Populations Flashcards
Define an abiotic factor
none living component of the environment, such as temp or rainfall
Define biotic factor
The living component of the environment, such as competition or predation
What is ecology
The study of relationships between organisms and their environment
Define the term population
A group of organisms of one species that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring in a habitat
Define the term community
All populations of different organisms living and interacting in the same place at the same time
Define the term habitat
The place where a community lives
Define the term niche
Niche describes how an organism fits into the environment
State three methods used to investigate populations
1) Quadrat
2) Transect
3) Mark-release-recapture
The equation for mark-release-recapture
total first sample x total sec sample
estimated pop size = ——————————————————
number of marked individuals
recaptured
Draw a populations growth curve and state the 3 stages shown by the curve
1) a period of slow growth
2) a period of exponential growth
3) a period of stable growth
What affects the final size of a population
the number of limiting factors, these are separated into two groups abiotic and biotic factors
State 4 abiotic factors that affect population size
1) Temp
2) Light
3) pH
4) Water and humidity
Define intraspecific competion
When individuals of the same species compete with one another for resources, eg food
Define inter-specific competition
When individuals of different species compete for resources such as food
What is predation
The process by which prey is consumed by a predator
