variation in population size Flashcards
how abiotic factors affect population size?
-when abiotic factors are ideal for an organism they are more likely to grow faster and reproduce
-when factors arent ideal they grow as fast or survive and reproduce
examples of unideal abiotic factors and the effect on the ecosystem/
-lower tempratures than optimum
- due to this more energy is used to maintain the correct body temp as less is used for growth and reproduction
what is interspecific competition
-the competition between different species for the same resources
how does interspecific competition affect population size if competetion is equal between 2
-resources vailable to both populations are reduced, they share the same source of food so less will be available to them
- by this population is reduced
- less enrgy for reproduction and less energy for growth
-lower pop size then if one species was available
how does interspecific competition affect population size if competition isn’t equal between the 2
- if 2 species are competing but one is better adapted then the other, the other species will be outcompeted and wont be able to exist alongside the other species.
e.g better physical features
what is intraspecific competetion?
-organisms of the same species compete with each other for the same resources
how does intraspecific comp affect population size
-population increases as resources are plentiful
-increased population= increased population
-eventually resources become limiting which reduces pop size
-smaller pop, less competition, so better growth and reproduction, so pop begins to grow again
what is predation?
-when predators eat prey
how does predation affect a population
-as prey population increases, predators have more resources so the predator population increases
- as more prey are eaten the prey pop decreases which also decreases predator population
