Quiz 3 Flashcards
Population ecology
Studies the factors that regulate population abundance and distribution. Information from tracking is studied
Low population density
Individuals may not be able to find mates or only mates that are closely related. Flocking, genetic variability = dependent on density
High population density
Competition for space, food, mates spread of disease increases
Population age structure
Relative number of individuals of different ages within a population
Clumped distribution
When social species such as wolves, elks and praire dogs are found in groups
Random Distribution
Species that disperse randomly in an environment like wind-blown seeds
Uniform Distribution
Individuals spaced evenly possibly due to territorial behavior or something that suppresses growth
biotic potential
A population’s maximum per capita rate of increase (r)
Variables in patterns of population growth
Resource availability, aggression/competition, predation
Logistical Growth
Population size increases, while growth rate decreases
Carrying Capacity
Population size that can be sustained indefinitely without long-term damage to the environment
Limiting Factors
Resources needed for survival but that may be in short supply. Scarcity depends on carrying capacity
Resistance Factors
Predation, competition, and diseases - their relationship with population size
Limiting and Resistance Factors are _____, while natural disasters are ____, because they will occur regardless of the population size
density-dependent, density-independent
K-selected species
slow increases and decreases in response to the environment
r-selected species
Sometimes have sudden population growth with high peaks which may overshoot carrying capacity, drop below it and increase and overshoot it until they settle down close to carrying capacity.
loss of wolf in ecosystem
without wolves, beavers thrive and build dams that create lakes and ponds. Elk stay in the willow thickets and overgraze willow needed by the beavers
Primary cause for species to become endangered
Habitat destruction
Characteristics of r-adapted species
short life, rapid growth of individual, early maturity, many offspring, little parental care, adapted to unstable environment, prey, niche generalists
Characteristics of k-adapted species
long life, slower growth of individual, late maturity, few offspring, high parental care, adapted to stable environment, predators, niche specialists
Species
A group of pollutions or pollution of a type of organism whose members share common characteristics and can breed together
Darwinian Theory
Science is all about forming hypotheses and finding evidence that supports or conflicts them
Lamarckian Inheritance
organisms could change from generation to generation. Used and needed traits were made stronger and passed on
epigenetics
suggests that environment can play a role in expressed traits
