BIO 110 EXAM 4 CHAPTER 16- POPULATION ECOLOGY

What are the three ways that are enabling humans to surpass our possible Carrying Capacity on the Earth?

expanding into new habitats, increasing the agricultural productivity of the land, and finding ways to live at higher densities

What is Exponential Growth?

growth that occurs as a constant percentage of the existing amount

What is Population Growth?

the increase in the number of individuals in a population

What is Population Ecology?

the study of how and why the number of individuals in a population changes over time

The characteristics of k-species. Give examples of organisms from this group

-limited by carrying capacity -density dependent -relatively stable -larger, long-lived -produce fewer offspring -provide greater care for offspring

The characteristics of r-species. Give examples of organisms from this group

-limited by reproductive rate -density independent -relatively unstable -smaller, short-lived -produce many offspring -provide no care for offspring

Describe the three types of population distributions

In a clumped pattern of dispersion, individuals aggregate in patches -fish A uniform pattern of dispersion results from interactions among the individuals of a population -penguins In a random pattern of dispersion, individuals are spaced in a pattern-less, unpredictable way -trees

How has the Human Population changed over the last 10,000 years? Why is it growing at an exponential rate at the present time?

It has grown exponentially because humans have enabled themselves to live longer and fight better

What are density-dependent factors?

Limiting factors whose intensity is related to population density and can limit growth in natural populations

What is ecology?

The study of interactions between organisms and their environment

What are density-independent factors?

a population limiting factor whose intensity is unrelated to population density

What are population oscillations? How does this relate to species that are Prey or Predator?

alternating cycles of growth and decline, influenced by density-dependent or density-independent factors, overall result is that population size averages close to K

What is Carrying Capacity?

approximate range of a population's density in a certain geographical location due to limiting factors

What is Logistic Growth?

it occurs when a population's growth slows and then stops, following a period of exponential growth.

Describe the three Survivorship Curves and give examples of animals that belong to each category

type 1: high survivorship until old age, then rapidly decreasing survivorship Ex- giant tortoise type 2: survivorship decreases at a steady, regular pace Ex- common kingfisher type 3: high mortality early in life, but those that survive the early years live long lives Ex- Mackerel