POPULATION ECOLOGY Test and Flashcards

Population

a group of organisms of the same species living in a definable area

Species

a group of organisms which are related and able to freely interbreed

Community

all the populations in an area

Ecosystem

major interacting system consisting of all organisms and their non living environment

Immigration

when organisms from outside the ecosystem join the population

Emigration

when organisms leave the ecosystem

Mortality

number of deaths per year

Natality

number of live births per year

R-strategy

large number of offspring low survivability

K-strategy

few offspring large chance of surviving

Geometric growth

rapid increase over time (exponential)

Logistic growth

rate of growth changes depending on environmental resistance

Carrying Capacity

the maximum number of a particular species which can be supported by the environment

Stable population

a population where numbers decrease when exceeding carrying capacity & increase when number fall below.

Unstable population

a population that can far exceed carrying capacity leading to environmental deterioration

Environmental resistance

lowers natality and increases mortality to keep population at carrying capacity

Density independent factors

would effect a population no matter the size

Density dependent factors

effect the population the more it grows

Census

a head count of animals in a population

Direct techniques

technique using counting

Indirect techniques

technique using estimation

Quadrat sampling

count the amount in a smaller area and using it to estimate the larger area

Mark recapture method

catching painting and releasing then recapturing and counting

Producers

trap energy from sunlight in organic compounds

Consumers

eat plans and trap energy

Food chain

variety of linked organism

Food web

interlinked food chains

Predation

process where animals kill and feed off of another species

Territoriality

a process whereby a population aggressively protects their environment

Ecological niche

the functional role of an organism in it's particular environment in order for it to adapt to it's environment

Environment

the habitat and all it's resources

Interspecific

between individuals of different species

Intraspecific

between individuals of same species

Complete exclusion

2 different species which depend on the same resources cannot occupy the same ecological niche

Resource partitioning

the usage of recourses differently so that two species can co-exist

Social organization

close nit communities to improve survival chances

Ecological succession

structural changes in the sequence of organisms

Primary succession

occurs in a new area

Secondary succession

occurs in an area which has been colonized previously

Human population growth

factors which increase birth rate and decrease mortality

Demographic

scientific study of size

Demographic transition

occurs when birth & death rates decrease

Ecological footprint

the amount of natural recourses available in the country to the impact the people have on the natural environment

Flashcards: POPULATION ECOLOGY