unit 4 population ecology Flashcards
logistic pop. growth
s-shaped curve, takes limiting resources into account
exponential pop. growth
J-shaped curve ideal conditions with no limiting factors
lag phase
when there’s not enough individuals to grow pop. quick enough
intrinsic growth rate
The maximum potential for growth of a population under ideal conditions with unlimited resources
biotic potential
max reproductive capacity of a creature under perfect conditions
overshoot and die off cycle
offshoot: pop. becomes larger than environment’s carrying capacity
die off: bc environment cannot support, all the individuals die
distribution patterns
clump, uniform, random
sex ratio
how many males vs females in a population
age structure
the amount of people in an age range
density dependent factors
influences an individual’s probability of survival and reproduction in a matter that depends on population (food, water, disease)
density independent factors
climate and weather, things that don’t rely on population to kill
carrying capacity
K limit of population before the environment cant support it without being harmed
predator prey cycle
interaction btwn pred and pray
generalist vs. specialist niche
generalist: wide range of tolerance with foods and habitats
specialist: specific needs
r vs. k selected strategies
K: low intrinsic growth rate
R: high intrinsic growth rate; overshoots & die offs
survivorship curves
Type 1: High survival; parental nurturing
Type 2: Consistent in death
Type 3: High mortality during youth
minimum viable population
the smallest number of individuals in a species or population capable of persisting for a predetermined amount of time
