pop eco

Created by

Zinhle

Cards (63)

What is an individual in population ecology?
A single, separate organism, animal or plant, capable of independent existence
What defines a population?
A group of individuals belonging to the same species that live in the same area at the same time
What is a community in ecology?
A group of different populations that live together and interact in a defined area
How is an ecosystem defined?
All the organisms that live in an area and interact with each other and with the physical environment
What does population size refer to?
The total number of individuals in a population
What is population density?
The number of individuals of a population per unit area
What does natality refer to in population ecology?
The birth rate in animals or production of seeds in plants
What is mortality in the context of population ecology?
The death rate
What is immigration in population ecology?
When individuals move into a population and stay
What does emigration mean?
When individuals leave a population and do not return
What are limiting factors in population ecology?
The factors that help to regulate the growth of a population
What are density independent factors?
The factors that limit the growth of a population as a result of natural factors and not because of the density or number of organisms
What are density dependent factors?
The factors that have a greater effect when the population density is high
What is environmental resistance?
The total number of factors that stop a population from reproducing at its maximum rate
What is carrying capacity?
The maximum population size that the environment can support
What is a stable population?
A population that fluctuates around the carrying capacity
What characterizes an unstable population?
A population that far exceeds the carrying capacity, leading to habitat deterioration
What is exponential growth in population ecology?
Growth that continues to accelerate forever, also known as J-Curve
What is logistic growth?
Growth that follows a Sigmoid curve, slowing down as it approaches carrying capacity
What occurs during the lag phase of population growth?
Slow increase by individuals due to adaptation to the environment
What happens during the exponential phase of population growth?
Dramatic increase in birth rate and low mortality
What characterizes the decelerating phase of population growth?
Population density and environmental resistance become effective
What is the stationary/stable phase in population growth?
The phase where population size stabilizes around carrying capacity
What is a trophic level?
The position an organism occupies in the food chain
Who are producers in an ecosystem?
All green plants that can photosynthesize and produce their own food
What are consumers in an ecosystem?
Organisms that cannot produce their own food and depend on producers or other consumers
What defines primary consumers?
Herbivores and omnivores
What are herbivores?
Plant eaters that feed directly on producers
What are omnivores?
Organisms that partially feed on plant material and also on animal material
What defines secondary consumers?
Carnivores, scavengers, and omnivores
What are carnivores?
Meat eaters that primarily feed on primary consumers
What are scavengers?
Organisms that eat the remains of dead organisms
What defines tertiary consumers?
Carnivores that feed on secondary consumers
Who are decomposers?
Bacteria and fungi that feed on dead organic material
What is a predator?
An animal that hunts and kills another animal
What is prey?
The animal which is hunted
What is predation?
A biological feeding interaction
What is a food chain?
A small view of the energy movement in the ecosystem
What is a food web?
An overview or realistic view of the energy movement in the ecosystem
What is competition in ecology?
When two or more individuals compete for the same resources that are in short supply