (migration). Important to understand how temporal dynamics influence population.

ecology: distribution and abundance of individuals

Evolution: population of organisms evolve, not individuals, gene flow

Conservation/management: invasive species, defining threat status, translocation/restoration

Question 3

demographic rates

Answer 3

birth, death, emigration (no. leaving population), immigration (no. entering population), growth (individual), age at maturity, sex ratio.

Question 4

exponential growth

Answer 4

discrete: seasonal births (jagged pattern)

Continuous: births and deaths occur at same time (exponential growth)

Question 5

carrying capacity

Answer 5

variable limits population growth. Asymptote

Question 6

estimating death rate

Answer 6

not seeing monitored individuals, working backwards from population numbers.

Question 7

mark-release-recapture

Answer 7

no. marked/pop. size

equals

no. marked recaptures/no.

Question 8

metapopulations

Answer 8

local populations, but individuals move. demographic rates vary spatially

Question 9

estimating age

Answer 9

tree rings, teeth, growth plates, ear bones