Population Ecology Flashcards
What is carrying capacity? What might happen if a population exceeds its carrying capacity?
The maximum number of individuals of a species that an ecosystem can support.
Resources become scarce as competition increases. Population decreases because of starvation, disease, or emigration
Where is the carrying capacity located on a logistic/carrying capacity graph (what part of the line)
the horizontal asymptote or the flat portion of the curve
What is emigration
The movement OUT of a population or habitat to another location (decreases population)
What is immigration
Movement of individuals INTO a population or habitat from another area (increases population)
Keystone species
A species that causes dramatic effects or changes in the structure of a community if its population changes
Ecological succession
A series of gradual changes that occur in a community following a disruption
Primary succession
Succession that occurs in an area in which no trace of a previous community is present (when it’s fully destroyed, comes from rock)
Pioneer species
The first species to populate an area during succession
Secondary succession
A type of succession that occurs in an area that was only partially destroyed by disturbances
Competition exclusion principle
No two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time. One species will always be a stronger competitor and exclude the other one.
Habitat
Where an organism lives
Tolerance range
The range of conditions under which an organism can survive and reproduce
On a graph, which axis is the independent variable and which axis is the dependent variable
The independent variable is on the x-axis
The dependent variable is on the y-axis
Logistic graph
A population experienced initial rapid population growth. Over time, growth slows and eventually stops
Predator and prey graph
Population of two organisms cycle in response to each other
