Population and Community Ecology

Question 1

Ecology

Answer 1

Relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings

Question 2

Population

Answer 2

Group of individuals of the same species in an area

Question 3

Community

Answer 3

Group of populations in an area

Question 4

Ecosystem

Answer 4

Community of interacting organisms and their physical environment

Question 5

Biosphere

Answer 5

Any region of the earth that contains living things

Regions of the surface, atmoshere, and hydrosphere occupied by living organisms

Question 6

habitate

Answer 6

Type of place where a certain organisms usually lives

May explain the temperature, soil type, water slinity, or other organisms living there

Question 7

Niche

Answer 7

Any biotic/abiotic resource used by an organism in their environment

Environment or resource will change a s a result of the niche of an organism living there

Evolutionary result of a species’ morphology (physical structure), physiological, and behvioural adaptations to its surroundings

Question 8

Population Ecology

Answer 8

Growth, abundance, distribution of populations

Question 9

Size

Answer 9

Total number of individuals living in a population

Question 10

Density

Answer 10

Total number of organisms per area/volume occupied

Question 11

Dispersion

Answer 11

Way that individuals are distributed in a population

i..e Clumped- humans in cities, uniform- orchard trees, random- forest trees

Question 12

Age Structure

Answer 12

Describes amount of individuals of a species at each age

Pyramid shaped diagram= rapidly growing population (lot of young individuals)

Equal width tiers= zero population growth- ZPG

Question 13

Survivorship Curves

Answer 13

Describes varying mortality of individuals of a species over their lifetime

Question 14

Type I Survivorship Curve

Answer 14

Most organisms survive to middle age, then the majority die afterwards

i.e humans

Question 15

Type II Survivorship Curve

Answer 15

Random rates of survival

Likelihood of mortality is the same at every age

Question 16

Type III Survivorship Curve

Answer 16

Majority die young, with few surviving to adulthood

Common in species with larvae (marine plankton), where most are eaten and don’t make it to adulthood

Question 17

Biotic Potential

Answer 17

Max growth rate of a species under perfectly ideal conditions (unlimited resources, no restrictions)

Depends on age at reproductive maturity, number of offspring during reproduction, how frequently reproduction occurs, and survivorship of offspring

Question 18

Carrying Capacity

Answer 18

Maximum number of organisms in a population that can be sustained by their habitat

Question 19

Limiting Factors

Answer 19

Anything that prevents a species from reaching their biotic potential

Question 20

Density Dependent Factors

Answer 20

Bigger population= greater effect/limitations

i..e transition of parasites and diseases, competition for food

Question 21

Density Independent Factors

Answer 21

Effect is not dependent on population size

i.e. natural disasters, extreme climates

Question 22

Intrinsic Rate of Growth

Answer 22

When reproductive rate is at maximum (biotic potential)

Question 23

Exponential Population Growth

Answer 23

Reproductive rate is greater than 0

Growth of population rises quickly

Question 24

Logistic Population Growth

Answer 24

Limiting factor preventing exponential growth from occurring

Population size becomes restricted to its carrying capacity

Question 25

Effects of Burning Fossil Fuels

Answer 25

Biological Magnification

Acid rain

Increase in atmospheric CO2

Ozone depletion

Question 26

K Selected Population

Answer 26

Members have low reproductive rate

Carrying capacity is density dependent

i..e humans

Question 27

R Selected Population

Answer 27

Rapid exponential population growth

Numerous offspring

Affected by density independent factor

Question 28

Opportunistic species

Answer 28

Organisms (i.e. insects) that quickly infect an area, reproduce, and die