The basics of population dynamics Flashcards
Dynamics refers to what?
the shift in the number and composition of individuals over time.
White tailed deer populations in South Carolina are over what?
1 million
Which of these could be a goal of landowners in terms of controlling populations?
a. increase
b. stabilize
c. decrease
d. all of the above
d. all of the above
True or False. Management objectives can be accomplished by manipulating a habitat or direct manipulation of an animal population
True
What determines the carrying capacity of a habitat?
habitat components and animal space requirements in most cases
What tends to be high when wildlife populations are low in respect to the maximum number of individuals an environment can support?
Birth rates ( the number of live births per female per year)
Birth rates are low and death rates are high when what happens in a habitat?
The population is at or near its the maximum number the environment can support
What is density dependence?
Birth and death rates to population size
What is biotic potential?
A population’s ability to grow over time through reproduction
T or F. Rabbits have a higher biotic potential or intrinsic rate than bats
True
Who will respond better to habitat changes or some other type of change? higher biotic potential or lower biotic potential?
higher biotic potential
What is a limiting factor?
It is a basic requirement that is in short supply and prevents or limits a particular wildlife population form growing (food, water, cover)
T or F. Limiting factor are hard to determine beforehand
True
Part of managing wildlife is determining what?
Which factor(s) are preventing population growth
Managing wildlife populations is linked to managing what?
managing habitat
What are some of the environmental constraints or decimating factors?
Predators, disease, hunting, trapping, weather, or a combination of these factors
A lack of food, water and cover does what to a poulation?
limits its growth
What are some examples of limiting factors?
Lack of appropriate nesting, brood, loafing, and winter cover from weather or predation
What is a decimating factor?
It can depress or reduce a population
Does decimating factors control animal abundance?
No, unless it is severe over hunting, introduction of new parasites or predators, or unusually sever weather
If decimating factors are fairly severe in depressing a population, what will happen to it?
There are no factors
What does decimating factors do in controlling a population?
The greater the constraints, the lower the population size, but environmental constraints exert less pressure as the population dwindles, giving it a chance to grow
Do decimating factors offset a populations biotic potential and keep the numbers in balance with the carrying capcity?
yes
This term refers to the location or pattern of animals in space either horizontally or vertically
Dispersion
Vertical dispersion is extremely important when examining what?
The suitability of a habitat for songbirds
Wildlife populations distribute themselves over the landscape in two patterns, name them
Clumped and uniform ( all other forms of distribution fall somewhere in between)
What is the most common type of dispersion?
Clumped because animals are responding to the restricted availability of a habitat
Wildlife that form clumped distributions are generally what?
very social and live in family units
What are some examples of clumped dispersion?
covey of bobwhite quail; roosting colony of starlings, grackles or blackbirds; or a coyote family unit ( mated pair, pups from current year, and possibly yearlings)
Animals that are very asocial are usually very territorial such as groundhogs and will be what kind of dispersion?
Uniform or spread out evenly across a habitat
How is a territory formed?
when a individual, mated pair, or social group of animals uses an area exclusively, and defends against other members of the same species
Movement of animals from one location to a new, permanent site is called what?
Dispersal
The number of animals present on a defined area at a point in time refers to what?
Density
T or F. Density is an indication of how effective a property is at supporting a a population of wildlife species
True
What is the most frequently obtained measurement of wildlife populations?
Density
