Population Flashcards
(12 cards)
What is a population?
A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area at the same time.
What is population distribution?
The pattern of how individuals are spread out across an area (can be clumped, uniform, or random).
What is population density?
The number of individuals per unit area (e.g. 100 deer/km²).
What causes changes in population size?
Births, deaths, immigration (in), and emigration (out).
What is the formula for population growth?
(Births + Immigration) – (Deaths + Emigration)
What is exponential growth?
Rapid growth under ideal conditions with no limits (J-shaped curve).
What is logistic growth?
Growth that slows as it reaches carrying capacity (S-shaped curve).
What is carrying capacity?
The maximum number of individuals an environment can support long-term.
What are limiting factors?
Environmental factors that restrict population growth (e.g. food, water, space).
What are density-dependent factors?
Factors that affect populations more when density is high (e.g. disease, competition, predation).
What are density-independent factors?
Factors that affect population regardless of size (e.g. natural disasters, climate).
What is a boom-bust cycle?
A rapid population increase followed by a sudden crash, often seen in predator-prey systems.
