Populations
What is population?
A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same time.
What is the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?
Carrying capacity is the maximum population size that an environment can support sustainably, based on available resources.
What is mutualism?
Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship where both species benefit (e.g., bees pollinating flowers).
What is the difference between genetic and species diversity?
Genetic diversity refers to variations in genes within a species, while species diversity refers to the number of different species within an ecosystem.
What is habitat destruction?
Habitat destruction refers to the alteration or elimination of natural habitats, often due to human activities like deforestation or urbanization.
What is the difference between population and community?
A population consists of individuals of the same species, while a community consists of multiple species interacting in a shared area.
How do density-dependent factors affect the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?
Density-dependent factors, such as competition, disease, and predation, become more impactful as the population density increases, helping to regulate the population size and maintain the ecosystem's carrying capacity.
Give an example of commensalism?
An example of commensalism is barnacles attaching to the skin of whales, benefiting by gaining mobility and nutrients, while the whale is unaffected.
What are the benefits of high biodiversity?
High biodiversity enhances ecosystem stability, resilience, and the availability of resources, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable environment.
What are the effects of deforestation on an ecosystem?
Deforestation causes the loss of biodiversity, disrupts water cycles, leads to soil erosion, and increases carbon emissions, contributing to climate change.
What is the formula for population growth?
The formula is r=(b−d)Nr = \frac{(b - d)}{N}r=N(b−d), where rrr is the growth rate, bbb is the birth rate, ddd is the death rate, and NNN is the population size.
What happens when population exceeds carrying capacity?
If a population exceeds its carrying capacity, it leads to resource depletion, competition, and often a population crash.
What is the difference between predation and parasitism?
In predation, one organism kills and consumes another. In parasitism, one organism benefits at the expense of another without necessarily killing it.
What is the difference between biodiversity and ecosystem stability?
Ecosystems with high biodiversity are more stable and resilient, as they can better withstand and recover from environmental stresses and disturbances.
What are the impacts of an invasive species on biodiversity?
Invasive species outcompete native species for resources, prey on them, or introduce diseases, leading to decreased biodiversity and ecosystem imbalance.
What is the exponential growth model?
The exponential growth model describes population growth in an ideal environment with unlimited resources, leading to rapid and continuous growth.
What are limiting factors in an ecosystem?
Limiting factors include food, water, shelter, space, and environmental conditions like climate, disease, and competition.
Give an example of a keystone species
A keystone species has a large effect on its ecosystem, like sea otters in kelp forests, which control sea urchin populations and maintain ecosystem balance.
How does habitat fragmentation affect species diversity?
Habitat fragmentation reduces species diversity by isolating populations, limiting resources, and increasing vulnerability to environmental changes and predation.
How do human activities contribute to extinction of a species?
Human activities like habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, and overharvesting are major contributors to species extinction.
What is demographic transition?
Demographic transition is the shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as a country or region develops.
What is overshoot in population growth?
Overshoot occurs when a population temporarily exceeds its carrying capacity, often resulting in resource depletion and environmental damage.
Explain the difference between primary and secondary succession?
Primary succession occurs in areas with no soil, like after volcanic eruptions, while secondary succession occurs in areas where soil remains after a disturbance like a forest fire.
What is the edge effect in relation to biodiversity?
The edge effect occurs when the boundary between two ecosystems (e.g., forest and field) causes changes in species composition and often leads to decreased biodiversity.
What is the significance of the endangered species act?
The Endangered Species Act is a U.S. law aimed at protecting species that are at risk of extinction by prohibiting harmful activities and providing protection to their habitats.