What is the term for the maximum population size that an environment can sustain?
Carrying Capacity
What is the term for a species that has a high mortality rate early in life but few survive to adulthood? (r or k)
r-selected species
A bee pollinating a flower is an example of what type of symbiotic relationship?
Mutualism
What is the term for the gradual process of change and replacement in the communities of an ecosystem?
Ecological Succession
Invasive species are most commonly what type of species?
generalist and r-selected
What is the maximum growth a population could achieve with unlimited resources and ideal conditions?
Biotic Potential and/or Exponential Growth
What type of survivorship curves are associated with r-selected species?
Type III survivorship curves
Ecosystems will be impacted greatly if you remove what from their food web?
Keystone species
What type of succession will likely occur after glaciers retreat due to increasing temperatures?
primary succession
These species are often most vulnerable to endangerment and environmental change because of their adaptations to narrow habitats and food sources
specialist species
Name one density-dependent factor that can limit population growth.
competition, predation, disease, space, water, food etc.
What is a common characteristic of a K-selected species?
Caring for offspring, few offspring per year/lifetime, Lower infant mortality, Type II or I cuves
An organism in a food web/chain going extinct may result in this.
A trophic cascade
Climax Community
answers will vary
Name one density-independent factor that can limit population growth.
extreme weather events, drought etc.
This survivorship curve has a somewhat constant mortality rate throughout life.
Type II
Ecosystems that are more likely to rebound from environmental stressors have a lot of what?
biodiversity
These superstars are the first arrivals to a disturbed ecosystem (give name and one example)
Pioneer species, ie lichen, moss, fungi, microorganisms
Describe one way invasive species can be introduced
answers will vary
This happens when populations run out of resources and before they level out at the carrying capacity
population overshoot
What do survivorship curves give us insight into when understanding population dynamics?
Illustrates reproductive strategies, survival rates, insights into conservation
Cordyceps fungus infect ants and takes over their brains to move to a more suitable environment for fungus growth. This is what symbiotic relationship?
Parasitism
A community that has recently experience a wildfire likely has decreased what? (Need all 3 categories)
biomass, species richness and net productivity
What is one strategy humans can implement to protect endangered animal populations?
criminalizing activities that decrease numbers, protecting habitats, legislation etc.