Population Ecology

Question 1

Ecology

Answer 1

The study of the interactions of organisms with other organisms and the physical environment.

Question 2

Habitat

Answer 2

Place where an organism lives

Question 3

Population

Answer 3

All individuals of a species within 1 space

Question 4

Community

Answer 4

Different populations interacting with eachother

Question 5

Ecosystem

Answer 5

Community interacting with environment

Question 6

Population density

Answer 6

Number of individuals per unit area or volume.

Question 7

Population distribution

Answer 7

Pattern of dispersal of individuals within an area. (e.g., clustered, random, uniform)

Question 8

Exponential Growth

Answer 8

Rate of increase increases as the total number of females increase. Biotic Potential is all the way fulfilled, and birthrate is maximum.

Question 9

Biotic Potential

Answer 9

Maximum population growth that can possible occur under ideal circumstances

Question 10

Environmental Resistance

Answer 10

All environmental conditions that prevent populations from achieving their biotic potention.

Question 11

Cohort

Answer 11

Composed of all the members of a population born at the same time.

Question 12

Survivorship

Answer 12

The probability that newborn individuals of a cohort will survive to a particular age

Question 13

Survivorship Curve Type 1

Answer 13

Most of population survives to old age (humans)

Question 14

Survivorship Curve Type 2

Answer 14

Constant loss, age doesn’t affect survivability or mortality (birds)

Question 15

Survivorship Curve type 3

Answer 15

High early mortality. Many individuals die young and few live to old age (trees)

Question 16

Age distribution

Answer 16

What proportion of the population falls into various age categories (3 types, increasing, stable, decreasing

Question 17

Logistic Growth

Answer 17

Occurs when environmental resistance stops exponential growth.

Question 18

N

Answer 18

Population size

Question 19

dN/dt

Answer 19

Change in population size

Question 20

r

Answer 20

rate of natural increase

Question 21

K

Answer 21

carrying capacity

Question 22

K-N/K

Answer 22

Effect of carrying capacity on population growth

Question 23

Density Dependent Factors

Answer 23

Number of organisms present influences the effect of the factor. (competition or predation)

Question 24

Density-independent factors

Answer 24

Number of organisms present doesn’t influence the effect of factor (natural disasters)

Question 25

Carrying Capacity

Answer 25

The maximum number of individuals a species the environment can continuously support.

Question 26

r-strategists

Answer 26

Also called opportunists. Produce a large number of offspring, small body size, early maturity, no parental care, controlled by density-independent factors. (Bugs)

Question 27

K-strategists

Answer 27

Also called equilibrium. Produce a small number of offspring, large body size, late maturity, significant parental care. Controlled by density-dependent factors. (humans)

Question 28

More developed Countries (MDC)

Answer 28

Slow population growth, high standard of living, completed demographic transition (North America and Europe)

Question 29

Less-Developed Countries

Answer 29

Rapid population growth. Low standard of living. (Latin America, Africa, Asia)

Question 30

Environmental Impact of a population

Answer 30

Measured in terms of population size, resource consumption per capita, and pollution