Module 8

Question 1

population

Answer 1

all individuals within a species living within a specific area

Question 2

carrying capacity

Answer 2

the maximum population size that a particular environment can sustain

Question 3

density-dependent effects

Answer 3

environmental influences on individuals or populations that vary in intensity based on the size or density of the population

Question 4

r-selected adaptations

Answer 4

adapted to unstable and unpredictable environments.

Question 4

density-independent effects

Answer 4

environmental influences that affect individuals or populations regardless of their density or abundance

Question 5

k-selected adaptations

Answer 5

adapted to stable, predictable environments

Question 6

cohort

Answer 6

a group of individuals within a population that are born or produced at approximately the same time and share a particular life history characteristic

Question 7

community

Answer 7

a group of interacting species that occur together in the same habitat or geographic area and are influenced by similar environmental conditions

Question 8

competition

Answer 8

the interaction between individuals or species for limited resources within an ecosystem

Question 9

competition exclusion

Answer 9

a concept in ecology that states that two species competing for the same limited resources cannot coexist indefinitely in the same ecological niche

Question 10

resource partitioning

Answer 10

process by which species within an ecological community divide limited resources, such as food, space, or nesting sites, in order to reduce competition and coexist more effectively

Question 11

niche

Answer 11

the role or position that an organism occupies within its ecosystem, including how it interacts with both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors

Question 12

coevolution

Answer 12

a process in which two or more species reciprocally influence each other’s evolution

Question 13

mutualism

Answer 13

a symbiotic relationship between two species where both species benefit

Question 14

commensalism

Answer 14

when one organism benefits but the other isn’t harmed or helped

Question 15

aposematic coloration

Answer 15

the distinct and often vibrant color patterns exhibited by certain animals as a warning signal to potential predators

Question 16

cryptic coloration

Answer 16

also known as camouflage, refers to the adaptation of an organism’s coloration and patterns to blend in with its environment, thereby making it less visible to predators or prey

Question 17

batesian mimicry

Answer 17

a form of mimicry in which a harmless or palatable species mimics the appearance of a harmful or unpalatable species, gaining protection from predators as a result

Question 18

Müllerian mimicry

Answer 18

a form of mimicry in which two or more harmful or unpalatable species evolve to resemble each other

Question 19

succession

Answer 19

describes the sequential appearance and disappearance of species in a community over time after a severe disturbance.

Question 20

primary succession

Answer 20

the succession on land that previously has had no life

Question 21

secondary succession

Answer 21

the succession in response to environmental disturbances that move a community away from its equilibrium

Question 22

climax community

Answer 22

the final stage of succession, where a stable community is formed by a characteristic assortment of plant and animal species

Question 23

What type of growth will occur when a new species is initially introduced to a habitat in which it has few predators, and food is readily available?

Question 24

What type of growth pattern is more realistic for all species…sooner or later?