Population Dynamics And Natural Selection in Ecology Flashcards
Incidence
Frequency of new cases in a population.
Prevalence
Proportion of infected individuals at a time.
Reproductive Rate
Number of infections caused by one infected person.
Epidemiology
Study of disease prevalence and distribution.
SIR Model
Susceptible-Infected-Recovered model for disease spread.
SIS Model
Susceptible-Infected-Susceptible model without immunity.
Natural Selection
Process where organisms better adapted survive.
Population Ecology
Study of population dynamics over time.
Lotka-Volterra Equations
Mathematical model for predator-prey interactions.
Predator-Prey Cycle
Fluctuations in populations of predators and prey.
Bottom-Up Model
Population control driven by resource availability.
Top-Down Model
Population control driven by predation or disease.
Social Behaviour Model
Influence of social interactions on population dynamics.
Chronic Stress
Long-term stress affecting reproduction and health.
Hare-Lynx Dynamics
Fluctuations in snowshoe hare and lynx populations.
Food Supplementation
Adding food to test its effect on populations.
Predator Exclusion
Removing predators to observe population changes.
Population Density
Number of individuals per unit area.
Empirical Evidence
Data collected through observation and experiments.
Cortisol Level
Physiological measure of stress in organisms.
Boreal Forest Food Web
Ecosystem structure influencing hare population dynamics.
Confidence Limits
Range indicating the reliability of statistical estimates.
Hare Population Density
Number of hares per unit area measured.
Barred Owl
Predator affecting hare population in boreal forests.
Population Change
Alterations in species numbers over time.
Keystone Species
Species whose population impacts ecosystem structure.
Lotka Volterra Equations
Mathematical models describing predator-prey dynamics.
Snowshoe Hares
A keystone species affected by predation.
Canadian Lynxes
Predator whose population depends on hare availability.
Darwin’s Voyage
Journey that influenced Darwin’s evolutionary theories.
Phenotypic Variation
Differences in observable traits among individuals.
Genotype
An individual’s genetic makeup or constitution.
Phenotype
Observable characteristics resulting from genotype.
Darwinian Fitness
Genotype’s reproductive success measured by abundance.
Malthusian Theory
Populations grow exponentially; resources grow linearly.
Mutation
Random changes in DNA affecting traits.
Recombination
Genetic shuffling during reproduction creating variation.
Artificial Selection
Human-driven breeding for desired traits.
Gene-Environment Interactions
Influence of environmental factors on genetic expression.
Neodarwinism
Integration of natural selection with Mendelian genetics.
Somatic Mutations
Genetic changes in non-germline cells causing cancer.
Damped Oscillations
Population cycles that decrease in amplitude over time.
Myxomatosis
Disease causing rabbit population crash in 1953.
Conservation Implications
Predator loss leads to herbivore overpopulation.
Experimental Evidence
Data supporting hypotheses through controlled studies.
Variation
Differences among individuals within a species.
Inheritance
Transmission of traits from parents to offspring.
Competition
Struggle for limited resources among individuals.
Trait
Specific characteristic or feature of an organism.
