Population Basics
Define population in terms of ecology.
A group of organisms of the same species living in the same place.
What factors determine population density and how does it affect the population (+ or -)?
What is birth and immigration (+) & death and emigration (-)
What is a limiting factor?
What is something that controls the growth of a population?
Name one way humans reduce wildlife populations.
Habitat destruction, pollution, or overhunting.
What is the term for how many individuals live in a certain area?
What is population density?
Type I survivorship curves represent what type of loss (early, late, or constant) and what type of parental care (heavy or little/no)?
What is late loss and heavy parental care?
Give an example of a density-dependent (biotic) limiting factor.
What is competition, disease, or predation?
What is an invasive species?
A non-native species that spreads and harms local ecosystems.
Name the three types of dispersion patterns?
What are clumped, uniform/even, and random?
Type II survivorship curves represent what type of loss (early, late, or constant) and what type of parental care (heavy or little/no)?
What is constant loss and little/no parental care?
Give an example of a density-independent limiting factor.
What is a natural disaster, pollution, or climate change?
Density-dependent limiting factors have a bigger impact on what types of populations?
Hint: These are factors that can be triggered by an increase in population size, and thus crowding.
What is high density populations?
Give an example of an organism with random dispersion.
What are dandelions?
Type III survivorship curves represent what type of loss (early, late, or constant) and what type of parental care (heavy or little/no)?
What is early loss and little/no parental care?
What happens to a population when there are few limiting resources available?
What is population growth slows or decreases?
What does the flattening of a logistic growth curve represent?
*Will draw growth curve on board
The population reaching carrying capacity.
What information is provided by a survivorship curve?
The graphic representation of mortality patterns and the number of individuals in a population that can be expected to survive to any specific age.
Why doesn’t exponential growth last forever in natural populations?
Because resources eventually become limited.
What happens to a population when there are many limiting resources available?
What is population growth increases?
Density-independent limiting factors regulate population growth _________ of its size or density.
Hint: Nearly all species in an ecosystem are affected equally by D.I. limiting factors.
What is regardless?