Unit 2: vocabulary Flashcards
age structure
proportion of population members at specific age ranges
biotic potential (rmax)
maximal potential growth rate of a species
birth rate (B)
number of births within a population at a specific point in time
carrying capacity (K)
number of individuals of a species that can be supported by the limited resources of a habitat
clumped dispersion
individuals are closer than expected by chance
cohort
group of the same age that can be followed through time
death rate (D)
number of deaths within a population at a specific point in time
demographic-based population model
modern model of population dynamics incorporating many features of the r- and K-selection theory
demography
statistical study of changes in populations over time
density-dependent regulation
regulation of population that is influenced by population density, such as crowding effects; usually involves biotic factors
density-independent regulation
regulation of populations by factors that operate independent of population density, such as forest fires and volcanic eruptions; usually involves abiotic factors
Emsleyan/Mertensian mimicry
type of mimicry where a harmful species resembles a less harmful one
energy budget
allocation of energy resources for body maintenance, reproduction, and parental care
exponential growth
accelerating growth pattern seen in species under conditions where resources are not limiting
fecundity
potential reproductive capacity of an individual
Ilkka Hanski
studied metapopulation dynamics; found overall balance between sub-population extinctions and re-colonizations
host
organism a parasite lives on
intraspecific competition
competition between members of the same species
iteroparity
life history strategy characterized by multiple reproductive events during the lifetime of a species
J-shaped growth curve
shape of an exponential growth curve
K-selected species
species suited to stable environments that produce a few, relatively large offspring and provide parental care
life history
inherited pattern of resource allocation under the influence of natural selection and other evolutionary forces
life table
table showing the life expectancy of a population member based on its age
logistic growth
leveling off of exponential growth due to limiting resources