Population Ecology Flashcards
(143 cards)
group of individuals belonging to the same species living in the same habitat or interbreeding and sharing genetic information
population
has a unique physical distribution in time and space
population
contains members of different ages and its size or density is likely to change over time, increasing or decreasing according to the reproductive success of its members
population
understanding this is important for interpreting census or survey data for population control
population dynamics
four primary ecological events that influence population are:
natality
mortality
immigration
emigration
mathematically, this relationship can be expressed in the following simple equation
change in pop. density = (natality+immigration) - (deaths+emigration)
factors, both biotic and abiotic, affecting the births, deaths, immigration or emigration, producing an impact to population density
secondary ecological events
may also affect the frequency, extent, magnitude, or duration of a primary ecological event
secondary ecological evnts
act as population regulating factors, and are also regarded as environmental resistance whenever the limit a population from its maximum reproductive potential
secondary ecological events
secondary ecological events can be divided into two broad categories
independent factors
density-dependent factors
could result to increased mortality decreasing population density
natural calamities
might result to prey natality allowing its population to grow
inactivity of predators
include events or conditions that are usually weather- or climate-related
density independent factors
affects all members of the population in similar ways, regardless of its size or density
density independent factors
Factors whose effects on the population is constant regardless of the number of individuals preset
density independent factors
example include unusual weather patterns, strong tropical cyclones or super typhoons such as typhoon Yolanda, natural disasters (hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes), seasonal cycles (flood and droughts), and even certain
human activities such as construction of dams and deforestation, extreme temperature, photoperiod
density independent factofs
➢
have negative effect on population density just as much as favorable climatic conditions can have a positive effect
density independent factors
operate only when the population density reaches a certain level, operate proportionately to the size of population
density dependent factors
factors operate mostly when a population is large and dense while they do not greatly affect small and scattered populations
density dependent factors
examples include parasitism, disease, predation, competition, dispersal and immigration, pathogens causing infectious diseases
density dependent factors
example of density-dependent factors that are susceptible to spread of contagious disease caused by parasites than a small and sparse population
parasitism
example of density-dependent factors which includes predators migrating to areas with high density of prey populations or a behavioral response, predators will focus their attention primarily on the
most abundant prey species
predation
for limited resources is also density dependent, when population become crowded, organisms compete for food, water, space, light and other requirements for life
competition
members may face competition mostly from individuals of other species who need the same resources
interspecific competition