Population Ecology

Question 1

4 Factors Affecting Population Growth

Answer 1

• number of births (B)
• number of deaths (D)
• number of immigrants (I)
• number of immigrants (E)

Question 2

Birth Rate

Answer 2

The number of new individuals per thousand (or whatever base we choose)

Question 3

Death Rate

Answer 3

The number of deaths of individuals per thousand (or whatever base we choose)

Question 4

Biotic Potential/ Intrinsic Rate of Natural Increase

Answer 4

The rate at which a population would grow if it were not constrained by the environment (ri of r-max)

Question 5

Density-Independent Regulation

Answer 5

The destruction of a population is in no way connected to the size of the population.

Question 6

Density-Dependent Regulation

Answer 6

At higher population densities, either the death rate must increase or the birth rate must decrease spontaneously.

Question 7

Population

Answer 7

All the organisms of a particular species in a particular area at a given time.

Question 8

Environment

Answer 8

Provides resources and places to live, but also threaten the stability of living organisms

Question 9

Random Spacing

Answer 9

Act Independently of one another: Don’t care where they are

Question 10

Regular Spacing

Answer 10

Territorial: away from each other on purpose

Question 11

Clustered Spacing

Answer 11

Dependent on something in a certain location

Question 12

Course Grained Patchiness

Answer 12

The size of patches is bigger than the normal movement range of the species. Members only found in scattered, suitable patches. (Ex: caterpillars in a garden)

Question 13

Fine Grained Patchiness

Answer 13

Individuals of the species regularly move distances greater than the size of the patches.

Question 14

Metapopulations

Answer 14

The individual local populations are not sustainable, but dispersal between habitat patches is sufficient to allow the establishment of new populations as fast as others are extirpated.

Question 15

Carrying Capacity (K)

Answer 15

The number of individuals that an environment can sustain over long term.
Negative= exceeding carrying capacity.

Question 16

Sustainable Yields

Answer 16

For populations that humans exploit (fish, game species (hunted), forest trees, exotic pets) it is important to manage populations sustainably.

Question 17

Semelparity

Answer 17

Organisms that reproduce once only (many offspring at a time)

Question 18

Interparity

Answer 18

Organisms that reproduce multiple times but small amounts each time (one or two).

Question 19

Survivorship

Answer 19

The proportion of theoretical cohort still alive at the beginning of the time period.

Question 20

Mortality Rate

Answer 20

The proportion of the individuals starting at a time period who die during the period.

Question 21

Survival Rate

Answer 21

The proportion of individuals starting at a time period who survive during the period. (Reciprocal of mortality rate)