Population Growth

Question 1

per-capita rate of increase (r)

Answer 1

brith rate - death rate

Question 2

intrinsic rate of increase (r max)

Answer 2

rate @ which population will grow under optimal conditions

• fixed number for each speci
• max growth rate

ΔN/Δt = r max N

(ie) high birth rates
(ie) low death rates

Question 3

exponential population growth

Answer 3

increase in population size when r = constant

• density independent
• cannot continue indefinitely

Question 4

density independent

Answer 4

(population ecology) any characteristic that does not vary w/ population density
- abiotic

Question 5

density dependent

Answer 5

(population ecology) any characteristic that varies depending on population
- biotic

Question 6

carrying capacity (K)

Answer 6

max. population size of a certain species that a given habitat can support
- density dependent
- changes yearly, depends on conditions

Question 7

logistic population growth

Answer 7

density-dependent decrease in growth rate as population size approaches carrying capacity

• density dependent
• forces curve to level off

ΔN/Δt = r max N[(K-N)/K]

Question 8

N

Answer 8

number of individuals in population

Question 9

r variations

Answer 9

(1) birth > death = +r
(2) birth < death = -r
(3) birth = death -> static

Question 10

+r

Answer 10

growing population

Question 11

-r

Answer 11

declining population

Question 12

r max variations

Answer 12

(1) diff btwn species
(2) same w/in species
(3) diff. btwn similar population in diff. time or space

Question 13

why exponential growth happens?

Answer 13

(1) few individuals find a new population & habitat

(2) small population survived natural disaster & are recovering

Question 13

K is dependent on

Answer 13

(1) food
(2) space
(3) water
(4) soil quality
(5) resting & nesting sites
(6) weather/climate