Population Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

population

A

a group of organisms of a specific species that live in the same area and are able to breed freely with each other

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2
Q

ecology

A

the study of an ecosystem where organisms interact with each other and their environment

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3
Q

population ecology

A

looking at a population and the factors that affect its size

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4
Q

species

A

a group of organisms that are similar and are able to reproduce under natural conditions to produce fertile offspring

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5
Q

population parameters

A

natality, mortality, emigration and immigration

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6
Q

increasing population

A

natality and immigration

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7
Q

decreasing population

A

mortality and emigration

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8
Q

migration

A

the temporary, seasonal movements following the food and water resources

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9
Q

closed population

A

no immigration or emigration, only mortality and natality will affect population size

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10
Q

fecundity

A

number of births per thousand per year

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11
Q

direct methods for determining population size

A

census - counting every individual but the must be large and within a reasonable area

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12
Q

indirect methods for determining population size

A

mark-recapture or quadrant method

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13
Q

precautions for determining population size

A

no hurting of animals, must not affect movement or behaviour, mark cant make the animal more visible to its preditor

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14
Q

carrying capacity

A

the maximum number of one species that the environment can sustain

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15
Q

types of population growth

A

exponential and logistical

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16
Q

stable population

A

fluctuates around the carrying capacity

17
Q

unstable population

A

the population exceeds the carrying capacity which makes the habitat deteriorate rapidly

18
Q

factors that affect population size

A

density-dependent or density-independent factors

19
Q

density-dependent factors

A

limit population growth as a result of the population density. eg. competition for food, disease or parasites

20
Q

density-independent factors

A

changes in rainfall, temperature, humidity or catastrophic events

21
Q

predation

A

the biological interaction where one species, the predator, kills and eats another species, the prey

22
Q

how do predators help create and maintain greater diversity within an ecosystem?

A

by regulating the abundance and distribution of the prey species and keeping the prey population genetically fit

23
Q

aphid-ladybird

A

female ladybirds lay eggs amongst aphid colonies. the adults then feed on the aphids

24
Q

lion-zebra

A

depend on each other for survival. adaptation is the speed of movement

25
Q

shark-fish

A

shark keep fish populations healthy

26
Q

keystone species

A

a species that has. disproportionally large effect on its environment relative to its abundance

27
Q

competition

A

when two or more individuals compete for the same resources that are in short supply

28
Q

two types of competition

A

intraspecific and interspecific

29
Q

intraspecific competiton

A

between individuals of the same species competing for resources or mates. is the most intense form of competition

30
Q

interspecific competition

A

between individuals of different species where the conditions necessary to survive and reproduce are similar

31
Q

two types of interspecific competition

A

competitive exclusion or competitive coexistence

32
Q

competitive exclusion

A

when one of the two competing species is more successful. can result in extinction and out competition

33
Q

competitive coexistence

A

when two species coexist because they use the resources differently which is resource partitioning

34
Q

resource partitioning

A

a process where species with similar requirements living in the same habitat have traits that allow them to use their resources differently.

35
Q

how are resources partitioned

A

different time, different parts of habitat, different parts of the same plant

36
Q

giraffe and kudu

A

giraffe eat top, kudu eat tree shoots

37
Q

shorebirds

A

pickers and probers - probe underground, feed off the shoreline, prey on creatures living in deeper water

38
Q

Lions and leopards

A

hunt at different times hunt different prey, hunt in different areas of the same habitat

39
Q

how humans intervene to control community structure

A

by culling which is the reduction of a wild animal population by selective slaughter