population dynamics Flashcards
What is Population Ecology?
-is the study of a population’s birthrate, death rate, and factors influencing survival and reproduction.
It helps manage pest control, sustainable harvesting, and understand human population growth.
whats ecology
-The study of how living things interact with each other and their environment.
whats a species
-A group of organisms that breed freely and produce fertile offspring
whats a population
-Organisms of the same species in a specific area.
whats a community
-Different populations living together in a habitat.
whats an ecosystem
-Interaction between living communities and their non-living environment.
What determines population size and distribution?
-number of individuals
-distribution is how these individuals are spread across a habitat.
-Factors include births, deaths, immigration, and emigration.
What are the patterns of population distribution?
-Uniform: Individuals are evenly spread to reduce competition.
-Clumped: Organisms group together for protection or resources.
-Random: Organisms are randomly dispersed, but this pattern is rare in nature.
How does population density affect populations?
-increases competition, predation, and disease (density-dependent factors). -floods or droughts can affect population size regardless of density (density-independent factors).
whats exponential growth
-Population doubles rapidly, often seen in bacteria (J-curve).
whats logistic growth
-Population grows until it reaches the environment’s carrying capacity (S-curve).
How do ecologists determine population size?
-Direct Counts: Counting individuals using ground or aerial methods.
-Mark-Recapture: Tagging a sample, then releasing and recapturing to estimate the total population.
Quadrat Method: Counting individuals in small areas and estimating the entire population size.
What are the methods of population control?
-Common methods include:
-culling (selective killing),
-manipulating reproductive rates -translocation (moving individuals to different areas).
What is equilibrium in population ecology?
-Equilibrium occurs when a population’s size stabilizes based on available resources.
What happens in unstable populations?
-the environment may be damaged, leading to a decline in population size and possibly extinction.
