Population ecology Flashcards
Incl. case study
What does population mean?
All the individuals of a species that live together in an area
What does ecology mean?
The study of interactions among organisms and their environment
What does an exponential population growth include?
Has no upper limit
Population grows very quickly.
Realistic for bacteria populations
What does a logistic population growth include?
Has a limit
Growth approaches the limit in a sigmoidal fashion
Realistic for human population
What is the carrying capacity?
The maximum population that can be supported by the available resources
What happens if a population goes over the carrying capacity?
May go into ecological overdrive
What is ecological footprint (carbon footprint) measured in?
Global hectares
What are the three parts that make up population ecology?
Size, density, dispersion
What is ‘size’ in terms of population ecology?
Number of individuals in an area
Determined by BR and DR
What is ‘density’ in terms of population ecology?
Measured in people/km^2
Affected by immigration and emigration
What are density-dependent factors?
Disease and competition
What are density-independent factors?
Temperatures and weather
Where is Kuwait on the ecological footprint scale?
8.9 global hectares per person.
5.1 Earths
Where is the UK on the ecological footprint scale?
32nd.
2.4 Earths
What are the advantages of using Earths to measure ecological footprint?
Easy to understand
