Population Ecology

Question 1

Species

Answer 1

A group of similar organisms that are able to breed among themselves (interbreed) and produce fertile offspring.

Question 2

Population

Answer 2

A group of individuals of the same species that occupy the same habitat at the same time and have the ability to interbreed freely and produce fertile offspring.

Question 3

Community

Answer 3

All the living organisms in a defined area.

Question 4

Ecosystem

Answer 4

All the living things and their relationship to each other and to the enviroment.

Question 5

Ecology

Answer 5

The study of living things and their relationship to each other and to the environment.

Question 6

Population Ecology

Answer 6

The study of which factors affect a population and how and why a population changes over time. It is the branch of ecology that studies the structure and dynamics of a population.

Question 7

What are the factors/parameters that influence the size of a population?

Answer 7

1. Natality= birth rate
2. Immigration= organisms enter a population
3. Mortality= death rate
4. Emigration= organisms leave a population

Question 8

What does a positive and negative balance mean?

Answer 8

positive- the population will increase (more immigrations and births)
negative- the population will decrease (more emigrations and deaths)

Question 9

How to calculate population size

Answer 9

N=(B+I) - (D+E)

Question 10

What is the importance of determining population size?

Answer 10

1. To determine extinction status of organisms.
2. For planning for the utilisation of resources
3. Making decisions on culling.
4. Setting limits for fishing
5. Planning for the farming of livestock

Question 11

What are the two methods to determine population size?

Answer 11

1. Direct methods
2. Indirect methods