The Dynamic Of Population Flashcards
What is the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?
The maximum population of a species an environment can sustain indefinitely.
What is happening in an ecosystem during “slow growth (adaptation period)”?
Only organisms at sexual maturity can reproduce, so growth is slow. The organisms are also adapting to a new environment (finding food, water, shelter).
What is happening in an ecosystem during “rapid growth”?
More organisms are at sexual maturity and can reproduce, causing exponential growth. The organisms have adapted to survive (found food, water, shelter) and resources for their survival are abundant.
What is happening in an ecosystem when the carrying capacity is reached?
A lack of resources will limit the population, and the growth rate will now be 0
(mortality rate = birth rate). Small fluctuations of population size will be cause by
limiting factors like competition and sickness.
What are the four main factors that determine carrying capacity?
Materials and Energy, Food Chains, Competition, and Density.
What are some examples of materials and energy which populations are dependant on the availability of?
Solar energy, Water, Carbon, Other materials essential in the environment (shelter, certain nutrients)
What is the difference between intraspecific competition and interspecific competition?
Intraspecific is between members of the same species. Interspecific is between members of different species.
What is the difference between intraspecific competition and interspecific competition?
Intraspecific is between members of the same species. Interspecific is between members of different species.
Give an example of intraspecific competition and an example of interspecific competition.
Intraspecific: Two bears fight over a food source.
Interspecific: An eagle and a hawk fight over a dead mouse.
What is the difference between density-dependent factors and density-independent factors?
Density-dependent factors are affected by the population size in an area. Density-independent factors are not affected by population size.
Give an example of a density-dependent and an example of a density-independent factor.
Density-dependent: increased stress, increased illness, increase of parasite, etc.
Density-independent: anything weather related/natural disasters.
Give an example of a density-dependent and an example of a density-independent factor.
Density-dependent: increased stress, increased illness, increase of parasite, etc.
Density-independent: anything weather related/natural disasters.
