Environmental science vocab quiz chapter 4

density-dependent factor

a limiting factor whose influence changes with population density; includes competition, predation, and disease.

density-independent factor

a limiting factor whose influence is not affected by population density, includes catastrophic events.

biotic potential

the growth rate of a population under ideal conditions.

ecology

the study of how organisms interact with one another and with their environments.

species

a group of individuals that interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

population density

the number of individuals in a population per unit of area.

exponential growth

the pattern of population growth in which a population increases by a fixed percentage each year.

limiting factor

a characteristic of the environment that restricts population growth.

carrying capacity

the largest population size a given environment can support.

logistic growth

the pattern of population growth in which growth is slowed and finally stopped by limiting factors.

population

The members of a species that live in the same area.

community

all of the populations in a particular area.

ecosystem

all the living things and their physical environments within a particular area.

biosphere

The earth and all of its organisms and environment.

biotic factor

Any part of an ecosystem that is living or used to be living.

abiotic factor

Any part of an ecosystem that has never been living.

habitat

the specific environment in which an organism lives.

resource

anything an organism needs: includes nutrition, shelter, mates, and breeding sites.

population size

the number of individual organisms present in a population at a given time.

population distribution

how organisms are arranged within an area (clumped, uniform, or random).

age structure

the relative numbers of organisms of each age within a population, also called age distribution.

age structure diagram

A chart that shows the age distribution of a population.

sex ratio

The proportion of males to females in a population (EX: 50:50 equal).

survivorship curve

a graph showing the likelihood of survival within a group or population.

immigration

the movement of individuals into to a given area.

emigration

the movement of individuals away from a given area.

migration

the seasonal movement of organisms into and out of an area.