Population Ecology
The term for the number of individuals per unit area
What is population density?
This type of survivorship curve represents species that die mostly at old age
What is Type I?
Organisms with few offspring and high parental care use this strategy
What is K-selected?
A J-shaped curve indicates this type of growth
What is exponential growth?
The study of human populations and how they change
What is demography?
The pattern in which individuals are spaced in an area
What is population distribution?
This curve shows a constant death rate throughout life
What is Type II?
Organisms that reproduce quickly and have many offspring
What is r-selected?
An S-shaped curve indicates this type of growth
What is logistic growth?
A model that explains population changes as a country develops
What is the demographic transition model?
The number of births in a population per 1,000 individuals per year
What is birth rate?
This curve shows high death rates early in life
What is Type III?
In unstable environments, these species are more likely to survive
What are r-selected species?
The equation r = (births - deaths)/population size represents this
What is population growth rate?
Countries in stage 2 of the demographic transition experience this trend
What is rapid population growth?
The factor that limits population growth regardless of size
What is a density-independent factor?
Large mammals like elephants and humans typically follow this survivorship pattern
What is Type I?
These species often reach carrying capacity and compete for resources
What are K-selected species?
This term represents the rate at which a population would grow with unlimited resources
What is biotic potential?
The average number of children a woman is expected to have
What is total fertility rate (TFR)?
The maximum population size an environment can support sustainably
What is carrying capacity?
Sea turtles and many fish species follow this curve
What is Type III?
Rodents and insects tend to fall into this reproductive category
What are r-selected species?
This occurs when a population exceeds its carrying capacity
What is overshoot?
This occurs when the birth rate equals the death rate
What is zero population growth?