Section 2 - Ecology Flashcards
What is ecology?
The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment
What are the levels of ecological organization?
Populations - groups of individuals of the same species living in an area
Communities - groups of different species living together in one area
Ecosystems - communities and the non-living parts of the environment
What aspects make up population structure?
Size
Density
Dispersion
What are the different spacings of dispersion?
Random
Uniform
Clumped
What is a survivorship curve?
A graphical representation of the survivorship at each age
What are the three types of survivorship curves?
Type I - increased risk of dying when old
Type II - equal chance of dying at all ages
Type III - increased chance of dying when young
What is biotic potential?
The rate a population would grow at without limits
What is the formula for Exponential growth?
dN/dt = rN
r = (b - d) + (i - e)
r = intrinsic rate of growth.
N = Population size
birth, death, immigration, emigration
What is a carrying capacity(K)?
The number of individuals that the environment can support
What is the formula for logistic growth?
dN/dt = rN ((K - N)/ K)
What happens to growth rate as it approaches the carrying capacity?
Growth rate slows
What is a niche?
The total of all ways an organism uses resources in its environment
What is it called when organisms physically fight for resources?
Interference competition
What is it called when organisms consume shared resources before another can get to them?
Exploitative competition
What is the difference between interspecific competition and intraspecific competition?
Interspecific competition - between members of different species
Intraspecific competition - between members of the same species
