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BIO 1306 > Population Ecology > Flashcards

Population Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

What is population ecology?

A

How biotic and abiotic factors influence density, distribution size and age structure of populations

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2
Q

Ex of population ecology

A

Sea turtles

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3
Q

What is geographic range?

A

A measure of the total area covered by a population

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4
Q

What is a spatial structure?

A

The pattern of density and spacing of individuals in a population

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5
Q

Small scale variation in the environment creates…

A

Geographic ranges that are composed of small patches of suitable habitat and quality

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6
Q

Geographic distribution example

A

Geographic range of Fremont’s leather flower is just 3 counties in Missouri
Within the countries, plants are restricted to dry, rocky soils on limestone outcroppings. Plants are further restricted by variation in glade soil

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7
Q

We can test whether species are limited by…

A

Unsuitable environmental conditions

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8
Q

Example of distribution

A

Monkeyflowers
The Lewis’ monkey flower lives at high elevations
The scarlet monkey flower lives lives at low elevations
What happens at different elevations?

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9
Q

What is a fundamental niche?

A

The range of abiotic and biotic conditions under which a species can persist

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10
Q

What is a realized niche?

A

The range of abiotic and biotic conditions under which a species actually persist

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11
Q

Which factor is bigger?

A

Fundamental niche

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12
Q

Ecological niche modeling

A

Process of determining suitable habitats for a species
Predicting potential geographic range of a species is difficult when only a few individuals exist
Researchers can use historic distributions
Understanding realized niche aids in conservation and can limit spread of invasive species

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13
Q

Populations often grow larger in…

A

More suitable habitats

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14
Q

Endemic

A

Species that love in a single often isolated, location

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15
Q

Cosmopolitan

A

Species with very large geographic ranges that can span several continents

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16
Q

Example of endemic species

A

Guadalupe fur seals

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17
Q

Example of cosmopolitan species

A

Harbor seals, pigeons

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18
Q

Abundance

A

Total number of individuals in a population that exist within a defined area

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19
Q

Populations with high abundance…

A

Also have large geographic ranges
This suggests that reducing the range of a population will reduce the size of that population

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20
Q

What affects the size of a population and how it changes over time?

A

Adding individuals to or removing individuals from a population

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21
Q

Adding to the population

A

Birth
Immigration- influx of new individuals from other areas

22
Q

Reducing population

A

Deaths
Emigration- movement of individuals out of a population

23
Q

Density

A

Number of individuals per unit area or volume

24
Q

Dispersion

A

Pattern of spacing among individuals within boundaries of the population

25
Q

Patterns of dispersion

A

Uniform
Random
Clumped

26
Q

How do you determine population size and density?

A

Counting is impractical
Tagging is a technique used by scientists

27
Q

Demography

A

Study of key characteristics of populations and how they change change over time

28
Q

Life table

A

Summarizes survival and reproductive rates of individuals in specific age-groups in a population

29
Q

Cohort

A

Group of individuals of the same age, from birth until all of the individuals ate dead
Also need to keep track of number of offspring produced by females in each age group

30
Q

Survivorship curve

A

A graphic way of representing the data in a life table

31
Q

Type I on survivorship curve

A

Low death rates during early and middle life and an increase in death rates amount older age groups ex. Humans

32
Q

Type II on survivorship curve

A

A constant death rate over the organisms life span ex. Birds

33
Q

Type III on survivorship curve

A

Hugh death rates for the young and a lower death rate for survivors ex. Fish, turtles, trees

34
Q

Per capital rate of increase

A

Change in population size= births + immigrants (entering population) - deaths - emigrants

35
Q

Change in population size formula

A

R = b - d

36
Q

When would zero population growth occur?

A

Births = deaths

37
Q

When would population expansion occur?

A

b > d

38
Q

When would population decline occur?

A

b < d

39
Q

Exponential growth model

A

Population increases continuously at an exponential rate
Has a j-shaped curve when graphed

40
Q

Exponential growth model equation:

A

dN/ dt = rN
dN/dt rate at which pop. is increasing at each moment in time
r intrinsic growth rate/ rate of increase (constant)
N current pop. size

41
Q

Assumptions of exponential growth

A

Resources remain infinite indefinitely

42
Q

Carrying capacity (K)

A

The max population size that a particular environment can sustain
A limit to number of individuals that can occupy a given habitat

43
Q

Things that influence K

A

Space
Time
Abundance of limiting resources: energy, shelter, refuge from predators, nutrient availability, water

44
Q

Logistic growth model

A

Describes slowing growth of populations at high densities
Population growth approaches zero as population size nears carrying capacity
As population size increase, each individual has access to fewer resources resulting in a lower rate if population growth

45
Q

Logistic growth model equation

A

dN/dt = rN (K-N)/K
K-N number of additional individuals the environment
(K-N)/K fraction of K that is still available for population growth

46
Q

When N is small compared to K
(K-N)/K is close to 1

A

Exponential growth

47
Q

When N is large compared to K
(K-N)/K is close to 0

A

Growth rate is small

48
Q

When N=K

A

Population stops growing

49
Q

S-shaped curve

A

The shape of the curve when a population is graphed over time using the logistic growth model

50
Q

Inflection point

A

The point on a growth curve at which the population had the highest growth rate

51
Q

Logistics growth model can be used to…

A

Predict how rapidly a pop. may increase after it has been reduced to a small size
Estimating sustainable harvest rate for wildlife populations
Estimate critical size below which populations may become extinct

BIO 1306 (17 decks)

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